Method for reconditioning returnable barrels comprised of sheet metal

A method for reconditioning a returnable barrel comprised of sheet metal, wherein the returnable barrel is configured to be used initially as a bung barrel, comprising a barrel wall and a top cover with a fill and discharge bung and fixedly connected to the barrel wall, and is configured to be reused as a lid barrel with a bung lid or bung-free lid connected to an outwardly rolled opening rim of the barrel wall via a clamping ring closure after removal of the top cover, wherein the barrel wall has an upper portion forming a barrel neck recessed or tapered relative to the outwardly rolled opening rim of the barrel wall, wherein the top cover of the initial bung barrel is configured to have a rolled outer rim placed on the outwardly rolled opening rim of the barrel wall and connected to the outwardly rolled opening rim by lock-seaming and welding, the method comprising the steps of:

• circularly cutting the top cover of the bung barrel concentrically to a longitudinal center axis of the barrel at a transition between a plate of the top cover and an upwardly extending inner rim of the top cover to separate the plate of the top cover from the barrel wall and leave a free lower portion of the upwardly extending inner rim;
• and
• forming the lower portion of the upwardly extending inner rim into an annular circumferential inner groove of the barrel neck.