I made and successfully use a plastic rain barrel in my back yard. I want to use the rain off the front side of the house, too. The downspout in my front yard empties next to the front door, so I want something attrative. I bought an oak whisky barrel (and a half barrel, to elivate it. Does anyone have any experience and advice on converting it? I hate to cut the whole top off the barrel and, even if I did so, I'm not sure I can fit into the barrel to reach down far enough to connect a PVC pipe nut (like I did with the plastic barrel). Will the wet wood swell and, alone, hold the faucet in place? Do I need to first insert the faucet into a cork or a softer piece of wood? Any ideas?