Some tap handles

[Doug B]

I have another show coming up this weekend and I'm anxious to see if there is any interest in tap handles. They are used to replace the cheap plastic tap handles that come with a kegerator. I have a kegerator and so does my son, so I've made some before, but usually not ones turned on a lathe.

Someone surprised me at one of my shows by asking if I made tap handles...so, I decided to make a few to take to the craft shows with me.

Here are the ones I have ready for this weekend. Left to right they are made of Zebrawood/Bloodwood/Walnut, Oak, Ash, Cedar, Cliffrose, Mesquite, and Juniper. (Do you know how hard it is to make a turned tap handle that doesn't have a phallic look to it?)

[admin]

Very nice work! I especially like the one on the far right and the one in the middle. ;D

[Doug B]

Thanks TJ. Yeah, those were 2 of the "exotic hard woods" ;D

One was worse, but LOML made me re-shape it into something a little less exotic - she said she would not even let me put that out on the display table at the craft shows

[maverick31]

I like em all. I especially like the plugs at the bottom of the handles. great way to hide screw holes and looks cool too.

[Doug B]

Thanks Mav.

Those are actually 1/4" hardwood dowels that I used to "peg" the brass nut inside the tap handles. I have Walnut, Cherry, and Maple hardwood dowels that I have used in pens before and they are working great on the tap handles too.

[Joe Lyddon]

COOL!

What a way to round-out the bar!! ;D ;D

[sachbvn]

Doug - I hate to say it.... but this is one more thing you are going to have to walk me through when the time is right! I love the idea of tap handles..... I'm awful busy right now, the lathe is actually covered with a bunch of turning supplies and my "blank box" as I call it. Can't even get to it - but in a couple weeks I should be back at it. I'd love to give them a whirl..... are they pretty simple?

I agree....so many things come out looking like Mr. Longfellow..... haha - funny thing is - there is an actual market out there for stuff like that.... eh?

Oh - yes, they look damn nice!

Zac

[mr]

Nice!

Are the plugs at the bottom of some purely decorational, or is there an insert that needs to be screwed in and consequently whose screw hole needs hiding? Is there an insert at all in the end to facilitate connection to the tap?

[triplefreak]

For the rest of you guys looking to make tap handles, here's a source for the threaded brass inserts for the handles themselves.
I know, because I brew beer.
morebeer.com/view_product/16297//Dual-Threaded_Insert_for_Wooden_Taphandles

[Doug B]

OK, here is a quick and dirty on how I am making these tap handles. First, I have always used the brass 3/8" X 16 nuts for tap handles. You are supposed to be able to just drill a 1/2" hole in the wood and be able to screw the nuts into the hole. That works sometimes, but I was having a lot of trouble using them on end grain hard woods - they just won't thread in without the wood or the brass failing.

So, I drill the hole slightly larger (9/16) so that the brass nut is not screwed in at all, but still fits snugly. I tried just gluing the nuts in, but was not satisfied with that, and eventually came up with the idea that I could drill a hole all the way through the piece before turning the handle, and use a 1/4" hardwood dowel to peg the nut into place. That has been working very well, and also adds a nice little "dot" to the design. It is easy to drill through the wood and brass on the drill press while holding the tap handle blank in my pen vise - surprisingly easy.

I have found these 3/8" X 16 threaded nuts at Lowes as shown in the package in this picture below. Cheap, and convenient.

So, since a pic is worth a thousand words, here is a picture.

[sachbvn]

Thanks TF!!

I will be bookmarking the site!

Zac

[Doug B]

We must have been typing at the same time Zac.

You might want to see if your local Lowes has the threaded nuts.

And, one thing I forgot to mention...bottle stoppers use the same 3/8" X 16 threading, so my bottle stopper mandrels work well for turning the tap handles - very convenient.

[sachbvn]

Good idea with the BS chuck - I forgot, but they are the same thread.

Do you insert the brass nut, drill the hole, and THEN insert the dowel rod all the way through the handle and nut? How do you get rid of the part "inside" of the brass nut when you shove the dowel through?

Just curious - do most kegs take a 3/8"x16 nut?


Zac

[sachbvn]

BTW - I see the edge of your photo backdrop! Just kidding - I really appreciate the photo, it does seem pretty dang simple.


Zac

[Doug B]

Zac,

The brass nuts I use are very long and I make sure to drill through them far enough back that they will not be a problem when put on the tap. I did think about it though, just in case the dowel did interfere - I was ready to drill it out and run a 3/8 - 16 tap into the hole. I'm pretty sure that would work.

As far as I know, the 3/8 - 16 is standard for tap handles. All the ones I have tried have had that threading.

And hey! That was an instructional picture, not a glamor shot so I did not care if the undies were showing ;D