Making a beer tap handle!

[RamblezMarblez]

http://www.glassartists.org/Img66809_ww_Img66809_100_2258.jpg.asp

Okay, this link isn't my piece but it has the universal part that the glass handle is directly attached to. I have that metal part but I'm not quite sure how I'm going to approach this. It's 3/8thx16 thread so I'm thinking of getting a 1.5 inch rod (with threads) and another rod about a foot and a half long. The long rod is so I can screw it into the universal part so I have a handle that will stick out of my kiln. The short rod will be partially screwed in the other side and have and inch sticking out to wrap a glass marble around. From there I'll just add the handle. My question is what kind of 1.5 inch rod should I use. Brass? Stainless Steal? Copper? What won't check the glass? ......Slick:o:

[nafglass]

I'm almost positive there are other threads on this... I'm not exactly following you but it sounds like you're making it harder than it needs to be. Encasing metal in glass has never worked well for me.

[Bunyip]

You can build it on a mandrel and glue the threaded insert in, if you're not comfortable with going glass-to-metal.

[menty666]

yup, there are a couple of other threads on making these, use the search Luke, use the search!

And of course, good luck!

[RamblezMarblez]

Okay Grandpa, I did that already. That's where the link came from. I have the unversal part. I'm thinking a copper threaded rod would be a good choice but a hard find. Stainless would be easy to find. Possibly brass. I don't like the glue idea but still might. Gorrilla Glue if I did.

[Icarus]

Okay Grandpa, I did that already. That's where the link came from. I have the unversal part. I'm thinking a copper threaded rod would be a good choice but a hard find. Stainless would be easy to find. Possibly brass. I don't like the glue idea but still might. Gorrilla Glue if I did.

As for the connection, I'd suggest a clear two part epoxy. Gorilla glue is the shit, but it has a bit of a color when it dries.

As for threaded copper rod, it may be too soft for your applications. Plus it would be expensive. But you could easily do it with a plain copper rod and a tap and die set.

[menty666]

Okay Grandpa, I did that already.

Kids these days, no respect ;)

[Bo Diddles]

I don't think building the handle with the nut encased would work out too well. I remember something like this: use the nut (on a rod) as a mandrel, then remove it before annealing, then glue it in when done. Although I would think that a metal mandrel of that size would get pretty hot... maybe you could make a wooden handle with a 3/8" rod coupler glued into a hole in the (wooden) handle, then screw a regular steel rod into that nut, then screw your beer tap nut onto that.
If it's just a regular 3/8" thread, you can get 3/8" rod couplers (basically just really long nuts [tee hee]) that are a couple of inches long, which should be plenty for you to use as a mandrel.
Also, you would probably have to butt another nut up to your mandrel nut to keep it from spinning.

I'm sorry, I'm really tired and if none of this makes sense, please ignore it. Maybe I'll just draw a picture.

[BlueLilyStudio]

http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25311&highlight=tap+handle

[nafglass]

haha^^

I always use two part epoxy and "glue" the threaded insert in later. Keeps things simple for the creation of the glass tap. I think gorilla glue has lots of bubbles too...

[Icarus]

haha^^

I always use two part epoxy and "glue" the threaded insert in later. Keeps things simple for the creation of the glass tap. I think gorilla glue has lots of bubbles too...

Oh yeah, forgot about that part too. It's an awesome adhesive, but "presentation quality"? Not exactly.

[dew]

i've made a couple tap handles for bars and kegerators, and i've always just used a 2 part epoxy to glue the brass fitting onto the bottom of the glass handle. all you have to do is screw it on the tap and you're good to go. these handles are under constant use, and i haven't had any complaints yet. not sure the last brand of epoxy i used, but in the past i've used JB Weld and that works great. its not clear, but damn is that shit solid.

[RamblezMarblez]

Thanks for the link blue lily. I was looking for that. Thanks for all the great idea's. I went to the brewery today and decided I'll try the coil pot method in the one link with the homemade mandrel. Then I'll 2 part epoxy the nut in after the annealing cycle. Looks nice and smooth from what I see. I'll put pics up of all my art work very soon. I know it has been a while. Wrapping glass around a threaded rod probably wouldn't be the most durable way of making a tap anyhow..........Slick

[BlueLilyStudio]

yeah melting glass onto a thread ends up as a crack. But if you get the coiled color part to take on the shape of the nut by rounding it on your torch marver with the mandrel inside you get a rounded outside with a hex shape inside, combined with the inch and a half bolt you get plenty of surface area to stick the epoxy. None of the tap handles I have made this way have come loose and they get used on a day to day basis. And the epoxy can be used to smooth out the transition from the metal to the glass to make it look seamless. good luck!

[ITIS]

i made this one and i stole the brass tip from an old tap handle the glass is hollow and i inserted a piece of thread all and then filled it with epoxy it is very nice feeling good weight and there is no metal touching the glass just how i did mine there are other ways too http://dichrome.com sells inserts to i think you might have to contact them to find out
http://www.glasshttp://www.glassartists.org/Img195533__Img195533_tap5.jpg.aspartists.org/Img195530__Img195530_tap2.jpg.asphttp://www.glassartists.org/Img195533__Img195533_tap5.jpg.asp

[nafglass]

Wow that's aweseom! Nice job! That's why I like that method. Simple and there's no metal on glass.