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How To Care For Whiskey Barrel Furniture

“Find out how to care for whiskey barrel furniture from the pros.”

How To Care For Whiskey Barrel Furniture by the Hungarian WorkshopSo I am guessing you own some of our items and now you are looking to find How To Care For Whiskey Barrel Furniture. Don’t worry it’s very simple. You should’t have too much to worry about unless your furniture is covered with varnish. Thats when the grunt work will come into play which might leave you just blowing off proper maintenance. In this blog I will go over the simple procedures and the difficult ones, hoping it will help your Whiskey Barrel Furniture last for many more years to come.

Lets start with you chair, table or stool is graying and drying out. The first thing you’d want to do is check through and make sure none of the major joints have become separated and the furniture is still structurally sound. I probably don’t have to tell you but if something is broken please replace before doing anything else. Once we are all good with the furniture frame we move onto a light sanding. Using a 150 grit sandpaper you’ll want go through all gray areas to bring back that nice oak’s colors and patina from the barrel. Most likely its going to be the flat surfaces that take the most sun damage. (Arms, seats, backrest) Always sand with the grain of the wood and wear some protective gloves from splinters. Keep in mind there is a general rule of thumb on where to place these furniture even when kept out doors. I will go over this important subject as well.

How To Care For Whiskey Barrel FurnitureOnce you have the chair looking the way you like its time to apply the oil finish. NO VARNISH! The oak needs to be moistened to keep from drying out and cracking. A varnish finish will just protect the surface from UV rays and the wood will still become brittle and weak. IF you still want to stand by a varnish finish by all means go ahead just make sure you cover the entire chair. I mean EVERY nook and crevice. The material must be sealed of completely for it to last. But again keep in mind that no matter what, throughout time the moisture will escape one way or another and with a layer covering the piece there is no way to refinish unless you are ok with stripping it all off.

The oil I prefer and stand by is called Penofin. They make a wonderful outdoor hardwood finish which is made from Brazilian Rosewood Oil. Provides excellent protection from weathering. Teak Oil is another good alternative along with Tung Oil or you might be able make your own secrete concoction if you know one. When applying the oil the furniture must be out of the sun. I’d say do it at nighttime right after the sun has set and then the piece can dry overnight. Apply heavily throughout and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Then with a dry rag wipe away all excess thats built up. You must wipe that away otherwise it can dry on the surface creating a top coat. Trust me, you don’t want that. It will leave blotchy shinny areas you will have to sand away.

How To Care For Whiskey Barrel FurnitureI recommend repeating these steps seasonally but it’s really up to where you keep the furniture. Which brings me to this very important part of the blog. Where to keep you furniture. I understand you want to keep them outdoor but at least I must insist you keep them in a covered structure. The #1 enemy here is the sun. The sun will do far more damage than rain or anything else. When kept in a cover patio the refinishing most likely can be cut down, but I still recommend always doing it just to ensure the products life. Any furniture kept indoors will have virtually no problems. Unless kept by a big bay window of course. For indoor finishes use mineral oils and beeswax once or twice a year. Simple formulas available at local hardware stores.

Well I hope I didn’t leave anything out, if you have any questions please feel free to ask.

Thanks for stopping by and have great day.

-Balazs Moldovan

 

how to care for whiskey barrel furniture

 

 

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Whiskey Barrel Tables

“Plenty of Whiskey Barrel Tables options to choose from here!”

There are several Whiskey Barrel Tables options available in our ONLINE SHOP. Here I will list a couple to show you what the Hungarian Workshop has to offer. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions and or would like a custom piece to be made.

Whiskey Barrel Bar Table - Whiskey Barrel Tables by The Hungarian WorkshopOur Whiskey Barrel Bar Tables are designed with style, elegance and charm in mind. The unique hour glass shape gives this pieces a very sleek and attractive appearance that everyone will sure to admire. The Whiskey Barrel’s ring adds strength to the table’s foundation while working as a pleasant foot rest. The table top is created from used Whiskey Barrel lids that have been completely charred to give the whiskey its great smokey flavor and distinctive color. With stainless steel hardware added for maximum durability and straight, this bar tables will be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

Whiskey Barrel Coffee Table - Whiskey Barrel Tables by the Hungarian WorkshopAlthough a popular design to utilize the open space underneath the table top, I will guarantee you have not seen a table exactly like this one! Made only from hard American White Oak this Whiskey Barrel Table is great quality all the way. The table top is created from the heads (lids) of barrels and shows off the charred inside which is essential for the whiskey’s great taste and color. The border edging is made from the outside part of the heads which may on occasionally reveal the distillery’s markings of dates & times when the alcohol was poured. The table top lifts up to maximize the use of the barrel’s hallow inside. The legs are also made from the lids which are laminated together to create a strong & sturdy base.

Whiskey Barrel Round Table - Whiskey Barrel Tables by the Hungarian WorkshopWe also have some end tables and another coffee table that you might want to see in out Whiskey Barrel Furniture part of the ONLINE STORE. Please be sure to subscribe to our online newsletter to receive important new product information and coupon codes to save you big on your next purchase.

Follow us on FACEBOOK as well to see what new orders we are currently working on.

Thank you

-Balazs Moldovan

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Whiskey Barrel Furniture Ideas

“One of Southern California’s best barrel furniture manufacturer and designer,the Hungarian Workshop has plenty of whiskey barrel furniture ideas to show you.”

Whiskey Barrel Furniture in San DiegoLet me guess, you just got your hands on a premium whiskey barrel  and now your are thinking about making something out of it. Excellent! The art of up cycling should be embraced by others. It’s is perfect way of doing something positive for the environment and an easy way to obtain a great hobby. Whether you are a beginner or an expert woodworker, using reclaimed material will arise new challenges.

In this blog I will show you a few of my whiskey barrel furniture ideas which you can use as a start in your own project’s plan. I won’t cover all designs but I encourage you too check out my site anyway and share it with anyone who enjoys Wine & Whiskey Barrel creations.

The Adirondack Chair

This is by far the most common project because we are all familiar with the style. This chair requires to use 90% of a full barrel and has minimal amount precision cuts. This an ideal plan for you if you have made an Adirondack chair before and I guarantee you won’t have any troubles.

Whiskey Barrel Coffee Table

Whiskey Barrel Table IdeasNow I am sure you have seen this concept as well. By cutting the barrel in half you create a perfect storage space which most homes could always use a little more of. There are very simple ways to make this design but I highly recommend using as much barrel wood as you can. Occasionally you will see craftsman mixing other type of wood with barrel and I feel that kind of takes away from the art. However when it comes to making a table top I do myself ideally use well seasoned white oak. It’s the same type of wood as the barrel and I won’t have to worry about seems opening up from undried material.

Cutting Boards and Platters

Whiskey Barrel Platter If you work with barrels regularly, you will most likely have some extra lids and staves left over. Small projects can be very fun especially when you can make something within a shorter period of time. You never want to lose interest in what you are working on so small items can be a good way to open up new doors to creativity.

Rule Of Thumb

CHAIR: When you are making a chairs it isn’t structurally sound unless you can lean back on its hind legs and rock back and forth.  It’s the best way to test for high quality since someone will always do it.

TABLE: Use the best quality seasoned wood for the table top. Any tight joints and flat surface will want to move around and a project can be a bust within a few month. Same goes for cutting boards, be sure to dry out the barrel wood fully before glueing anything up.

Well I hope this little blog got your brain filling up with a few of your own ideas. Always remember to be safe, wear eye protection and have fun.

Also be sure to sign up for our news letter to receive coupon codes and new item updates!

-Balazs Moldovan