38 replies to this topic

[Big Nake]

So you guys know that I have been playing with tap handles. My original design did not work as well as I'd hoped and I think "tap handle life span" was the biggest issue. Since then, I have picked up a very cheap jigsaw (maybe $30) and also a good palm sander (maybe $25). I picked up some 3.5" stock (this can be pine, oak, whatever) that was 6' long and ¾" thick. I found shapes that I wanted by searching Google Images. If a design looked good to me but appeared to be too complex for me to make, I forgot it. You can see that I settled on things like glassware-shapes, surfboards, oars, paddles, etc. I printed them out so that they were 3.5" wide, cut them out and then traced the design right onto the wood plank & cut them out. These were easy to cut with the saw and then I sanded the bejesus out of them. For the tap handle adapter, this time I picked up some 'threaded rod' that is 15/16"-18. This rod was 3' long and I cut it down with a hacksaw. The rod will accept a ferrule that can be picked up from various suppliers including Kegworks for $2 to $3 each. Drill a hole in the bottom of the handle, insert the threaded rod with some wood glue and make sure it's straight or the handle will lean. Then I primed them and painted them whatever color I wanted. I designed the labels and printed them on photo paper with the proper dimensions. Then fastened the labels to the tap with spray adhesive (3M Super 77) and when all of that was set, I hit the handle with a coating of clear spray gloss to keep everything protected from fading or getting wet. These are one-piece, durable handles that will last a long time. Cheers Beerheads!

[brewman]

Very nice. I need to hit the store for more supplies to build my chalkboard tap handles. I have a guy who wants two more.Dan

[tag]

Any tricks for drilling the handle straight?

[Big Nake]

Any tricks for drilling the handle straight?

Not really. I put it into a vice and clamp it so the handle it upside down and sticking straight ups. I try to make sure that I'm holding the drill straight. You could drill it a little large so that you have flexibility and then get its straight an glue it straight but it just takes practice. It can't be that hard because all of those taps had the ferrule screwed on and they stood up perfectly straight... ish. And I am not that habndy. Cheers.Ps. I'm drunk a s a monkeyfighting skiuknk at teh nmoment,.

[SchwanzBrewer]

You can get a drill with a level bubble on the top.

[Buzz Buzzard]

i have not even put handles on my humble set up. but it would be fun to do this . thanks for sharing that.

[Big Nake]

Holy blazes was I drunk last night. It must've taken me 10 minutes to make that last post. :chug:Anyway, I found some great spray paint (RustOleum Painters Touch) which goes on very smooth and glossy. The clear coat gloss is by them too. They also have a line of "hammered" paints that come in bronze, gold, copper, silver, etc. that can hide imperfections in the wood. The places that sell the ferrules usually have finials like this...They usually run about $2.50 or $3 and you could Snazz-up your handle that way too. Cheers!

[jeffdj]

wow, great job! I like the finials on the top. Thanks for sharing the idea.

[Dave McG]

Holy blazes was I drunk last night. It must've taken me 10 minutes to make that last post.

That's why I don't post more, even at my best that would have taken that long for me!

[Big Nake]

Another recent tap handle effort. I have a couple others in the works. I have a few summer beers coming up and was thinking of making a handle in the shape of a flip-flop! Cheers.

[EWW]

Looks great Ken - love the clean lines and simple beauty

[DaBearSox]

Looks great Ken - love the clean lines and simple beauty

and the huge tracts of land...

[bigdaddyale]

looks good -should have made look like a boat paddle

[shaggaroo]

looks good -should have made look like a boat paddle

maybe that's not the paddling he was thinking of??

[chadm75]

These are kick ass, Ken! Good work! Wish I was that handy!

[MyaCullen]

maybe that's not the paddling he was thinking of??

lolmighta looked cooler in natural wood finish

[Stout_fan]

Nice work Ken.You know these folks at kegworks and the "stores" on amazon and e-bay are getting 5 to 10 bucks for a ferrule.Dats nutz!You know these folks aren't making them. Searching McMaster, Rockler, Woodcraft, Woodturnerscatalog, penn state industries and fastenal I can't find any for sale.Web search for 3/8 - 16 ferrulle isn't turning up only the high priced re-salers.So could I trouble you to post the other sources you spoke of?thanks

[Big Nake]

Nice work Ken.You know these folks at kegworks and the "stores" on amazon and e-bay are getting 5 to 10 bucks for a ferrule.Dats nutz!You know these folks aren't making them. Searching McMaster, Rockler, Woodcraft, Woodturnerscatalog, penn state industries and fastenal I can't find any for sale.Web search for 3/8 - 16 ferrulle isn't turning up only the high priced re-salers.So could I trouble you to post the other sources you spoke of?thanks

Kegworks has them in-stock for $3.50. That's where I got most of mine. Some of the other places DO seem to be sold out or higher so maybe these things are getting harder to find. I know I got the finials online from a LHBS in Maryland someplace. I did notice that these things were tough to find occasionally but eventually became available again. Kegworks always seemed like the better place to get them.

[MyaCullen]

https://www.mcmaster...inserts/=iltmog

[Big Nake]

https://www.mcmaster...inserts/=iltmog

That's true... you could drill out a larger hole and then add the threaded insert. Those inserts are available just about any hardware store and I can get the measurements for you if you need them. The only problem is that they require quite a large hole and I ended up splitting a number of handles I worked hard to cut and sand. So I went the "threaded rod and ferrule" route which is much easier. You think it's tough drilling a hole so that a piece of threaded rod is straight? Try drilling a hole so that one of these inserts is straight. UGH!