A semi-load of empty wine barrels

[rcnewcomb]

We are looking for ideas here.

What would you do with a semi-load of _empty_ wooden wine barrels?

Background:
My partner was out making sales calls yesterday and a potential client has offered us a challenge. The customer has a chance to get a semi trailer load (or more) of empty wooden wine barrels. Apparently the wood is nice both inside and outside. We don't know the species. (South Dakota isn't exactly the wine capital of America)

One thought was to cut them in quarters and use those pieces for for display units in the customer's retail stores.

They would like to have something carved on the wood. We have VCarve Wizard, but I assume the surfaces are curved. Perhaps we could plane an area and then carve on it.

Apparently the vintner in California has several truck loads and is trying to find these barrels a home. Perhaps you could get a trailer load of your own to experiment with.

What ideas to you have?

[billp]

Randy,
If the barrels are typical of most mass produced versions, their tops/bottms are the parts I'd concentrate on. The "curve"is usually less pronounced (and in some cases minimal). You could then cut off the tops/bottoms and carve customers names/addresses into them. I'd then hit all of the wine/liquor/restaurant establishments in your area and market them with their name/logo on them.
You could also search on the web for wine making schools and offer them similar items for their customers who are making barrels of their own "vino"...
Another use around here has been to just simply cut off the tops, place them in/on a mound of soil in a front yard, and have flowers "pouring"out of the mouth of the barrel, nice effect, and NO carving needed....
If the shape is consistant throughout the truck load, it wouldn't be hard to get someone with a 3D program such as Artcam Pro to draw files for you that would actually cut on the curve, so you could then utilize the entire length of the staves as well...
Hmmmm... maybe even trying to build some "turtleback" wine barrel steamer trunks?

[gerald_d]

Your post prompted some quick photos around the house.....

A wine bottle rack:


2421

2422

Barrels cut in half for plants:


2423


Curved garden bench:


2424


The barrels may have a lot of splits from the inner surface:


2425
an edge of half a barrel planter

[mikejohn]

I have seen barrels cut like this and turned into seats in many an English pub.

2426

.........Mike

[dmdraper]

Randy,

I've seen Bill's idea played out in several resturants here in American's "other" wine region (SW Michigan).

Usually, the botton or top of the barrel has a 2.5D engraved something-or-other and they are hung on a wall.

Dave D.

[den73160]

Another idea is for a wine rack when you cut the top/bottom off below the bands.

[gerald_d]

http://www.crafty-owl.com/barrel.htm
http://www.calvines.com/Wine-Stave-Furniture/
http://www.tastemonterey.com/barrel_works.html
more (http://www.google.com/search?q=barrel+stave&hl=en&lr=&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD:20 05-05%2CGGLD:en&start=10&sa=N)

[rcnewcomb]

The creativity of all of these minds working on a common problem is awesome.

Thanks for all of your help!

[seana]

Randall,
I hear that they also work great for wine storage.



Sean