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Author Topic: I tried to make tap handles  (Read 9573 times)

Offline passlaku

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I tried to make tap handles
« on: January 25, 2011, 08:20:43 pm »
I was inspired by Ken's (of MLAP see famehttp://www.brews-bros.com/index.php/topic/451-memory-lapse-pale-ale/) tap handles and tried to make some handles.

The handles are:
  • Tap handle ferrules
  • Pre-made table legs from Lowes
  • a square head
  • T-nuts (to screw the square head onto the bolts that are already on the legs)
  • and $4 Krylon chalkboard spray-paint

 I am guessing that each handle was less than $8 for the materials. 


Offline oscarvan

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2011, 08:27:07 pm »
Nice!
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Offline majorvices

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2011, 08:27:57 pm »
Nice job - is that a "Straight to Ale" glass??

Offline passlaku

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2011, 08:34:37 pm »
Yep.  That is an STA glass. I was in HSV a couple of weeks ago and visited their brewery, they were nice enough to give me a glass.  Great guys!

Offline majorvices

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2011, 08:40:56 pm »
Yep.  That is an STA glass. I was in HSV a couple of weeks ago and visited their brewery, they were nice enough to give me a glass.  Great guys!

Dan's a great guy and makes some very good beer - if your back in town again stop by  my brewery. I will give you a glass with beer in it.  ;)

Anyway, I may have to steal your design for the home. Looks great.
« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 09:06:36 pm by majorvices »

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2011, 10:08:05 pm »
I guess I'm confused by the topic title, "I tried to make tap handles".  It looks to me like you did more than try!

Very nice :)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline a10t2

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2011, 11:09:38 pm »
 my brewery

Dragging it further off-topic, but I must have missed this the first time around. Keith, great-looking site! Now those big beautiful pics of the beers need to link to something - maybe some recipe details for us home brewers? ;)
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Offline passlaku

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2011, 05:42:40 am »
Keith,

Thanks for the invite.  I'll send you an email next time I am in town. I look forward to it!

Offline euge

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2011, 11:40:24 am »
 my brewery

Dragging it further off-topic, but I must have missed this the first time around. Keith, great-looking site! Now those big beautiful pics of the beers need to link to something - maybe some recipe details for us home brewers? ;)

I linked off on that and was very impressed. Represented at four local restaurants! However I was left with lots of questions about brewing on his level/capacity. Well maybe just a few.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2011, 12:03:09 pm »
OP, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. Euge, PM me any question you want. FTR we are on at more that 4 restaurants now. Just need to update the site.

I really like the idea of the chalk board tap handles. I had planned on painting the entire front of my chestfreezer/keggerator with chalkboard paint but I think this is way easier. I'm gonna do it!

Offline Pawtucket Patriot

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2011, 07:34:39 pm »
Very nice job!  I was going to do the same thing, but then my brother and my father-in-law pitched in and bought me chalk board tap handles for Christmas.   :P ;D
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Offline bluesman

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2011, 07:39:54 pm »
Very nice job!  I was going to do the same thing, but then my brother and my father-in-law pitched in and bought me chalk board tap handles for Christmas.   :P ;D

I was contemplating getting a set of chalkboard tap handles myself. They serve the purpose well.

By the way nice tap handles passlaku!
Ron Price

Offline bluesssman

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2011, 07:45:21 pm »
Sweet handles! Do you have any during construction pictures?

Gary

Offline passlaku

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2011, 09:05:55 pm »
I didn’t document with pics but hopefully this description of the construction will make some sense.

The block is called a "Large Raw Pine Block Plinth" and are found in the aisle where the crown moulding is sold.

I drilled a hole for the T-nut on the block and hammered the t-nut into the block.

Then I simply screwed the block with the t-nut onto the pre-made furniture leg's screw.

The tricky part is centering a 1/2" drill bit on the tip of the leg and screwing the ferule into the wood.  I bought the one pictured below at RebelBrewer but if I was going to do this again I'd probably opt for the ones that are cone shaped.  It is really difficult getting this type of bolt to bite into the wood. 

Hope this helped.

Offline cincybrewer

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Re: I tried to make tap handles
« Reply #14 on: July 28, 2011, 08:25:20 pm »
I know this is an old thread, but I'm about to try to make the exact same handles. I was a little worried about getting the threaded insert into the the little table leg.  You think it's worth it to get different inserts?

Also, is there a gap in your block of wood and table leg?  I was thinking about either going your route with the T-nut or putting a threaded insert into the wood block so there won't be a gap.

Did you find there was enough room to write your beers on the blocks?  Assuming the ones you got are the same size as mine, I thought they might be a little too skinny, but judging on your picture it looks like there was plenty of room.

Thanks!