Fastening a custom hardwood tap handle?

[moxie]

Hello, first post here, been lurking for a while.

I have seen numerous threads about kegerators, taps, etc which have inspired me to build my own. I've got to say, life is much easier without bottles.

Anyway, I have a question about my custom made tap handle. I found a nice piece of maple that I roughed out into a handle shape with an antique draw knife. My problem is that I can't for the life of me figure out a good way to fasten it to the tap. I am currently forced to use the crappy acrylic plastic one while my nice hardwood one sits idle. Any ideas?

Cheers

 

[Walker]

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/produ...10088&osCsid=a6910a39a62a40c323de19977f7ad09f

 

[moxie]

http://www.austinhomebrew.com/produ...10088&osCsid=a6910a39a62a40c323de19977f7ad09f

Ahh, that is exactly what I need. One thing I wasn't clear about is that I am located in Canada. It would be harsh to pay $10+ on shipping for a $2 item. Any other options out there for us Northern dwellers? (I am in the Maritimes.) If I have to go through AHS then I will, I suppose I would have to justify the order by stocking up on some other miscellaneous items.

 

[PinkyOFloyd]

Bust the crappy plastic one apart & use the threaded insert in your new fancy wood one.

 

[Walker]

Do you have a decent brew shop near you? My LHBS carries those things, too. That's where I got mine.

Heck, a hardware store might even carry something like that.

 

[Walker]

Bust the crappy plastic one apart & use the threaded insert in your new fancy wood one.

good idea...

 

[moxie]

I actually work part-time at a local home-brew shop, but we don't really carry this type of miscellaneous hardware. I thought I could Macgyver something with a bolt or two, but it just didn't work very well at all.

Are you saying for certain that there is a threaded insert inside the crappy plastic handle? I would hate to obliterate it only to find out that the piece inside is a little less than useful. I will examine it a little bit and perhaps give it a shot.

Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[Walker]

I don't know for certain if the plastic one has a threaded outside.

If you say please, I can pick one up at my LHBS and send it to you in the mail. I can't imagine it would cost me much to ship a regular envelope to you in N.S.

I might even have an extra one in the garage right now. I bought several of them a long time ago, but only have a need for 2 of them.

 

[mosquitocontrol]

You can get those at home depot/lowes you just need the correct threading.
(McMaster description) 90016A031 Brass Knife-Thread Insert for Wood Slotted Drive, 3/8"-16 Internal Thrd, 5/8" Length, Packs of 10 $6.77

http://www.lowes.com/pd_137397-3767...tk=i_products&ddkey=http:SearchCatalogDisplay

But if you are making it out of wood anyway. Why not just drill the proper size hole and screw it onto the faucet without any hardware? Thats how my tap handles are. As long as its a relatively hard wood the threads should fit nicely and be sturdy.

 

[PinkyOFloyd]

Are you saying for certain that there is a threaded insert inside the crappy plastic handle?

I have the crappy plastic ones & they do. Yours may not. As you said, better take a good look inside first.

 

[Walker]

Bingo! Had this in a box in the garage with other keg-related stuff.

This is from Lowe's or Home Depot. It's longer than the ones from AHS (about 1" long instead of 5'8"), but it will work.

 

[ShortSnoutBrewing]

Plumbing supply shops should have something that works too.

 

[moxie]

Looking at my plastic handle, it looks like the insert is plastic, not metal. I will take a quick look at Home Depot to see if I can find that insert, if not, Walker, I may indeed take you up on the shipping offer.

Cheers,

-Pat

 

[Walker]

Looking at my plastic handle, it looks like the insert is plastic, not metal. I will take a quick look at Home Depot to see if I can find that insert, if not, Walker, I may indeed take you up on the shipping offer.

Cheers,

-Pat

I guess I wasn't clear. I'm feeling generous today. I am offering to send that thing to you for absolutely nothing. If you want it, just send me your address and I'll mail it out.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I guess I wasn't clear. I'm feeling generous today. I am offering to send that thing to you for absolutely nothing. If you want it, just send me your address and I'll mail it out.

Look at your avatar... I think he's afraid there may be strings attached

 

[moxie]

Wow, what a guy. How can I refuse an offer like that? I'll flip you a PM.

What a solid community of brewers!

 

[Walker]

Don't mess this up for me Ed... he's taking the bait!

j/k

I'll see if my wife will drop it in the mail when she goes to pick the kids up from school today. If not, it probably won't go out until tomorrow.

 

[Photopilot]

The thing you are looking for is called a thread insert. You are looking for a 3/8-16 ones. I found the ones from Lowes, HD did not have them. The ones for Lowes were too long for my project.

I am trying to create a number of different tap handles in anticipation of my upcoming keezer. I got some 3/8-16 nuts. I used a cheap plastic caliper to measure the nuts then, I used the drill press at work and some forstner bits to make a clean flat bottomed holes. I sized the hole one size smaller than the nut so I had to press the nut into the hole. I mixed 5 minute epoxy to mount the nut into the hole and 3/8 bolt to make sure the nut is square to the tap handle.

I used nuts that were the self locking kind and tried to thread the bolt in to make it easier to thread, but it is still stiff. I would suggest using non self locking nuts.

 

[ThreeDogsNE]

Looks like a great job for the famous JB weld. Seriously, a 2 part epoxy like that will fill the gaps well and secure a plain nut. You don't need a lock nut, since the tap hand has it's own lock nut. A plain 3/8-16 nut epoxied in place will work fine. You may watt to drill a 3/8 hole a little deeper to allow clearance for the tap bolt before you glue in the nut.

If you are working with hardwood such as oak or maple, you can just tap the wood itself, if you have a 3/8-16 tap around. They come paired with the appropriate drill bit at your favorite big box store. Don't try this with softwood, though.

One beer, and my typing really goes to sh@t.

 

[Walker]

I need to apologize here. I handed thos thong to 41.!+ as she ran out the door to pick the kids up Friday and never thought about it again.

A couple minutes ago I asked her what the postage ended up being (just out of curiosity) and she made a face that immediately told me that it was still in her purse.

I'm headed to the automated postage machine right now.

 

[shortyjacobs]

I handed thos thong to 41.!+

Back away from the homebrew Walker.....

 

[Walker]

LOL.

That's some bad blackberry typing for you.

"thos thong" = "this thing"

"41.!+" = "SWMBO" (when you press ctrl instead of shift trying to get capital letters)

Bit, bad news. I couldn't use the automated postage center because I was sending 'goods' internationally. I have to go to the desk and fill out a customs form.

This will have to wait a few days. The post office is swarming with people filing taxes right now.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I need to apologize here. I handed thos thong to

41.!+

as she ran out the door to pick the kids up Friday and never thought about it again.

A couple minutes ago I asked her what the postage ended up being (just out of curiosity) and she made a face that immediately told me that it was still in her purse.

I'm headed to the automated postage machine right now.

I Love it!! 41.!+ = SWMBO in Blackberry

 

[pcollins]

I'll chime in here having solved this problem and being from Canada. Woohoo!!

I saw a thread on HBT recently that mentioned T-nuts. I got mine just at my local Home Hardware and they were just north of $2 for a bag of 3 or 4. It's a threaded sleeve that you just tap into the base of the tap handle. The only drawback I have seen is that the diameter of the base is a bit wide in some cases. I see one of the replies here is using just a nut which is a great idea and the T-nut does the same thing just a bit wider.

I love them and I'm now eyeing everything in the house to see what can be made into a funky tap handle. Television? Piano? Camera? The possibilities are endless.

 

[PinkyOFloyd]

I love them and I'm now eyeing everything in the house to see what can be made into a funky tap handle. Television? Piano? Camera? The possibilities are endless.

Just leave the pets alone!!!

 

[Photopilot]

I recently tried to tap directly into the wood of the turned leg from Lowes to make some custom cheap handles. They are made in China and it seems like maybe Chinese pine as it did not hold a thread very well, the wood is too soft.

Williams brewing has threaded insert that are shorter than the Lowes ones. They were 1.35 but only 1.1o if you buy 8 or more. I bought a bunch for my handle projects.
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/TAPHANDLE_THREADED_INSERT_P1152.cfm

 

[moxie]

LOL.

That's some bad blackberry typing for you.

"thos thong" = "this thing"

"41.!+" = "SWMBO" (when you press ctrl instead of shift trying to get capital letters)

Bit, bad news. I couldn't use the automated postage center because I was sending 'goods' internationally. I have to go to the desk and fill out a customs form.

This will have to wait a few days. The post office is swarming with people filing taxes right now.

Thanks again, I appreciate the effort, especially given the time of year. Luckily, I had my taxes done months ago.

 

[whale]

look into http://www.leevalley.com

they have shops across canada. they have lots of woodworking hardware

 

[Walker]

Moxie... I didn't want you to think I had forgotten about you here.

The need for me to fill out a customs declaration form meant that I had to go into the post office during regular business hours. This morning was the first "post tax filing" opportunity I had to do so.

But, the delay actually worked in your favor. I was gathering up some parts for some kegs I am going to sell last night and found another one of the threaded inserts in a box, still in the plastic bag from the hardware store.

I shipped both of them your way this morning.

 

[moxie]

Moxie... I didn't want you to think I had forgotten about you here.

The need for me to fill out a customs declaration form meant that I had to go into the post office during regular business hours. This morning was the first "post tax filing" opportunity I had to do so.

But, the delay actually worked in your favor. I was gathering up some parts for some kegs I am going to sell last night and found another one of the threaded inserts in a box, still in the plastic bag from the hardware store.

I shipped both of them your way this morning.

You are a champion. I will try to return the favour somewhere down the line to a new brewer when I am an established member.

Cheers and thanks again.