Beer tap handle hardware

I found this guy on the net who said he will custom make me a tap handle for 75 bux if i just give him the hardware. Thats the thing i dont know what hardware i need. My kegerator is going to be from keg connection and the 2 faucet tower so im guessing the usa style is universal. If someone can let me know what hardware ill need put in that would be great thanks!!!

For $75 he should supply everything.

All you need is a threaded insert. Northern Brewer has them, or any woodworking shop should have them.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/kegging/tap-handles/tap-handle-insert.html

I hope it's not $75 for one...if so, Boo boo is right.

McMaster Carr will make you happy: http://www.mcmaster.com/#90016A031

By the way, what kind of handle are you talking about? For $75 there should be some precious gems or exquisite artwork involved.

You can buy the threaded insert at Lowes, Ace, Home Depot for about a dollar... and a decorative door handle / drawer pull makes a great topper.

For $75, I hope he's throwing in a happy ending....

I got the inserts at www.WoodCraft.com I also got some pen blanks that I will eventually put on a lathe and turn into my own handles. There are some great looking acrylic pen blanks for $3-$4.

75 for a custom made handle i though was a great deal. tap handles.com quoted 1000. most regular handles are between 40-80 so i though a design that i made was a steal at 75. you guys know a place where i can get a better price

http://www.fisherwoodcraft.com/taphandles.php

Fisherwoodcraft is a vendor on here... does great work. Email or PM him.

I'd be curious to see what they look like for $75. The hardware is readily available online at Mcmaster or other shops. I bought a whole pack of them and have yet to make anything into a tap handle. I really need to start looking around for something cool.

cyberbackpacker said:

http://www.fisherwoodcraft.com/taphandles.php

Fisherwoodcraft is a vendor on here... does great work. Email or PM him.

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Thanks cyberpacker, that's very kind of you to say

The McMaster-Carr link posted above is exactly what I use. Homebrew shops sell the same items for 10 times the price.

If you want ferrules, check out Beer Avenue. They've got the best prices I've found.

As for price, depending on the design $75 is not unreasonable. I ask $50 for any turnable design around 6" long, including the threaded insert. A ferrule will add $5.

-Joe

i looked at some of the links and the prices are good however for 75 i would be getting a little more of a custom job i think. Im getting my logo which is basically an M mounted at the top of the handle i design which i would think would take a while to do and quite a bit of skill. Hes going to paint it as well, does any one know a place that paints them as well? I told him 9 inches long because i wasnt sure what size i want but it sounded like an average size

With a custom logo and painting, $75 does sound very reasonable. I know based on the amount of time I put into each handle, $50 is really taking a loss on them if I pay myself a reasonable hourly rate.

I don't know of anyone who's doing custom painting of handles.

9" is a nice size for a bar top handle. It's a little tall for a fridge-front handle.

-Joe

does your company do painting? if so how much would that run?

One comment on fridge-front handles: it's kind of obvious but make sure that your handle doesn't impinge on the swing of the freezer door. I bought a used setup earlier this year and only have about 4" available for a tap handle.

Or you can epoxy/glue in a 3/8"x16 nut.

Homercidal said:

I bought a whole pack of them and have yet to make anything into a tap handle. I really need to start looking around for something cool.

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Ha ha, me too.
I was thinking about getting off my ass and making a few all the same.

Inspired by this thread and the start of rifle season for deer on Monday, I turned this one today from a piece of dogwood:

boo boo said:

Ha ha, me too.
I was thinking about getting off my ass and making a few all the same.

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Too funny. I was thinking about making a whole bunch of different ones!