Bob Fitterman schreef:

> Thank you to Hans van Oost and D. L. Bullock for their responses to my
> question.
>
> I know from experience if I try to put a nail into a piece of wood
> near where there is an existing hole (from a previous nail), I run
> the risk that the new nail won't be held in place.  How was this
> problem avoided when a barrel was re-pinned? As I mentioned in my
> original question, the pins all appear to be quite tight.

Barrels were made from soft wood with nearly no grain, such as willow
or lime.  Although the chance of a new pin being too close to an old
pin-hole hole is very small, the old holes were filled with small
wooden pegs most of the time.  I forgot to mention that; thanks for
the question.

Hans van Oost, Netherlands

 [ Hmmm.  I watched an old-timer in Holland making wooden shoes from
 [ a similar soft wood with little grain.  He said that many farmers
 [ in the lowlands still enjoy the traditional klompen, which aren't
 [ affected much by the salty water.  I guess that's good news for
 [ the barrels, too!    (-:   -- Robbie