Bung Removal

[Temperance Distilling]

What is the best/Fastest technique for removing Oak barrel bungs?

It just seems like such a hassle and know there is a better way.

[bluestar]

Sadly, no one makes an old-fashioned bung remover. If they get tight enough, you often have to drill them out.

[HedgeBird]

I use a large coarse thread, hex-header screw and drive it into the bung with a ratchet, then use a block of wood and claw hammer to pry it out. Typically the bung breaks in two during removal, but its fast and simple.

[Mash]

Pipe wrench, if it breaks then the drill.

[Jedd Haas]

Use a wooden mallet to tap the bung on all sides. Don't use a metal hammer; it will break the bung. If you don't have a mallet, use a block of wood and you can hit the block with a metal hammer.

[Ned]

On the super-slick end of the spectrum there is the Bung Puller from Stortz Tools: cool, remove/reuse, bit spendy sure but cool

http://www.stortz.com/OnlineStore/ProductDetail/ProductID/13162/bung_puller.aspx

Easy/cheap/fast/1x use = just split the bung right down the middle with a flat head screw driver and pop out both sides of the bung

You can also take a deadblow mallet and whale on the barrel (not on the bung) on either side of the bung until it loosens up and then just pluck it out

[bluestar]

All the standard methods mentioned should work. But we find more than half of the bungs won't come out that way in the full-size 53g barrels.

[Ned]

The whaling option is highest effort for the lowest return for sure. The others are all dependable.

[One Eight D]

On the super-slick end of the spectrum there is the Bung Puller from Stortz Tools: cool, remove/reuse, bit spendy sure but cool

http://www.stortz.com/OnlineStore/ProductDetail/ProductID/13162/bung_puller.aspx

This thing is the bomb. If you plan on working with hundreds, or eventually thousands of barrels, the investment makes sense.

[kckadi]

I use a slide hammer/dent puller. You screw a large wood screw into the bung and then attached the screw to the slide hammer and the bung should pop out very easily.

Harbor freight, Amazon, Autozone, etc has them for under $50 or cheaper. Very easy and quick.

http://www.harborfreight.com/15-piece-slide-hammer-and-puller-set-5469.html $20

[Micah Nutt]

Bung pullers are still being made.

http://www.stortz.com/OnlineStore/ProductDetail/ProductID/13162/bung_puller.aspx

This one is pricey. There are others.

Alternatively, switch to silicone bungs. Easy to get in and out. And, they are reusable.

[captnKB]

we leave the original bung in and just drill a hole the size of a bung on the head of the barrel, the siphon out the booze. Then refill and replace with a new bung. Bunge is easily removed with a cheap Bondo dent puller

[Micah Nutt]

For taking samples:

One of our local breweries drills a little hole in a head and plugs it with a nail. Easy to take samples. Their nails weren't SS. I've been thinking about doing this; if so SS nails.

[Dehner Distillery]

Hello, It is called a slide hammer. The best thing in the world. HANDS DOWNS!

Dehner....out...... :0)

[Natrat]

I'm not a fan of the silicone bungs ever since I rinsed a barrel and left the bung in it to keep dust out. When the sun heated up the barrel in the window, it popped the silicone bung out right into my forehead, and just about knocked me out! Them things are heavier than you think!

The poplar bungs are unpleasant to use...they usually split when I pull them. Oak bungs are good, and come out relatively well. I use one of those chain vice grips for holding pipe. Bungs come out like butter with that.

Dan

[Blackheart]

I used a slide hammer with a coarse screw in the bit. This one is a 5 pounder. Use a cheap 1 pounder if you can find one. Maybe $30 or so max.

http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-5632-Hammer-Puller-9-Piece/dp/B0042D7J32/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1430136107&sr=1-3&keywords=Slide+hammer%2C+1+lb