How-To Make A Wooden Beer Tap Handle
- Step 1: Cut the wood to size.
- Step 2: Drill space for the threaded insert.
- Step 3: Glue and let dry.
- Step 4: Rough turn it on the lathe.
- Step 5: Sand to perfection.
- Step 6: Coat in walnut oil and let drip dry.
- Step 7: Cure the finish with friction polish.
Contents
- 1 What do I need to make my own tap handle?
- 2 What are beer tap handles made of?
- 3 How far apart should tap handles be?
- 4 Is beer on tap stronger than bottled?
- 5 Is tap water OK for brewing beer?
- 6 Can tap beer be flat?
- 7 How long do kegs last once tapped?
- 8 What is the diameter of a tap handle?
- 9 How do you manufacture a tap?
- 10 What are tap handle specs?
What do I need to make my own tap handle?
Tools you will need – In order to make the custom tap handles, you will need the following tools and equipment:
A piece of wood A handsaw to cut your wood to size A drill A flat wood drill bit that looks like this Some speed clamps (that look similar to this ) PVA wood glue Tap Handle Dual Threaded Fitting (like this one ) Fine sandpaper for the rough edges of the wood A bit of paint to colour your handles
What thread size is a beer tap handle?
There are generally 2 different sizes of hanger bolts used in the beer tap handle industry. The 3/8′-16 size and the smaller 5/16′-18 size. The larger size (3/8-16) are used for displaying tap handles, because that is the thread of a standard American beer faucet.
What are beer tap handles made of?
Q: “What material can our tap handle be made from?” – A: We can use almost any material to construct a tap handle and can combine a variety of materials. Most tap handles today are made from molded resin that are hand painted, and with this process you can get achieve amazing detail. Tap handles can also be made from wood, acrylic, metal, porcelain, or a combination of materials.
How do you make a beer tap at home?
Kegerators – Buying a kegerator or converting a refrigerator into a kegerator is an ideal way to have draft beer at home, A kegerator is a self-contained refrigerated beverage dispenser equipped with beer and air lines, an air tank, regulator, draft beer tower and faucet.
Where you want to install your kegerator will dictate which style you’ll want to buy. A freestanding kegerator can be set up just about anywhere with power, and certain models have casters on them so the kegerator can be moved freely with relative ease. Under counter kegerators can be built into a bar area or under a kitchen counter.
They are designed to properly vent warm exhaust air created by the motor out the front of the unit. For those that are looking for a permanent solution for dispensing draft beer outdoors, you can purchase a kegerator designed to withstand the elements. Outdoor kegerators are built with a stainless steel exterior to prevent rusting and a sealed back to protect the electrical components from outside moisture.
What size thread is a beer tap shank?
This is the lock nut on the inside of a wall mount shank. The 7/8″-14 (5/8″ BSP) thread fits standard U.S. beer industry shanks. Be the first to ask a question.
What are beer tap handles called?
Tap Handle – A tap handle (or faucet handle) is the lever that screws into your draft beer faucet to make it easier to open and close your faucet when pouring. When you want to dispense, pull it forward to pour your beer. It’s one piece of draft beer equipment that allows you to give your kegerator or other draft beer system a little bit of personality.
How far apart should tap handles be?
Size and weight guidelines – Consumers take 3–5 seconds on average to select a beer, at an average viewing distance of 10–15 feet. The primary consideration for customers is the style of beer, followed by the brewery. It’s important for handles to be easily readable from all angles and from a distance.
This helps avoid problems if they’re mounted incorrectly. Ensure there isn’t too much text on the handle that wouldn’t be readable. Consider minimal and bolded text and high contrasting in colors to ensure easily readability. Tap handles are spaced 3″ apart at the bar. That means the max width should be 2.625″.
The height should measure no more than 10-12″ tall, and the weight should be less than 1 lb so they’re easy to use in a busy bar. Keep in mind that both size and material affect the weight of your tap handle.
What is a standard tap thread?
Most sprinklers have a 15mm or 20mm female thread at the inlet of the sprinkler. For most people who aren’t familiar with thread sizes, it’s easy to assume that measuring the thread with a ruler will indicate the size of the fittings needed. Unfortunately doing this will result in ordering fittings that are not the correct size (usually too big).
If you have a fitting or pipe that you need fittings for, manufacturers will usually have the size printed, stickered or embossed on the fitting itself. That’s a guaranteed way to know what size fittings you need. If you are unable to find any markings, the information below will help you select the right size fitting or pipe you need! In Australia the naming convention for thread sizes follows the BSP (British Standard Pipe) standard.
There are male (BSPM) and female (BSPF) threads. BSP threads and PVC Pipe have nominal sizes, meaning they are only called ’15mm’ or ’20mm’, but do not actually measure to that size. SunshowerOnline.com.au offers a range of fittings range from 15mm to 80mm with BSP thread sizes. *image not to scale, measurements are appoximates only. Similarly PVC pipe and slip fittings have the same measuring method. For PVC Pipe measure the outer diameter, for the fittings measure the inner diameter. If a PVC fitting has a thread, please refer to the BSP chart above.
*image not to scale, measurements are appoximates only. Lastly, Garden Taps have a slightly different naming convention as well. A standard 15mm garden tap has a 15mm BSP Male threaded inlet and 20mm BSP Male threaded outlet. A 20mm garden tap has a 20mm BSP Male threaded inlet and 25mm BSP Male threaded outlet.
*image not to scale, measurements are appoximates only. All the above information is based on BSP threads, which is the standard in Australia. There are few fittings floating around in the country that have NPT threads (National Pipe Thread) which is the standard used in the USA.
What tap does Guinness use?
The Faucet – A stout faucet is essential to achieving the cascading effect that is a staple of Guinness on tap. If you’ve ever watched a bartender pour a pint of Guinness, you’ve probably noticed that a stout faucet is different from other faucets. Sometimes called a European Specialty Faucet, the stout faucet has a different type of handle that pulls forward and down.
Is beer on tap stronger than bottled?
Is Draft Beer Stronger Than Bottled Beer? In this article, we’ll discuss and answer the question, is draft beer stronger than bottled beer. If you’re anything like us, you have a few beers that are your favorites, and your fridge is rarely without them.
Now, if you’ve had the same thought, you’re probably relieved to know that there are other people out there that have had the same experience. Draft beer is not stronger than a bottle, even though it may seem otherwise.They may sometimes seem stronger or have a more rapid effect on your body than canned or bottled beer, but there is no difference in alcohol content between a beer in the bottle and the same beer on draft.
When a brewery makes a batch of a particular beer, they will bottle some and put some in, Sometimes they will bottle a whole batch of a beer and then make a second for kegging. But, the recipe doesn’t change. So, while there may be a small difference in the amount of alcohol between kegged and bottled beer it’s never enough to make a marked difference in how it makes you feel.
Should tap beer have foam?
Foamy Beer Tap: How To Fix It There are many reasons you may be getting a lot of foam coming out your tap. Without being there to see your system setup and what you are doing it’s very difficult for us to give an answer as to why it might be. We’ve tried to cover the main ones below, along with what you can do about them.
Under carbonated – strange but true, if you are getting a lot of foam but it is flat when you taste it your drink may be under carbonated – let it sit for a day or so at the pressures recommended on, Over carbonated – if you are getting a lot of foam and the drink has carbonation when you taste it it may be over carbonated. You can adjust it by releasing some pressure, letting it sit for an hour then releasing some more pressure. Then set the regulator to the level recommended in the table on the to get the correct level. A warm glass or tap – Often the 1st pour will be foamy as the cold liquid with lots of dissolved CO2 loses the CO2 when it hits a warm surface like the inside of a tap or a glass. Keep your glass in the fridge or cool it with water before pouring if it’s warm. Keep your tap in the fridge if possible (like with our mini kegs), ensure any liquid lines outside a fridge are well insulated and ensure a font fan is blowing cold air inside the font to cool it if you have a bar top font. Pouring onto foam causes more foam – You will often see the bar tender at a bar put the glass under the tap after only a bit of beer has come through the tap and gone into the drip tray or they will pour out the bit in the glass if it is foamy before starting again. This is because if you have some foamy beer in the glass it causes the rest to foam as it pours onto it. Better to waste the first 30mls than have a whole glass of froth! Not enough beer line – Beer line is measured depending on it’s internal diameter. We provide minimum 1.5m of 4mm internal beer line with our kegerator packages etc as this is the length needed to slow the liquid enough that it pours well when it reaches the tap, if you cut it short and don’t have a flow control tap it will pour to quickly and cause foaming. Too much pressure – If your pressure is set too high the beer will flow too fast and cause it to be agitated and foamy when it pours. If you have a flow control tap or a kegerator with correct length lines you should set your pressure at the recommended one from the, Too little pressure – If your keg has too little pressure in it it will cause the dissolved CO2 to free itself from the liquid. This causes gas bubbles in the beer lines or tap. If you can see bubbles in your beer line this is a likely cause. Your beer may also be pouring heady but flat as it is becoming under carbonated due to not enough pressure to keep it carbonated. Beer hasn’t settled – If your keg has just been filled from a tap, then driven home, carried inside and plonked on the table it has been shaken, agitated and been through temperature changes. It will pour foamy unless you let it sit for at least 30min. We had someone wonder why their 50L keg was pouring foamy after rolling it from the pub to car, car to a speed boat, boat to party on an island and then tried to tap it 15min later. An interruption in the flow – This is something more equipment based you can look for if you think everything above is correct. A rough edge inside a hose where it was cut, a steel burr inside a tap etc. will interrupt the smooth flow of liquid and can make it pour foamy
: Foamy Beer Tap: How To Fix It
Is tap water OK for brewing beer?
Treating Tap Water to Prevent Off-Flavours – Most tap water that is good enough to drink is good enough to brew with straight out of the tap. If your water is treated with chlorine however, you may need to take steps to strip it out, as chlorine can cause medicinal off-flavours in beer. Chlorine alone is not too big an issue, as it will generally dissipate during the boil.
The main problem is chloramine, which is far more persistent and is used in some areas to keep the water bacteria free. Chloramine levels can be greatly reduced by using a carbon filter for your brewing water, however, there’s a quicker, easier and much cheaper method. Campden tablets (potassium metabisulfite or sodium metabisulphite) are readily available at homebrew stores.
The active ingredient is sulphur dioxide, which reacts with the chlorine and chloramines and effectively strips them out of solution. A single tablet will treat up to 75 litres of water, so for most homebrewers, half or even a quarter of a tablet, dissolved into your brewing water a couple of minutes before use will do the trick.
Can tap beer be flat?
There’s Too Much Resistance in the Beer Line – A successful kegerator has to be balanced. What this means is that the pressure in the keg, is equalized in the beer line as it travels to the tap. The length and diameter of the beer line play an important role in creating the necessary resistance required for the perfect pour.
If your beer is pouring slow and flat, the issue is most likely in the line. Lines that are too long or too thin, or both, will slow the flow of beer down too much, and knock too much co2 out of solution before it reaches the tap. So, as you pour, your beer will be less carbonated than it is in the keg.
To fix this, be sure to balance your system properly, use shorter runs of beer line, or a wider hose.
How long do kegs last once tapped?
How Long Does a Keg Stay Fresh? – For most beers on tap, dispensed with CO2, the rule of thumb is that non-pasteurized beer will retain its freshness for 45-60 days, if proper pressure and temperature are maintained. If you are serving up pasteurized draft beer, the shelf life is around 90-120 days.
If you have just gotten an air pumped party keg, you should consume the beer within 8-12 hours if you want to enjoy it at peak freshness. You will find that most breweries now print a freshness date on the keg for your convenience. Be sure to read the labeling carefully, as some breweries print this as an expiration date, while others opt for a “born on” date.
These dates have the days it is in inventory at the brewery figured into the equation and generally print the date on the side of the keg or on the cap.
What is the diameter of a tap handle?
The Best Sizes For Custom Tap Handles Size is an important element to consider as you begin the design phase of your custom tap handles. A tap handle too tall or too wide could turn a bar tender’s occupational nuisance into a campaign against your product.
Standard tap handles typically measure between 9-13″ tall and no more than 3″ wide and/or deep. Short tap handles, also known as shotgun tap handles, range between 4-6″ tall and no more than 3″ wide. Always keep the width at 3″ or under. A ferrule can be internal or external. An external ferrule adds roughly an inch to the tap handle height. Sizing & material affect weight. Go 16 oz. and under and don’t let a great design go too heavy/top heavy! Decide on the main focus of the design and how it will affect the sizing.
Bringing your dream tap handle to life is possible and our team at Custom Beer Handles wants to help you achieve this first step to extending your brand to the world. Contact for more information and questions about this article on custom tap handles and craft beer sales.
#custombeertaphandles Jessica Pezzotti founded Custom Beer Handles with a mission to change the way craft breweries & beverage companies present their brand to the world. Her desire to disrupt the industry was rooted in a passion for branding and its relation to consumerism. Headquartered in Denver, Custom Beer Handles is now a leading designer and manufacturer of custom tap handles for craft breweries, wineries, coffee, and kombucha companies.
The Taps Give Back Program that launched in 2018 donates a portion of the proceeds to charities and non-profit organizations on behalf of their clients. The on-tap phenomenon is just getting started and they are revolutionizing marketing for the craft beer and beverage industry.
What thread pitch is a beer tap?
Making Your Own Tap Handles What most of us casually call tap handles are more accurately faucet handles. The tap is that coupler thing that you connect to the keg to get the beer out. The faucet is what carries that beer to your glass. Be that as it may, do-it-yourself handles are fun and easy.
- Something you can drill a hole into
- An internal thread within said hole
- Whatever tools are necessary to get Item #2 into Item #1
For those unfamiliar with the nomenclature, 3/8″-16 UNC means the diameter of the threaded feature is 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) and there are 16 threads per inch (UNC just means it’s a coarse thread). Similarly an M10×1.5mm metric thread has a 10 mm diameter and a thread pitch (distance between threads) of 1.5 mm.
- Some automakers use the M10×1.5mm pattern for gear shifter knobs, in case you’ve ever wanted your very own Lotus-themed kegerator.
- As long as you can find a way to get an internal thread of the right pattern into your chosen material, you can turn just about anything into a tap handle.
- Metal objects will require that you tap the proper thread right into the material itself, but wood and plastic can be converted quite easily using a knife thread insert or a T-nut.
Knife thread inserts are most easily installed into wood or plastic by means of a special wide drill bit that attaches to the business end of a power drill or electric screwdriver. First, drill a hole for the insert using a 1/2″ Forstner bit. A standard 1/2″ bit may work, depending on how hard the surface is that you’re drilling into, but Forstner bits offer a cleaner hole that shouldn’t require sanding or fixing after you drill.
- With the hole drilled, attach the knife thread insert installation bit to your drill and slowly drill the insert into the hole until it’s flush with the surface.
- If, like me, you don’t want to pay an extra $20 for a specialty bit, you can screw the insert into the hole using a bolt and hex nut screwed into the insert, and a socket driver of some sort (either a bit, handheld socket wrench, etc.).
Just use caution when screwing the insert to make sure it enters the hole straight. Installing a T-nut, on the other hand, is as simple as hammering it into the material. Once you have a reliable thread in the would-be tap handle, it’s just a matter of screwing it onto the faucet itself.
- No matter what kind of handle you use, always grip it at the bottom when pouring beer.
- Pulling on the handle from the top is a rookie mistake and can cause some damage thanks to the increased leverage—the longer the handle, the easier it is to break something.
- Instead, simply pull the base of the handle forward using your index and middle fingers and then push it back with your thumb once the glass is full.
When this article appeared in we asked that readers submit photos of interesting tap handles they’ve built. In response, one subscriber, Mike from New York, sent us this photo. He said that it was a challenge with the deer rack and the calcified antlers. He also asked if we could recommend a site for purchasing the double threaded inserts because he “ripped through a LOT of them” from his local big box store. If you’ve built an unusual or interesting tap handle, we’d love to see your photos.
Are all beer taps the same?
Many people dont know that there are different beer tap couplers for the different styles of beers for. This is because not all kegs are the same, and are brewed and come from different parts of the world. Below is a list of beer brands and which keg tap (coupler) that will fit each keg.
S | Amstel | D | Ithaca | D | Rolling rock | ||
S | Amstel light | S | John Courage | D | Samuel Adams | ||
G | Anchor Steam | D | JW Dundee | D | Saranac | ||
G | Bass Ale | D | Killian’s Red | D | Schaeffer | ||
S | Beamish | D | Labatt Blue | D | Schlitz | ||
S | Becks | S | Lowenbrau | S | Scottish New Castle | ||
D | Blue Moon | S | McEwan’s | D | Shipyard | ||
U | Boddingtons | D | McSorley’s | D | Sierra Nevada | ||
D | Breckenridge | D | Michael Shea’s | D | South Paw Light | ||
D | Brooklyn Breweries | D | Michelob | A | Spaten | ||
D | Bud Ice | D | Michelob Light | S | St. Pauli Girl | ||
D | Bud Light | D | Michelob Specialty | D | Stroh’s | ||
D | Budweiser | D | Middle Ages | A | Warsteiner | ||
D | Busch | D | Miller | G | Watney’s | ||
G | Caffrey’s | D | Miller Lite | D | Weinhard’s | ||
D | Carlsberg | D | Milwaukee’s Best | S | Woodpecker | ||
D | Cider Jack | D | Molson | D | Yuengling | ||
D | Coors | D | Moose Head | D | Zebra | ||
D | Coors Light | S | Murphy’s Irish stout | “M” COUPLER BEERS | |||
S | DAB | D | Natural Ice | M | Aventinus Eisbock | ||
D | Dos Equis | D | Natural Light | M | Einbecker | ||
S | Double Diamond | D | New Amsterdam | M | Schneider Edel Weisse | ||
D | Fosters | D | O’Doul’s | M | Schneider Weisse | ||
G | Fullers | D | Old Milwaukee | M | Veltins | ||
D | Genesee | U | Old Speckled Hen | M | Zwyiec | ||
U | Guinness | D | Old Vienna | ||||
A | Hacker-Pschorr | D | Pabst | ||||
S | Heineken | A | Paulaner | ||||
D | High Falls | D | Pete’s Wicked | ||||
S | Hoegaarden | S | Pilsner Urquell | ||||
D | Hornsby’s | D | Red Dog | ||||
D | Ice House | D | Red Hook | ||||
D | Iron City | D | Rouge |
How long is a beer tap shank?
Build your dream draft system with high-quality, fully assembled beer shanks ranging from 2 to 14 inches to match whatever size you need.
Shank for Draft Beer System – 2-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 3-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 4-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 5-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 6-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 8-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 10-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 12-inch Shank for Draft Beer System – 14-inch
Overview Specifications Shipping & Delivery Similar Products Reviews Q&A Additional Items
You have your cooling unit, draft tower, and faucet tap all ready to go. Now you just need a beer shank to start dispensing tasty draft beverages. The beer faucet shank is a threaded metal tube that connects the beer line inside of your refrigerator to the beer faucet in your bar.
- It is inserted through a hole drilled into the refrigerator wall or house wall.
- Made of chrome-plated brass, beer shanks are sturdy, effective, and economical.
- Depending on how thick your refrigerator or wall is, you can order your shank between 2 and 14 inches long.
- Each shank comes with a coupling nut, sleeve, snap ring, plastic flange, and flanged locknut.
For your convenience, all shanks are shipped completely assembled. These shanks will fit on all North American faucets with 7/8-inch x 14 straight pipe thread. If you’re using equipment from outside North America, you’ll need to source a specialty shank.
How do you manufacture a tap?
MANUFACTURING PROCESSES: –
Manufacturing: these are the key production processes, those that turn concepts into shapes and take place in the early stages of part making. The main manufacturing processes are: casting, hot forging, injection moulding, die casting, sintering and drawing. During this stage, at least two of the three types of checks described above are conducted, depending on the production process. Raw material and dimensional checks are conducted in all cases, while performance checks only when required by the specific process. Machining: normally taking place after Manufacturing and before Assembly, this is the stage where unfinished parts are transformed into finished parts. In the tap-making industry, the main machining processes are: lathing, bending, welding, polishing and plating. Checks conducted at this stage comprise dimensional checks and performance checks, while raw material checks are only carried out if a new material is added, such as in the case of welding, where an alloy is used to weld the parts together.
What are tap handle specs?
Size and weight guidelines – Consumers take 3–5 seconds on average to select a beer, at an average viewing distance of 10–15 feet. The primary consideration for customers is the style of beer, followed by the brewery. It’s important for handles to be easily readable from all angles and from a distance.
This helps avoid problems if they’re mounted incorrectly. Ensure there isn’t too much text on the handle that wouldn’t be readable. Consider minimal and bolded text and high contrasting in colors to ensure easily readability. Tap handles are spaced 3″ apart at the bar. That means the max width should be 2.625″.
The height should measure no more than 10-12″ tall, and the weight should be less than 1 lb so they’re easy to use in a busy bar. Keep in mind that both size and material affect the weight of your tap handle.
What is the thread pitch of a tap handle?
Making Your Own Tap Handles What most of us casually call tap handles are more accurately faucet handles. The tap is that coupler thing that you connect to the keg to get the beer out. The faucet is what carries that beer to your glass. Be that as it may, do-it-yourself handles are fun and easy.
- Something you can drill a hole into
- An internal thread within said hole
- Whatever tools are necessary to get Item #2 into Item #1
For those unfamiliar with the nomenclature, 3/8″-16 UNC means the diameter of the threaded feature is 3/8-inch (9.5 mm) and there are 16 threads per inch (UNC just means it’s a coarse thread). Similarly an M10×1.5mm metric thread has a 10 mm diameter and a thread pitch (distance between threads) of 1.5 mm.
- Some automakers use the M10×1.5mm pattern for gear shifter knobs, in case you’ve ever wanted your very own Lotus-themed kegerator.
- As long as you can find a way to get an internal thread of the right pattern into your chosen material, you can turn just about anything into a tap handle.
- Metal objects will require that you tap the proper thread right into the material itself, but wood and plastic can be converted quite easily using a knife thread insert or a T-nut.
Knife thread inserts are most easily installed into wood or plastic by means of a special wide drill bit that attaches to the business end of a power drill or electric screwdriver. First, drill a hole for the insert using a 1/2″ Forstner bit. A standard 1/2″ bit may work, depending on how hard the surface is that you’re drilling into, but Forstner bits offer a cleaner hole that shouldn’t require sanding or fixing after you drill.
With the hole drilled, attach the knife thread insert installation bit to your drill and slowly drill the insert into the hole until it’s flush with the surface. If, like me, you don’t want to pay an extra $20 for a specialty bit, you can screw the insert into the hole using a bolt and hex nut screwed into the insert, and a socket driver of some sort (either a bit, handheld socket wrench, etc.).
Just use caution when screwing the insert to make sure it enters the hole straight. Installing a T-nut, on the other hand, is as simple as hammering it into the material. Once you have a reliable thread in the would-be tap handle, it’s just a matter of screwing it onto the faucet itself.
No matter what kind of handle you use, always grip it at the bottom when pouring beer. Pulling on the handle from the top is a rookie mistake and can cause some damage thanks to the increased leverage—the longer the handle, the easier it is to break something. Instead, simply pull the base of the handle forward using your index and middle fingers and then push it back with your thumb once the glass is full.
When this article appeared in we asked that readers submit photos of interesting tap handles they’ve built. In response, one subscriber, Mike from New York, sent us this photo. He said that it was a challenge with the deer rack and the calcified antlers. He also asked if we could recommend a site for purchasing the double threaded inserts because he “ripped through a LOT of them” from his local big box store. If you’ve built an unusual or interesting tap handle, we’d love to see your photos.