Got pretty bored with the standard black tap handles so I undertook a new project to carve some tap handles. I have the luxury of having a DIY woodworking shop in town and got to use a wood lathe. Had a lot of fun doing this.
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6113/6378808659_8f56f9e50c_m.jpg)
Raw Materials- did away with the hockey puck idea after splitting 3 or 4 of them
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6103/6378803447_70a33e0854_m.jpg)
Lathe work- lucky enough to have the shop guy show me a thing or two but surprisingly easy to do
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6100/6378809485_9f9c623460_m.jpg)
Pre Stain
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6037/6378804445_31146edfe1_m.jpg)
Post Stain- added a little polyurethane for a finish
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6113/6378805597_83a97c50fa_m.jpg)
Top-less handles- drilling the holes in the top of these was probably the hardest thing about all this, not perfect but it will do
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6235/6378807939_6759f227fe_m.jpg)
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6059/6378812223_cd8194c305_m.jpg)
New handle top idea was much more simple and in the end far better. I cut out 4 equal planks of wood, drilled a hole in the bases; rounded out the sharp corners with sand paper and stained them after mounting them on some wood dowels. I then used some magnetic primer on the fronts to allow for switchable labels to be made- I recommend taping off a square to limit the area for the primer and use at least 3 coats of this stuff, even after 4 coats the magnetic force is still a little weak but will do. Covered it all in polyurethane and glued them down to the handles.
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6047/6378810819_f380bc7605_m.jpg)
![](http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6226/6378806463_b3ddc4951c_m.jpg)
Finished product turned out well. The magnetic labels switch out easily. Got all this stuff at a local craft store. I used Adobe Illustrator for my first effort at label design- insanely expensive software but you can sign up for a free trial month (I am going to have to find numerous other uses for the software prior to justifying the expense of buying a copy). Added bonus for the magnetic labels - when not in use the labels can just stick to the front of the keezer.
Let me know what you guys think