DIY Tap Handle?

[Photopilot]

Yep, bought the parts, welded, then grind and grind and grind and polish, then grind more, polish more, and some clear coat to bring out the shine. I really like how they turned out.

Hi Zack, I like how they look all polished and coated. But I want to go back to believing you hand crafted these pieces out of a solid chunk of metal yourself.

My man porch/beer cave has a nautical theme. I would really like to replace all my tap handles with belay pins. Unfortunately they are not cheap and will raise the cost of my keezer by over $200.

 

[jcoxen]

Hi Zack, I like how they look all polished and coated. But I want to go back to believing you hand crafted these pieces out of a solid chunk of metal yourself.

My man porch/beer cave has a nautical theme. I would really like to replace all my tap handles with belay pins. Unfortunately they are not cheap and will raise the cost of my keezer by over $200.

Google is your friend. Unless you want the polished bronze ones or have a heck of a lot of taps, it looks like you can get them for a bunch less than $200.

 

[Photopilot]

Google is your friend. Unless you want the polished bronze ones or have a heck of a lot of taps, it looks like you can get them for a bunch less than $200.

I fall under the heck of a lot of taps category. I have searched high and low for a reasonable solution for my "need" of belay pins. It would really be the piece de resistance to nautical brew porch. Those $10 belay pins look like $10 belay pins. I like the look of these belay pins.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/1569590...dworking_low&gclid=COvj0-Gu2LwCFZFrfgodaFgAKg

$29 x 9 taps =$261 or I can get a local guy to make me some custom teak ones at $55 each. I already have poured so much money into a $50 freezer at this point, whats another $500? At those prices I may just have to buy a lathe and learn to turn wood. It won't be any cheaper as I would probably ruin $1000s of dollars in exotic lumber in the process but at least I would get a lathe out of the deal.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Also try king metals online. They have tons of wrought iron bits and pieces. You can make some slick stuff that way

Thanks! I forgot all about those guys, and I have used them for wine rack rings before!

http://www.kingmetals.com/Home.aspx

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Thanks! I forgot all about those guys, and I have used them for wine rack rings before!

http://www.kingmetals.com/Home.aspx

You bet! It gets dangerous though. Next thing you know you have come up with all kinds of projects.

 

[ZackN]

You bet! It gets dangerous though. Next thing you know you have come up with all kinds of projects.

Yah and you end up spending way more than you thought you were going to on those 'few' parts :cross: lol

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Yah and you end up spending way more than you thought you were going to on those 'few' parts :cross: lol

Been there done that!

 

[titansvol]

Great work.


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[SFGiantsFan925]

Finally made something for my tap. Hope it's obvious what it is. Made from a piece of a dowel, a t-nut, sculpey clay, paint, and no skills haha. Never made anything like this and never used Sculpey or paints. Looks better in person but still happy with it. Now to figure out something for the other tap. Hmmmmm......


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[sandyeggoxj]

View attachment 182846

Finally made something for my tap. Hope it's obvious what it is. Made from a piece of a dowel, a t-nut, sculpey clay, paint, and no skills haha. Never made anything like this and never used Sculpey or paints. Looks better in person but still happy with it. Now to figure out something for the other tap. Hmmmmm......


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

Nice work! That is rad!

 

[NorthRiverS]

Here's my attempt at a homemade tap handle. Nothing special. Cost less than $10. I think it turned out nice....

NRS

 

[ZackN]

Made another tap handle today.
This one is an old weed wacker piston.

Cut and welded the rod to one of those bungs, then grinding, polishing and paint. I am going to keep this one for myself. The piston still rocks back and forth

sorry about the crappy phone pic.

 

[emorris]

Well after much thought here is my first attempt at Tap connecting rod from a 444


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Zibe]

Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[SFGiantsFan925]

Finally got around to making a second handle. I am a Firefighter so I figured I would make a hydrant.

I made this last night using Sculpey Clay and a little paint. Made it in about 2 hours. Turned out pretty good! Finally have another handle instead of the black stock Perlick one. Makes me want to make even more. Just need ideas.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1419365837.121607.jpg

 

[wantonsoup]

Very impressive ! You're quite an artist.

 

[masonsjax]

Hope you don't have a dog, he can get sick from the hops and will pee on the hydrant

 

[SFGiantsFan925]

^ Haha, if we had a dog, then yes.

 

[BrooklynTom]

My father carved these many years ago. I am going to make tap handles out of some of them.
Sorry they are sideways.

 

[Artifishal]

Here's how I got rid of a few of my bottles once I started kegging.



Quilyn

How did you attach them?

 

[Artifishal]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1421114705.983471.jpg

Sort of lame compared to all yours but the left one is a hammer handle and the right one was part of a railing spindle. Both are carved with a root zip and wood burnt

 

[Brettomomyces]

My father carved these many years ago. I am going to make tap handles out of some of them.
Sorry they are sideways.

Make an American Wheat with cherries and blueberries for a 4th of July party and use big ol Uncle Sam for it

 

[BrooklynTom]

That one will be for the 4th of July, and yes, a Wheat of some type.

 

[wantonsoup]

View attachment 248463

Sort of lame compared to all yours but the left one is a hammer handle and the right one was part of a railing spindle. Both are carved with a root zip and wood burnt

Not lame at all I like them!

 

[soccerguy83]

Here's my attempt at a homemade tap handle. Nothing special. Cost less than $10. I think it turned out nice....

NRS

I like it, how did you do it? And so cheaply?

 

[BKamp1457]

Had a crappy looking Coors Light handle and "re-branded" with my HB logo:

 

[BlackWatchBrewery]

So I have these little guys

I am trying to use them in 2X2X10 oak. I pre-drill with 1/2" drill bit and try to insert them however I am struggling with getting them to go in straight. Additionally, I dont think they are actually screwing in rather they are just boring out the hole. Perhaps oak is to hard for these? Just use a softer wood?

 

[Thetonymartin]

So I have these little guys

I am trying to use them in 2X2X10 oak. I pre-drill with 1/2" drill bit and try to insert them however I am struggling with getting them to go in straight. Additionally, I dont think they are actually screwing in rather they are just boring out the hole. Perhaps oak is to hard for these? Just use a softer wood?

I've used those inserts a couple of times. Oak is hard to get them into. The last tap handle I made split. I glued it back together, drilled the hole oversize and glued the threaded insert in place.
Next time I will drill out to just barely smaller than the insert, and maybe even try beeswax on the threads.

 

[Artifishal]

Yes oak is too hard if you are trying to screw them in with a flat head. Use a bolt that threads into it with two nuts to lock it on. Then use a power drill or impact drill gun to drive it in. I've done it into oak and hickory. It is still hard to get straight though.

 

[Thetonymartin]

Yes oak is too hard if you are trying to screw them in with a flat head. Use a bolt that threads into it with two nuts to lock it on. Then use a power drill or impact drill gun to drive it in. I've done it into oak and hickory. It is still hard to get straight though.

[emoji106]🏼 yep, this helps, too.