5 replies to this topic

[HVB]

I wanted to try and have a uniform tap handles for my taps in the celar and also the taps on my two portable serving coolers.  Not wanting to spend a ton I went for a search on eBay and foudn 12 file handles for 13.99 shipped.  I figured it was worth a try.

 

The handles as they arrived

httpss://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l7nCRSdArjk/U_I_cM5-JdI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/dXQi_jc9nMo/w434-h336-no/file%2Bhandle.jpg

 

I drill the end out and tap it for 3/8 -16 and then painted them in a color chosen by my 4.5 year old daughter.  Not the most amazing or stylistic tap handles but 12 tap handles for 14 bucks plus some paint is a pretty good deal to me.

 

httpss://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VnzMttiAWS8/U_JAKFNVNEI/AAAAAAAAFHk/__I1Bwbcwcw/s336-no/taps.jpg

 

 

[positiveContact]

I went for the 2x price lazy option:

 

 

If anyone had or knew someone with a woodturning setup tap handles would be pretty easy to make as well.  although with the cost of wood it might be tough to do better than what drez found.

[HVB]

I tried to convince myself to just buy a lathe and may my own.  I was almost convinced.

 

In the end it turned into a nice father/daughter project so it has that going for it too.

[Big Nake]

What I started doing is using a smaller screw (5/16" - 18) which comes in the form of a 'threaded rod' that I picked up at Home Depot. Insert that into the tap handle and then put a stainless ferrule on that thread. I posted SOME PICS on NB awhile back and some of those same pics are also HERE.Btw... all you really need is a decent jigsaw and a decent sander. I picked both of these up at my local hardware store for between $25 and $30 each. Then I get my shape from a picture and then print out the pic & cut out the pic. Place the pic on the wood and trace it. Cut it, sand it, drill the hole for the rod and get that squared away... prime it, paint it, attach a label and then hit it with some high gloss, clear coat. Boom.

Edited by KenLenard, 18 August 2014 - 11:30 AM.

[HVB]

What I started doing is using a smaller screw (5/16" - 18) which comes in the form of a 'threaded rod' that I picked up at Home Depot. Insert that into the tap handle and then put a stainless ferrule on that thread. I posted SOME PICS on NB awhile back and some of those same pics are also HERE.Btw... all you really need is a decent jigsaw and a decent sander. I picked both of these up at my local hardware store for between $25 and $30 each. Then I get my shape from a picture and then print out the pic & cut out the pic. Place the pic on the wood and trace it. Cut it, sand it, drill the hole for the rod and get that squared away... prime it, paint it, attach a label and then hit it with some high gloss, clear coat. Boom.

Oh I have all of that .. but a lathe is so much cooler and I really wanted a new toy for the workshop.

[Big Nake]

Oh I have all of that .. but a lathe is so much cooler and I really wanted a new toy for the workshop.

Agreed. A lathe would be very cool. I do not pretend to be good with wood. I'm not. I can make the handles in a way that makes the tap area look pretty cool, design the labels, etc. but it's very simple stuff and I probably screw up as many as I end up using.