Wine barrells. Where to start?

[bookers]

I got my hand on a couple of used 1/2 wine barrells and would like to stain them. Where to I start! Also because they're going to go outside to I need to laquer/ or seal them. Do I need to sand them?
I've got absolutely no clues!
Please help.

[ozwinner]

HI

Halve wine barrells are hard to seal, youll need one big cork.

Al

[outback]

I got my hand on a couple of used 1/2 wine barrells

1 hand, two half barrels, thats one big hand, I ain't gonna argue with you 'bout nuthin mister.

May I humbly suggest the best way to start is by drinking the contents.

[rev]

Bookers,

I don't think it is necessary to sand or seal the barrells unless just for aesthetic reasons. But I think it is necessary to do something to keep them from falling apart. After some time the wood shrinks and the hoops are likely to slip down and fall off leaving you with a collapsing barrell.

For mine, I have routed a groove near the top and put some old clothesline wire around the top. I also drilled through the hoops in a couple of places and hit in some galvanised clouts to help keep the hoops in place. So far they have lasted about 5 years without any sign of falling apart.