Barrel makers plan ahead by drilling a hole in the side of each barrel and plugging the hole with a wooden plug.
Whiskey barrels come with predrilled holes and a wooden plug. Replace the wooden plug with a bamboo spout to make a whiskey barrel fountain. The bamboo spout will plug into the hole in the whiskey barrel to create a spill way. Bamboo can be purchased, or if you have a stand of bamboo or know someone who does, you can begin with fresh bamboo. Bamboo is naturally hollow between the nodes, so drilling is not necessary. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the wooden plug from the whiskey barrel by tapping the plug with a hammer on the inside of the barrel.
2. Measure the diameter of the hole in the barrel with a measuring tape.
3. Select a piece of bamboo that is smaller than the hole in the barrel on one end and larger than the hole in the barrel on the other. Bamboo grows in sectioned poles, with growth nodes at regular intervals. The sections between nodes are hollow. Cut your bamboo spout from a selection between two nodes. Cut the length of the spout to fit your barrel fountain design.
4. A very fine blade is important when cutting bamboo due to the bamboo's tendency to split.
Using your fine-blade hacksaw, cut a section off the top of the bamboo on the large end to taper the spout. The tapered end can be as long or short as you prefer.
5. Apply waterproof wood glue to the inside face of the hole in the barrel. Make certain the glue is continuous on the entire circumference of the hole. Polyurethane glue is a good choice for this project. When using polyurethane glue, lightly mist the hole in the barrel before applying the glue. Lightly mist the spout before pushing it into the hole. A slight bit of moisture hastens the hardening time of the glue.
6. Push the narrowest end of the bamboo spout into the hole in the barrel. Push as far as possible for a tight seal. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly before filling the barrel with water.
Tags: hole barrel, bamboo spout, wooden plug, between nodes, into hole