Wine Barrel Seats

We got a few wine barrels for décor at our wedding, and after the festivities, we decided to turn one of them into seats for our fire-pit. They are great because we can leave them out year round, the weathering only makes them better with time! 

Skill level: Beginner

Made from mostly reused material

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Materials: 

• 1 wine barrel 
• 1 x 4 inch wood for the seat slats (we needed about 7 pieces of 1" x 4" x 8') 
• 2 x 4 inch wood for the frame (we need 1 piece of 2" x 4" x 8') 
• Stain 
• Wood screws 

Tools

• Paint brush or cloth or stain application 
• Rubber gloves 

• Electric drill 
• Electric hand saw 
• String (nothing fancy, just need it for a tool) 
• Pencils 
• Cardboard (used for making a template of the seats) 

How to Guide: 

Each barrel is a little different, you will have to adjust these directions as needed. 

Measure twice cut once 

• Measure the diameter of your barrel at the widest point around the middle, and mark two even points on opposing sides.
• Draw a straight line down each side, leaving about 1-2 inches before you meet the metal rung. 
• Starting from one side, from the top end of your line, draw a line around the barrel until you meet the top of the line on the other side.  
• Starting from the same side, from the bottom end of your line, going in the opposite direction, draw a line around the barrel until you meet the bottom of the line on the other side. 

Cut it out 

• Using your lines as a guide cut apart the barrel. 
  
• Once cut, you should have two pieces, each with a small upper back. 
  

Measurements 
Get out a pad of paper to keep track of your measurements! 

• Inner Width: measure the inner side to inner side across the widest point of your barrel - should be right along the seat area where the back starts on either side.  
  
• Outer Width: measure the outer side to outer side across the widest point of your barrel - should also be right along the seat area where the back starts on either side.  
  
• Inner to Outer Width: at the very front and centre of your barrel, measure from the inner back to the outer edge of the wall. 
  

• Inner to Outer Width Radius: divide your Inner to Outer Width by 2. 
  
• Wall Width: measure the width of your barrel wall, should be about 1-2 inches.  
  
• Seat to Base Depth: measure from the bottom of the barrel to the seat edge. 
  

Make a giant compass 
Remember Grade 4 math? Well it finally came in handy for something!  

• Tie your piece of string around a pencil near the tip.  
  
• Starting where the string is tied to the pencil take your inner to outer width radius measurement and mark this on the string.  
  
• Tie the other end of the string to a second pencil where this measurement ends.  
  
• You should now have two pencils tied at the ends of a string.  
  
• The length between the two pencils should match your  inner to outer width radius measurement. 

Outer template 

• Lay your cardboard on a hard smooth surface. 
  
• Using your giant make-shift compass, in the centre of the cardboard place one pencil tip down and extend the string until taut with second pencil also tip down. Keeping the pencil in the middle of the cardboard in place, use the second pencil to trace the outer circle of your seat. 

X marks the spot

• Draw 2 intersecting lines across the middle (looks like a '+') so that you have a guide to find the "middle sides" and "middle front to back".  
  
• Cut along the edge of you circle. 

Template ledge 

• Starting at the edge of your circle on one of the middle sides, moving towards the centre, use your wall width measurement to mark this on the line. 
  

• Repeat this on the other end of your middle side.  
  
• Using your wall width measurement, draw an inner circle that follows along the outer edge, between the two marks you made up the middle line.  
  
• Cut this piece out of your template. 
  
• You should now have a template (looks something like the below drawing) that rests comfortably in one of your wine barrels where the seat will be.

Saw your slats 

• Using the outer width measurement, cut 16 pieces for your slats (8 for each seat) using your 1" x 4" wood - this does not have to be exact. 
  
• Using your inner width measurement, cut 2 pieces for your frame (1 for each seat) using your 2" x 4" wood. 
  

Seat base 

• Lay 4 pieces of your 1" x 4" slats together lengthwise and place 1 of your frame pieces down, perpendicular to your slats, in the centre.  
  
• Your centre frame piece should be longer on one end and hanging off.  
  
• At the other end of your centre frame, leave a gap between the edge that measures the length of your wall width.  
  
• Screw down your centre frame.
  

Check point! 

• With your centre frame face down, place your 'front half' seat in the barrel so that the edge of the slats rest against where the back of the barrel begins.  
  
• The centre frame should rest comfortably within the inner edges of the barrel and the slats should be resting across the edge of the barrel wall.  
  
• If everything is fitting, using a pencil, on the underside of the slats, draw along the edge of the outer wall where the 'front half' of the seat will be. This will be used as a cutting guide for the slats so that they fit in line with the outer edge of the barrel.  
  

Cut out 

• With your slats face up and your centre frame down, saw along the half circle line you drew. 
  
• Now flip it over so that your slats are face down and your centre frame faces up, and place your next 4 slats under the centre frame and screw them in place. 
  
• Flip it back over and place your template on top. The wider part of the outer edge should line up with the 'front half" of your seat (this has already been cut out). 
  
• Trace along the back edge of your template and saw along this edge.  
  
• Your seat should now fit comfortably in your barrel, with the slats resting across the edge of the barrel wall.  
  

You will need to repeat the above 3 multi-steps for each barrel seat.  

Frame it 

• Using the 2" x 4" wood, cut 4 pieces (2 for each seat) that easily fit on either side of the centre frame.  
  
• Using your seat to base depth measurement, cut 4 pieces (2 for each seat) again using the 2" x 4" wood.  
  
• On the underside of your seats, screw the side frames in place on either side of the centre frame. Repeat on second seat.  
  
• On the back half of your seat, with the seat to base pieces standing up perpendicular to the frame, screw them in place. Repeat on second seat.  
  
• Your seats should now sit firmly in place within your barrel.
  
  

Sands of time 

• Sand along the edges and top of your seat. 
  
• Sand the edges of your barrel along the cut line.  
  
• Wipe down with clean cloth 
  

Stain it 

• Put on your rubber gloves! 
  
• Open your stain and make sure that it is stirred well. 
  
• Using a paint brush that you are not attached to (it will be ruined after use) apply the stain to the surface as directed. 
  
• Make sure your strokes go with the grain. 
  
• Wait 5-10 minutes for the stain to set. 
  
• Wipe the surface with your old rag. 
  
• Let it dry for 24 hours 
  

Finishing touches 

• At the bottom of your barrels drill a few holes so that rain water can drain out. 
  
• Place your seat frame down in your barrels. 

Grab some marshmallows, chocolate and gram crackers to make s'mores while sitting on your new wine barrel seats around the fire-pit!