How to Make a Beer Tap

Having your own beer tap is a great way to save money and add a personalized touch to your home bar. Beer taps require some time and patience, but the outcome is worth it to create an atmosphere suitable for parties with your friends and family. Does this Spark an idea?

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A lathe
Block of wood
Joiner
Beer tap model
Table saw
Writing utensil
Gloves
Protective eyewear
Tri-square piece

Instructions

- 1
  
  Obtain a smooth block of hard wood, such as maple, poplar or cherry wood. It should be about a foot and a half tall.
- 2
  
  Turn on the joiner, and press the wood block slowly against it, rubbing it across. The wood block needs to go on the joiner to square up the sides of the wood, and to get the surfaces at a 90 degree angle to each other.
- 3
  
  Use a table saw to cut the wood block to the width you want the beer tap to be. Use your beer tap model for this. Set the blade height of the table saw 3/4 an inch higher than the wood block.
- 4
  
  Use a 45-degree angle tri-square piece to to mark an "X" in the center on each end of the wood. Secure the wood to the lathe and start to rotate it with the turning spurs, making sure to match the spur holes you created to the turning spur. Keep making it tighter as you rotate it manually.
- 5
  
  Place the blade rest into place and raise the tool rest to the center of the wood. Using the gauge, make the block of wood rounded out completely, working from one end to the other at 8,5000 rpm. This may be a tedious process, as you have to take off small chunks of wood at a time. Do this until the block is round.
- 6
  
  Use the beer tap model to compare to your rounded-out wood. Make a mark off the round stock on either side to provide an idea of where the beginning and end will be of the tap. Turn on the lathe, and as the tap spins, follow the markings and make deeper cuts in these areas.
- 7
  
  Use the beer tap model to create the type and shape you desire, making deeper cuts where necessary. Use other carving tools to create you design into the beer tap.
- 8
  
  Turn the tap upside down. Drill a whole through the center of the bottom of the tap, which is where it will fit onto the keg. When you purchase your keg, bring the tap with you to match the tap to the keg. The size of the hole you drill depends upon the opening on the keg.

Tips & Warnings

Be careful when working with sharp tools and machinery. Wear protective goggles and gloves.

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