DIY & Inspo

April 28th, 2021

Whether it’s for your man cave, she shed, home bar or business, personalized barrel heads are beautiful, unique decor pieces that truly stand out anywhere you hang them on display.

At Midwest Barrel Co., we offer many different customization options that range from pre-designed graphics to totally customized artwork. All you have to do is pick whether you want a whiskey barrel head or a wine barrel head and select your style (or send us your artwork), and then our graphic design and laser engraving team gets to work!

But what happens when your barrel head arrives at your door? What next? One of the most frequently asked questions we receive from customers about barrel heads is how to go about hanging them.

There are actually a number of ways a person could go about the job. But we’ve put together a quick video and guide for how to easily prep and hang a custom, laser-engraved barrel head on your wall. 

First, you’re going to need some supplies.

• Drill
• Pliers
• Tape measure
• Set square
• Carpenter square
• Steel cable wire
• D-ring holders
• Screws

Then, it’s time to get to work. Follow these steps and you’ll have your barrel head up on display in no time. Watch the video for a detailed look at how it’s done.

Step 1: Measure and mark where you need to place the first D-ring hanger. Make sure the mark is centered vertically.

Step 2: Set a screw and, using the drill, secure the first D-ring hanger in place.

Step 3: Determine where to place the second D-ring hanger. Measure the distance of the first D-ring hanger to the second.

Step 4: Repeat Step 2 to secure the second D-ring hanger in place.

Step 5: Attach the steel cable wire to the first D-ring hanger and then attach to the second. You will want to allow some slack. Cut any excess wire.

Step 6: You’re all set! Find a secure spot to hang your barrel head in a wall stud and put it on display.

If you’re in the research stage and haven’t actually purchased an engraved barrel head, then it’s useful to know the differences between whiskey and wine barrel heads.

The type of barrel head you have – wine or whiskey – doesn’t affect how you’ll go about hanging it up. The same steps apply to both. Diameters will generally be similar for both, anywhere from 21-24 inches. The only clear difference as far as specs go is that wine barrel heads are 5-6 inches deep, while whiskey barrel heads are 4-5 inches deep.

However, the differences are more pronounced when we start talking about appearances. No two barrels are the same. They all have different characteristics that tell their unique story. But whiskey and wine barrels have a few key differences between the styles.

Though made from oak just like a whiskey barrel head, wine barrel heads tend to be a higher quality product and slightly heavier than whiskey barrel heads. The heads are flatter and are less likely to warp as they dry out over time. They’re also cleaner in general and have two rust-free, galvanized rings screwed to the barrel head.

Wine barrel heads are also lightly stained and finished with poly.

But if it’s rustic you’re after, then you’ve got to take a look at whiskey barrels. We do our best to reinforce the heads by screwing the rust-colored ring (there’s only one on barrel heads) to the head and adding a 2x4 inch block of wood to reinforce the back. Still, the heads are not as flat. They’ll also have slight variations in the engraving finish.

Hopefully this guide got you started on putting your personalized whiskey or wine barrel head on display in your home, office, restaurant or other location! If not, or if you have any other questions, feel free to reach out and give us a call at 402-704-8226 or send us an email. We’re always happy to help and chat about barrel DIY projects!

You can also browse our whiskey and wine barrel heads, along with design categories and options. We have many themed collections, including beer and bourbon, family name display, seasonal, wedding guestbook, logo and more.

Cheers! 🍻