10 Dollar, 10 minute Tap Handels
Over the weekend I built a pair of tap handles, based on a derivative of Revvy’s design. His design is quite innovative – a handle & frame supports a magnetically-attached collector card card protector. The label is inserted into the protector, thus labelling the brew. My design (picture to right) is based on Revvy’s, but is a little more svelte in design, easier to build, can be made for less than $10 each, and takes about 10 minutes to make (not including drying time).
The design is simple – the centre pin of a pre-turned replacement chair leg is removed and replaced with a threaded insert which allows it to be screwed onto a keg post. A bit of the handle is cut away to allow a steel mending plate to be attached vertically to the tap – this holds the card protector/label in place via a strip of magnetic tape attached to the back of the card protector.
This has a number of advantages – aside from letting a label do double duty as both a bottle label & keg label, the labels from old batches of beer can be stuck to the keggorator/keezer – ala fridge magnets – allowing them to be reused and providing a bit of visual appeal to the fridge (and working as a reminder of the many magnificent brews that have passed through your kegs).
Very few tools are needed for this project – a saw that can do fine cuts (I used a table jigsaw, but a jewellers saw or razer saw would work equally well), a screwdriver, a pair of pliers, a hand drill, and a paint brush!
Details of the build can be found below the fold.
Materials:
For each tap handle (L to R):
- Pack of card protectors
- 2″ steel mending plate
- 3/8″ x 16 thread/inch threaded insert + 1 short screw to attach to handle
- Bladed bit that has the appropriate diameter for the threaded insert (1/2″ for mine)
- 3″ to 6″ (or longer) pre-turned/threaded replacement table leg
- Magnetic tape
- Small diameter drill bit
- Wood stain/paint (optional)
- Varnish (optional, but recommended)
Assembly
Assembly is quick, simple and nearly fool-proof.
Making labels
A tri-fold model works best. The blank (left) third is folded between the label and the rear (on which I’ve put the recipe, but can be used for other things). This is easily inserted into the card protector, looks great, and prevents any backlight from detracting from the label. This label is 7.5″ wide x 3.5″ tall. | |
A bi-fold model can double as a bottle label, excellent for give-away brews. Careful design is needed to make sure the relevant information is on the half of the label visible on the tap handle. If needed, a piece of paper can be inserted between the two halves of the label to reduce backlighting. This label is 5″ wide by 3.5″ tall. Four of these will fit on a single letter-sized piece of paper – providing for efficient use of paper when printing the labels. |
4 years later. LOL
Oh my god, 3 years later I just saw this. Awesome riff on my idea. I love the simplicity of it. If I ever decide to "clean" mine up and go thinner, I'm going to go with your solution.
Thanks for the recognition!
"Revvy"