NOW WITH RECURVED BOTTOM STAVES FOR PROPER ROCKER MOTION! Just like our lounge chairs, these Bourbon Barrel Rockers are handcrafted for comfort & relaxation. The recurved bottom staves allow the utmost rocking movement creating the leading barrel chairs available. Each stave is polished just right to leave behind the material’s true characteristics & patina. Created entirely from genuine reclaimed bourbon barrels, you will find rocking back & forth your new favorite way to unwind. Dimensions: Length - 36’’ Width - 34’’ Height 38’’ Weight - 45lbs - 55lbs Bourbon Whiskey Barrels - What they are & how they are made Bourbon Whiskey Barrels are made from quarter sawn American White Oak. This wood is very strong & hard, while highly rot resistant. The pieces that create the barrels are called staves & they come in a few different sizes. There are usually about 30-34 staves that make up a barrel. The barrel’s top & bottom are called barrel heads. This is where you will often see the cooperage or distillery markings. Before the heads go into place, the barrel goes through a burning process where the inside is charred completely black. This burnt oak is what gives bourbon whiskey its great taste, aromas & color. After the charring process is finished, the coopers insert the barrel heads into their place & hammer on the steel bands. (Hoops or Rings, which ever name you prefer.) Most of this work is done by machines these days but the process is still the same. One of the most important, & often over looked concepts, is that the barrels are not held together by anything other than the steel bands. No nails, screws or glue. A fresh new barrel will still have a high moisture content from the steaming which helps keep the barrel solid until it is filled. Once they are filled, they can go without leaking for several decades. The liquid content will keep the wood swollen & barrel bands will hold the everything together. Later when the barrels are emptied, they will start to dry out & they will eventually fall apart. This breaking down process can take a while, but it all depends on what environment you live in. in humid parts of the country the barrels will stay together longer. You can also hose them down or keep them out in the rain to extend their life span. Keep in mind, even if you put them indoors, the wood will still eventually dry out & shrink - it will just happen at a much slower rate. The good news - right around this time, when the barrel begins to break down, the oak is at its finest state, & ready to be used for our handcrafted bourbon barrel furniture! Bourbon Barrel Furniture - Features & Characteristics As I mentioned earlier, the insides of the barrels are charred, which means the furniture will be black on one side. The outside of the barrel wood has darker colors as well as colors that range from browns, greens & black. Before each project, the staves are cleaned, rounded, & sanded to perfection without removing too much of the material
