jo oakley Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I have 1/2 a wine barrel that has been left to dry out I can see day light in between the slats. how can I get it back to the way it was, will it ever be water tight? how do you clean them to make them safe for fish is being dried out in the sun is that enough? should I line it with pond liner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Don't know much about barrels but I've always wanted one for a mini pond. I was going to grow water lillies in it. I think it looks so House & Garden. I guess if you line it with pond liner that would solve the leakage and fish safety issue in one go. But how would you secure the pond liner to the barrel without losing the Country Life look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Good question my first WB never dried out, it was set up for water lillys,on fish when I moved to the other side of the state I had to Leave somethings behind so I thought I would do it again It needs to be soak in a dam to make the wood swell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 How big is it? Won't it fit in a bathtub? Or a horse trough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 To big for a bath I don't know how the Stud Manager would feel about wine infused horse water I know that the horses wouldn't care my mum used to give beer and stout to the Shetland He loved it little pig!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 I think they tell 1/2 barrel plastic liners that are moulded to the shape and just slot in. Perhaps that is worth a look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axoloto Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi jo, I know back home in Canada, the New finlanders use to buy used rum barrels and add water to them. Every day or so they would roll the barrel to a new position. after a few weeks they would end up with a product they called swish. The swish had almost no taste but it would still carry a powerful kick . I was also told that the procedure could be done twice, so I think the liner would be the safe way to go. I've seen the liners being sold at bunnings for 50$. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Thanks axoloto I don't mind having a look in Bunnings I tend to buy things that I wasn't after I just have to plan my next trip into Warrnambool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JUNGLE Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi Jo, I worked for Gardens-R-Us for over 10 years. They have always stocked these barrels. They often had gaps but the timber swells up fairly quickly.If it holds water for even half an hour,the swelling will begin. If not,you will have to soak it as advised. Our customers were told to fill it and refill till the leaking stops...about two days. Leave filled for a week,empty and refill with clean water. After a few more days,stocking can commence. In all that time I can't remember any customer having probs with water quality. All the best Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Hi Anthony the thing is so dry and open that the 2 buckets of water just ran out on the grass I am thinking of going to see the maintenance guys on the Stud farm across the road and ask if I can chuck it in a huge pond they have up the back that no one goes near Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 I have an odd idea, you could wrap it in plastic sheeting like a giant christmas pudding tie it off securely (some how?) and fill with water. That way it would soak from the inside and out. Probably easier just to use the plastic to line the barrel, but it depends what you want in the end I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Thank you for making me smile the idea of a giant pudding in my front garden has some appeal good thinking Bat-person I think a blue tarp could do it It would be better than lugging the thing to the next property and then bringing it back water and twice the weight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 ;) I didn't visualise it quite that clearly until I read your reply. You'll have to tie a big red ribbon around it to get the full effect! Hope it works, it would definitely be easier than carting it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 This a how it looks at the moment I hope it will work the smell of the wine is still quite strong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 12, 2009 Report Share Posted February 12, 2009 Awww! that made me giggle! I guess that even if you ran it just with substrate and plants that the wine smell would disappear eventually. If not, then there is always the option of the liners. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 ;) Is it working? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I am not sure, I wish I had put it on flat ground. The tarp is ripping under the pressure only time will tell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted February 14, 2009 Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 How long are you going to leave it before you have a look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2009 I was thinking about a week Then I will water the garden with the wine impregnated water I will redo it on flat ground so I can get the water level close to the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 I think its working I have just left the old water in there at the moment and I top it up as I go past with the run off in the tarp even if I can't get the water level much higher I am happy the wrigglers have gone mad they must love a drop of wine with there water :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 That's fantastic Jo! And what a good excuse to go buy a bottle of red "no honey, it's not for me, it's for the mozzies." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 Hmm... alcoholic wrigglers. Maybe you could use it on your fish for those special occasions when you want to get them in the mood. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubbzy81 Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 I'd just like to say thanks. What a brilliant idea. I might just have to steal it. I've got a wine barrel that I tried to plant stuff in, but everything I planted died coz it didn't drain well enough, but using it as a pond is a fantastic idea! But now to switch on my "Mum" brain, would it be safe to have around with kids? Just thinking about little people accidentally falling in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 You have to have a child proof gate around it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyarlla Posted March 4, 2009 Report Share Posted March 4, 2009 You could always put some wire over the top. We have a big frog pond outside and thick wire fencing is bolted down on the rocks around it cause next door have little kids... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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