You've probably seen bourbon barrel lids hanging on the walls associated with your favorite local pub or distillery and wondered the way you could get your own hands on one. There's something inherently cool about a bit of wood that spent many years soaked in whiskey, aging an excellent spirit to perfection. These types of lids, or "heads" as they're technically called in the market, are usually more than simply scrap wood; they're a piece of history and a fantastic canvas for all sorts of DIY projects.
If you're fortunate enough to find several authentic bourbon barrel lids, you're keeping a rugged piece of American traditions. But before you begin hammering away, it's worth knowing what you're actually working with. These items aren't just flat sectors of wood. These people are usually produced from high-quality United states white oak plus are held collectively by the pressure from the barrel's metal hoops. If a person take them out from the barrel, they might even fall apart if they aren't backed or fixed properly.
Why These Lids Are So Special
The very first thing you'll notice once you pick up a single of these lids is the smell. Even if the barrel offers been empty with regard to months, that strong, smoky, vanilla-scented bourbon aroma lingers within the fibers of the oak. It's intoxicating within the best way possible. Beyond the scent, the wood itself is amazing. One side will be usually charred black—a result of the particular "firing" process that will helps give bourbon its color and flavor—while lack of frequently features stamped marks from the distillery.
These plastic stamps tell a tale. They might list the particular date the barrel was filled, the particular distillery's name, or the batch amount. For an extractor, finding a cover from the famous distillery like Buffalo Trace or Maker's Tag is similar to getting buried treasure. Even the generic types possess a rustic appeal that you just can't reproduce with new wood from a big-box hardware store.
Getting Your Lids Ready for a Project
If you've was able to snag a few raw bourbon barrel lids, don't expect them to be "display ready" right out of the gate. They're generally a little grimy, protected in dust, plus maybe even a small damp from left over liquid. The very first thing you'll want to perform is give all of them a good cleaning. A stiff brush and some lighting soapy water generally work, but don't soak the wooden excessive or this might warp as it dries.
Once it's clean, you've got a decision to make: in order to sand or not really to sand? In case you want that will super-polished, high-end appearance, you'll need to hit it with a sander. Nevertheless, be careful! In the event that you sand as well aggressively, you'll remove the distillery rubber stamps and the outdated patina that can make the lid distinctive to begin with. I generally recommend a light hand-sanding just to get eliminate any splinters, then finishing it having a clear coat of polyurethane or even a food-safe essential oil if you're producing something for the kitchen area.
Turning Lids Into Functional Decor
The most famous factor to do along with bourbon barrel lids is in order to turn them in to wall art, yet that's only the suggestion of the iceberg. Because they're approximately 21 to twenty two inches in diameter, they are the perfect size regarding a variety associated with furniture and home goods.
The particular Classic Lazy Leslie
This is definitely probably the coolest use for a barrel lid. By adding an easy spinning base to the bottom, you've got a conversation-starting centerpiece for your dining table. It's perfect with regard to holding salt and pepper shakers, napkins, or even a flight of bourbon glasses. The charred underside acts since a great contrast if you decide to flip this, but most people keep your distillery side up to show away the origin.
A Rustic Wall Clock
When you're into DIY, turning a cover into a time clock is really a weekend project that looks incredibly professional. You simply need to drill a hole in the center, install the high-torque clock motor (the wood is heavy, so a standard motor might struggle), and add some numbers. Many people use old railroad spikes or even spent shell casings since the hour markers to keep the rugged theme going.
Personalized Wedding Visitor Books
This particular has turn into a massive trend lately. Instead of a document book that gets saved in the drawer and neglected, couples are utilizing bourbon barrel lids as "guest books. " Guests sign the wood with long lasting markers, and after that the couple seals the signatures using an apparent coat. It is the beautiful piece of wall art that serves as a continuous reminder of their large day.
Coping with the "Fall Apart" Factor
I mentioned this earlier, but it's well worth repeating: bourbon barrel lids aren't held together with stuff. These are held jointly from the tension associated with the barrel and sometimes small wooden dowels between the slats. When you take those lid out of the metal rings, the individual pieces (called "cants") can certainly slide apart.
To fix this particular, most crafters will certainly screw a thin piece of plywood or even a handful of wooden cleats towards the back associated with the lid. This keeps everything restricted and prevents the particular wood from moving as the dampness in your home changes. If you want a cleanser look, you can take apart the lid, utilize wood glue in order to the edges of each piece, and clamp it back together. It's a bit more work, however it makes the lid feel solid as a rock.
Where to Find Authentic Lids
You might be wondering where you even get these things. If you live in Kentucky or Tennessee, you can practically find them at garage sales or regional flea markets. For everybody else, the internet is your best friend. There are plenty of shops on-line that are experts in reclaimed barrel parts.
Sometimes, you can even achieve out to nearby craft breweries. Several breweries age their particular stouts in aged bourbon barrels, and when the barrel continues to be used a few times, it's no longer good intended for aging. They may be willing to sell you the whole barrel or just the lids for a several bucks if they were preparing on tossing them anyway.
Guidelines for Working along with Charred Wood
The charred side of bourbon barrel lids is beautiful, but it's chaos. That black carbon will get on everything—your hands, your clothes, plus your workshop flooring. If you plan on keeping the char visible (maybe for the back again of a corner or an unique wall display), you should close off it.
A heavy squirt of clear lacquer is usually the best way to "lock in" the particular charcoal so it doesn't rub away from on your whitened walls. It's a bit of a messy process, however the deep, dark consistency of that burned oak is a stunning contrast in order to the golden dark brown of the front side.
Exactly why We Love the particular Imperfections
With the end associated with the day, the reason people gravitate toward bourbon barrel lids is the imperfection. These items of wooden have been by way of a lot. They've survived years of heat swings in a rickhouse, they've held hundreds of pounds of liquid, and they've been folded around on factory floors.
Every scratch, each dent, and every stain tells the story from the ageing process. When you bring one into your home, you aren't just getting in a piece of decor; you're bringing in an item of the distillery. Whether you turn it into a table, a sign, or just hang it as-is, it's a rugged reminder of a slow, traditional craft that hasn't changed significantly in over a hundred years.
Therefore, if you arrive across a bunch of old lids, grab one. Even though you aren't a huge whiskey drinker, it's hard not in order to appreciate the craftsmanship and the background baked into that old American maple. Plus, it just looks really cool on a wall.