Originally a hole would have been bored, and then a pod auger was used to ream the hole to a taper to allow a tapered stopper or plug to be tightened into the hole. These bung borers shown were an improvement in that they carried out the process in one operation.

Rare bung borers with a tang to fit a brace

Cask Sizes

Pin 4.5 gallons Firkin 9 gallons Kilderkin 18 gallons Half Hogshead 27 gallons Barrel 36 gallons Hogshead 54 gallons Puncheon 72 gallons Butt 108 gallons Tun 216 gallons

Image:Whit McLeod

The name and size of casks varies with the contents, namely, whisky, beer, and wine and also casks for dry goods. British casks of wine used the following sizes: Gallon, rundlet, barrel, tierce, hogshead, (firkin, puncheon and tertian) (pipe and butt) and tun.

Wooden kegs usually had two tapered holes, one for filling, a tapered hole in the side (middle) of the keg and one for emptying, a tap hole through one end near the rim..