ScrapHeap Beer Faucet Handles - Industrial Look

Here is a quick build to make some cool looking taps for not a lot of money or effort.

They are based on 3/4" EMT Conduit. I had this stuff sitting out back of my workshop for a long time. I used a piece to make a Ropewalk a couple of weeks ago https://www.instructables.com/id/Mostly-Printed-Co...

With what was left, I made 6 of these.

Here is a copper version of this as well: https://www.instructables.com/id/ScrapHeap-Beer-Fa...

Let's get started.

A mallet, tubing cutter, a sharpie, access to a 3-D Printer, a 3/8-16 tap and a tape measure.

These are quick and easy.

55% Infill

.4 Nozzle

.2 Layer

Watch over extrusion on the Part Bottom. You will have to work harder chasing the threads.

A note about design. I am lazy. In order to make the threads in the Part "Bottom", I could have 3-D modeled it. But that requires work. If you go to Grab CAD or SolidWorks or McMaster Carr, you can find pretty much every piece of hardware known to man. I found a 3/8-16 nut, downloaded the model and assembled it to the "Bottom" in FreeCAD. After that, you can simply select both parts and export them to an STL file.

Boom. Threaded hole you can print.

Measure to 8"

Align the cutting wheel with your mark.

Tighten the bottom jaw with a fair amount of force.

Here is a tip I learned form an old timer that pretty much taught me everything I know. Tighten the cutter and make one revolution. Only one. Then tighten. Repeat. It should take no more than 6 revolutions to cut a piece of 3/4" EMT conduit. I remember getting fussed at, asking me if I was going to retire cutting a piece of Copper Tubing.

Use the tool on the cutter to remove 80% of the burr. Then, if needed, use some emery cloth to finish up.

Notes in the pictures

As cool as it is to print threads, I cannot get by without chasing the threads. As long as you are not over extruding while printing, you can thread a sharp tap through the hole. The set I have was purchased at Harbor Freight just for projects in plastic. Costs $16.99 full price, but never buy without the 20% off coupon.

Snap the tags via the ball chain and screw on your new tap handles.

The process, in case you don't know, is to run the lock nut on the faucet all the way down. Then thread the handle all the way down. Back the handle off until the orientation is where you want it. Run the lock nut up to lock it all together.

There you have it. You are ready to pour a cold home brew form your keg-orator. Invite some friends!!

I was thinking of putting these on Etsy, thoughts?