FAQs | Texas Barrel Chair Co.

A: I typically use wine barrels for their size, shape, light toasting and natural color from the wine, but I have also made furniture out of whiskey barrels. Whiskey barrels will have much heavier char on the inside of the staves which requires extra work to remove, and their overall shape is not as curved as most wine barrels, which ends up with a much more flat final design. The exterior of whiskey barrels also tends to have a much more rustic look which comes through on the final piece. I will be glad to build a set out of whisky barrels but would generally recommend wine barrels for their overall comfort and look.

A: This depends on the exposure to the elements that the furniture will get.

If you are planning on keeping your furniture on a covered porch or indoors, the maintenance on the oil stain will be fairly minimal. A good beeswax or oil-based, wood conditioning product will add some life back to the wood if it looks and feels dry. I would suggest a good cleaning followed by a light sanding (be sure to wipe away, vacuum or blow off sanding dust), then conditioning or re-oiling/re-staining about once a year. I personally like Cabot's Australian Timber Oil. When applied properly it creates a nice, smooth finish that lasts longer than most other products on the market. Always carefully follow manufacturer's instructions before use. Keep in mind that no outdoor wood finish product is completely maintenance free so expect to do some follow-up applications with whatever finish you choose.

If your furniture will be exposed to the elements, plan on taking one or more of the following steps to protect the wood and extend the life of your furniture:

Re-apply a high-quality, outdoor, oil-based stain, sealer or wood oil more frequently. Typically about twice a year or whenever you notice the wood starts looking dry and no longer repels water. The oil is very easy to apply, penetrates into the wood pores, and will provide UV and moisture protection. Additional layers put on over time will build up and add additional protection, similar to a top coat.
Buy some good furniture covers and cover the furniture when not in use.
Add an additional spar polyurethane top coat. However, top coats can be tricky and require just as much maintenance as penetrating oils. They need to be reapplied at first sign of wear. If and when they fail, they need to be removed entirely which requires a lot of work.

I will be glad to give anyone advice on DIY maintenance. I can also provide this service for you at a reasonable fee. Contact me with any questions or for more details.

A: This depends on how much outdoor exposure and how much preventative maintenance the furniture gets. The barrels I use for materials are all made from high-quality, American and French oak, which is a very strong and durable wood.

That being said, the wood is not pressure treated as is most outdoor lumber, and can eventually rot if left in a moist environment or become dried out if left in the sun unprotected. I treat each piece of barrel furniture with a high-quality, penetrating oil-based, outdoor stain that provides UV protection as well as moisture protection. That usually lasts about a year before needing another application under light exposure to the elements. You can definitely expect to do some occasional preventative maintenance to extend the life or your barrel chair furniture. See maintenance FAQ for more details and options.

With proper care and maintenance these chairs should last just as long, or longer than any deck they’re sitting on.

A: For stain I like to use the lightest tone color because it does not cover up the wood's natural beauty, and it allows some of the natural color from the wine to show while still providing UV protection. I'll be glad to use another custom color on request.

Sizes: I build them all based on the same measurements, but since each chair is built to order I can always make slight adjustments. Width and backrest angle are the easiest to adjust; however, I don’t suggest going larger than 28” width so it will fit through a standard door. Height and length is somewhat determined by the stave length.

Tables: With or without the original barrel hoops. Also, in some cases the original barrel may have engraved logos or markings in one of the heads while the other one is blank. In this case you can choose which side you'd like for your table.

Other: I'm always willing to accommodate requests within reason. Got an idea or a feature you'd like to see? Want a bottle opener mounted on a chair or table leg? Do you have a special glass you'd like a holder for? Let me know and I can work it into the build.

A: Sure! I’ll even give you a discount. I’ve had several customers in the wine, distilling or brewing industry who want to use their own barrels because they have sentimental value or just because they want to save a little cash. Used barrels aren’t cheap! I typically pay anywhere between $50-$125 per barrel. If you provide your own I’ll knock off my current cost on each barrel used. Provided you can get them to me and they are in good, usable condition. The fresher the better. If you've got an old barrel that's been sitting around a while it might be better used as a planter.

A: It totally depends on the time of year and number of orders in que, but I typically have at least a month waiting list, sometimes as long as 3 months. I'm a one-man, part-time operation and I don't keep an inventory of furniture so everything is built to order. Much of my work is done outdoors so it can also depend on the weather. Once started, each chair takes about 2 weeks to complete for a basic oil finish. A set (2 chairs and 1 table) takes about a month to build and stain, and up to 2 months for the long drying times of the additional clear coat finish.

Smaller, non-furniture items are usually in stock or have a much shorter turnaround time. Inquire for more details.