Beer tap handles

[juslod]

I like the idea of getting the inserts and making your own tap handles... Looks like I need to make a trip to Lowes

 

[birvine]

I inserted one of the t-nuts I bought into a 10" length of wood that one of the kids found a few days back. It was a bit wobbly so I added some silicone sealant in and around the nut. Haven't tried it yet but it seems much more secure.

B

 

[MeatyPortion]

Getting ready to do this. Cool thread.

 

[RegionalChaos]

... and have forged a few steel ones.

-Joe

Joe, did you drill and tap the bottom? Did you add an insert? How did you fasten the forged ones?

 

[jgourd]

I recently had my father-in-law get some handles turned in Guatemala out of 9 different types of wood. Here are 5 of them. Sorry for the small pic.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I inserted one of the t-nuts I bought into a 10" length of wood that one of the kids found a few days back. It was a bit wobbly so I added some silicone sealant in and around the nut. Haven't tried it yet but it seems much more secure.

B

T-nuts aren't really what you want to use here. To secure them properly, you'd need a screw running down through the whole tap handle to pull the teeth up into the bottom. That's how t-nuts work. Use the inserts mentioned here.

 

[Dwain]

I want to get an Irish Shillelagh and use that as a tap handle for Stouts and Irish Reds.

You put one of these in your Shillelagh, and you won't be able to walk for a month!

 

[nostalgia]

Joe, did you drill and tap the bottom? Did you add an insert? How did you fasten the forged ones?

Yep, just drilled and tapped for 3/8-16. The mild steel taps very easily. A little light oil on the tap, and go slow, clearing chips often.

-Joe

 

[RegionalChaos]

Cool Joe, thanks for the feedback and letting me know. I may have to try a few

 

[Zamial]

and here I go...

I want to get an Irish Shillelagh and use that as a tap handle for Stouts and Irish Reds.

As the owner of a modern shillelagh I am a bit taken back. This is like saying you want to drive a new car in a demo derby...sure you can do it and yes, it would be cool but what a waste.

All the shillelagh's that are made now are made of blackthorn because all the trees in the Shillelagh forest were cut down...long, long ago. If you have one of these oak ones, that would be the Irish equivalent of an heirloom weapon...Cutting one of these into a tap handle would be like making an heirloom katana into a spoon...

Modern Shillelagh's are pricey at about $50+ a pop and take about 3 years to craft. You would be time and money ahead to make a "look-a-like". If you want I can send you some pics of mine or I strongly recommend: http://store.lollysirishgifts.com/ I LOVE mine!

As for the topic: Love, Love, Love the inserts and info here. Maybe once it warms up I can go digging through the old man's antler collection and find a few that I can craft into some handles. To add a bit of uniqueness to this idea I will be drilling a small hole in the end/tip to hang an engraved "dog tag/Id tag" that has the description of what is on that tap like: IPA, Oatmeal stout ect. One more "to do" to add to "the list"...

 

[birvine]

Just stumbled upon a big bag of inserts for $1 a piece. DIY handles, here I come!

 

[Flomaster]

Just stumbled upon a big bag of inserts for $1 a piece. DIY handles, here I come!

they were around 50¢ at Lowe's not that a dollar is breaking the bank, but its not the cheapest they can be had for

-=Jason=-

 

[birvine]

A supplier in Canada is selling them for a few dollars a piece, so I am envious of the 50 cent price!!

 

[Flomaster]

sorry I had my facts wrong its 1.50 each...

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137397-3767...l=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Ntt=3%2F8--16+insert

I remembered .50 some thing. at any rate 1.00 or 1.50 is cheap to turn what you want into your own custom tap handle.


-=Jason=-

 

[birvine]

Hey, no problem. Ends up being the same price, really. Not a lot yet of cost yet an opportunity for some interesting brew handle experiments!

B

 

[Golddiggie]

I'll need to see if anyone I know has a lathe I could use... I have some nice walnut that I could turn into handles. I might have some other wood that can be used too (saved it from when I was making knives)... I even have some elk horn that I could make into handles. I'll need to check the old handle material inventory, but I might even have some deer antler too.

I'll post up what I have for antlers/horns (pictures) later, if anyone's interested in some...

 

[birvine]

I'd be interested to see what you create. FYI, I think you can find inexpensive starter lathes at hardware stores. Canadian Tire has them for about $100. Probably not great, but for the number of handles I'm going to make, likely good enough.

B

 

[myty1705]

Rockler.com has the threaded inserts for 8.69 for a package of 8. Make as many as you want, sell the leftover inserts to a friend.....heck make extra handles and sell them at your next brew club meeting!!!