Gardening and Horticulture - Rebuild a half whiskey barrel

Can anyone tell me how to rebuild a half whiskey barrel? I just purchased one from a neighbor and it disintegrated upon getting it home. Or shall I use it for firewood?

Same thing happened to me once...

Getting the staves to stay together long enough to put the metal ring back on is the problem. I glued them, one by one! If my time is worth 50 cents an hour, I'd have been better off buying another one.

Which I eventually did. This time, I drilled 1/4" holes through ring on all 4 sides and then put in wood screws. That one never fell apart.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Thanks for the reply. Maybe we can hear from an actual cooper (isn't that a barrel builder?). I was thinking of somehow putting the staves into some sand. The bottom seems to be a problem, too. It would probably make some great smoking wood for a bbq, though.

Thanks!