Vertically-Cut Half-Barrels

Hmmm.... the possibilities! 

An outdoor flower planter? That could work... 

Use to make a coffee table? Another good idea!

Position it against a wall, and use as a drink stand? That works too!

There are so many neat little projects that customers undertake with these vertically cut planters. 

The process of making these involves taking one of our whiskey or wine barrels, and first securing all of the hoops, or metal bands, to the barrel. Then we cut the hoops, and the barrel falls into 4 pieces: 2 barrel halves and 2 barrel heads! We cut the heads, clamp everything back in place, and secure the barrel-halves back together!

Once complete, we clean the inside of the barrel, smooth out the cut edges, and she's ready to go!

Whiskey or wine?

Aesthetically, you will find the whiskey barrels to be rustic, and the wine barrels to be cleaner and lighter in appearance.

Dimensionally, the half barrels are pretty darn close. So, typically, the choice comes down to personal preference on the appearance, or maybe just whether you like whiskey or wine more!

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        Height: 35-37"

        Width of barrel: 26-28"

        Width from front to opening: 12-14"

        Weight: 60 lbs.

        Origin: Various distilleries and wineries

Questions? Give us a shout! 

        Email: info@mysticbarrels.com

        Call or text: (412) 275-0542

        Catch us on website messenger!

Note: Each and every used barrel is unique and full of its own character! As such, please know that there inherently is slight variations in the appearance and construction of each barrel.

When purchasing a used barrel, should I choose a whiskey or wine barrel?

What does Mystic Barrels look for when sourcing whiskey and wine barrels?

Used barrels are available in all sorts of different conditions. We have established strict criteria for the barrels we source and make available to you. The barrels must meet the following criteria:

1. Flat Heads - Many customers use the barrels as décor, tables, to put drinks or flower pots on, or to use in their own DIY project. Having flat heads is important for all of these cases. Therefore, we search far and wide to find barrels that have flat heads, and conduct additional sorting to ensure the barrels you receive are well suited for your application.

2. No major cracks or defects - As you can imagine, barrels are put through a lot of rough handling, storage conditions, and transportation scenarios over the course of their life. Any of these stages can damage a barrel. We ensure the barrels you get are free from any major cracks or defects that would interrupt the barrel's usefulness for your home, business, event, or project.

3. Freshly dumped barrels - A barrel seals itself by using the moisture of the product inside to expand the wood against the barrel hoops, and tighten the staves and head of the barrel against each other. Once the product is removed, the wood of the barrel can dissipate some of that moisture content.

Is there anything I need to do to the barrel once I receive it? 

If purchasing any furniture pieces, then nope, you should be all set!

If purchasing a used barrel, you may want to consider securing the hoops to the barrel. Over time the wood of the barrel may dry out if placed in an area with low humidity, causing the hoops to loosen. To maintain the structural integrity of the barrel for years to come, we would recommend adding 3 or 4 screws through each of the metal hoops/bands around the barrel and into the wood of the staves.

Two recommendations:

1. Use self-tapping sheet-metal screws to drill through the hoops and into the barrel.

2. Use a drill bit to drill a hole through the hoops. Use a nail or wood screw to secure the hoop to the barrel.

Prefer to receive your used barrel with the hoops already fastened? No problem! Just contact us, and for a small fee, we will take care of it!

Can I leave the barrel outside? 

Like any wood or wood furniture, rain, snow, and other moisture can decay wood if left unprotected. If leaving the barrel outside, we would recommend keeping it under cover.

To add further product, consider coating the barrel in an exterior-grade polyurethane every year or two.

How do you clean or refinish a barrel? 

Some customers prefer to keep the barrels just the way they are, embracing their naturally rustic or refined appearance. Others prefer to clean up and stain their barrels, or use for countless other DIY projects. These barrels are perfect for either application!

Depending on the look you are going for, you can give the barrel a basic clean with a hose or pressure washer. Some deck-cleaner works well to remove some surface stains. To really get down to fresh wood, using a belt sander is really the way to go. After sanding, choose your favorite stain and sealer and you'll be good to go!

Any other questions, please feel free to contact us! 

• Email: info@mysticbarrels.com

• Call or text: 412-275-0542

• Send me an instant message on the website messenger!

We strive to make the barrel purchasing processes as easy and cost-effective as possible! Choose 1 of 3 options:

1. Scheduled pick-up at Mystic Barrels in Pittsburgh, PA

2. Regional Delivery

• FREE Delivery for orders of $325 or more.

• $50 delivery for orders less than $325.

We run our own trucks on a weekly rotation delivering orders to customers.

By doing this, we are able to get you the best possible prices for barrels and furniture. This service also affords us the opportunity to ensure safe delivery of the barrels and furniture, and ensure your satisfaction!

Please allow 2-4 week lead time, depending on where we are in our delivery rotation. Need a more accurate estimate? Just give us a call, email, text, or instant message!

3. UPS Shipping 

For customers that need the barrels sooner than we can deliver, OR for customers outside our delivery zone, we have very competitive flat-rate freight shipping rates available. Rates are calculated at checkout.