My main question is; couldn't I just use even rope to stand the boards up, then put the steel rings on around the outside of the barrel.
The land owner said there was a wire they used to stand the boards up and wire them to it. The "wire" turned out to be old silo bands placed around the inside (you can see one in the photo. I have it clamped and braced between two 2x4s.) I'll figure it out, but just wanted to check here and see what you guys thought. Thanks.