Tap Handle Deposits

[philjewett]

Just wondering if anyone out there is charging a deposit on tap handles or if you have also considered it? We are considering implementation of a deposit for all handles somewhere in the neighborhood of $15-$25 each beginning January 1st.

If anyone has any comments, I would love to hear them.

Thanks,

[frigatebay]

I'd love to. A few years ago it seemed like by dist. wanted a tap handle per keg. It was crazy. Self dist. now I manage to get most back. To save costs I make them myself. Nothing to fancy but they only cost $3 to make. A lot cheaper than buying. Made a batch of 16 this weekend and it took me about 2 hours only.

[DaveShuck]

Frigatebay,

Can you post a pic of your tap handle? My wife almost fell over when she saw that basic handle could cost $25 each.

Dave Shuck
Belton Brewing

[philjewett]

Currently I'm buying the large pub handles from taphandles.com. Which run in the $20 range, plus shipping, plus the addition of the brand labels. By the time all is said and done, its about $25. I've started using a less expensive handle from the same place which is why I stated a range for a deposit.

http://taphandles.go-ssl.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=23&zenid=518acabf722cd8bdf0df3cbf96da6a58

The pub handles give the look and feel that we want to present for our brands so they work well but as a result, we don't get many of them back and the distributors just keep asking for more. Solution: an ugly tap handle?

Cheers,

[Laughing Dog]

I dont know how many you guys are buying but AJS inc is way cheaper, but you have to buy at least 50 at a time. 20-25 a handle is consumer pricing not brewery pricing.

Laughing Dog

[frigatebay]

I buy the thread insert from McMaster, 1in sq pine dowel from lowes or Home depot, 4in sq or circle with a nice routed edge from Michaels. screw and glue them together. then spray paint and varnish. No one has ever said they don't look good enough. I sell more draft now with them then i did with fancy a supplier and spent a fraction on them. will try and post a pic when i get a chance.

also get my tap labels done a local copier place for $.25 per sheet with 6 on a sheet.

K

[GlacierBrewing]

We seemed to be ordering a box of handles every couple of months or so. I got fed up and bought a $200 mini-lathe. Now I get a 13' piece of birch, cut it into 10" long blanks and turn my handles myself. The cost (after the lathe) of the individual handles drops to a couple of bucks apiece, if that. Also, I'm able to do some fun and unique designs on the lathe. I made one handle that has a cherry in the middle of the shaft that I painted with bright red nail polish for an account that is pouring our Cherry Ale. In my mind, making them yourself is the way to go. You don't need to be the New Yankee Workshop guy. It really is kinda' easy.
Prost!
dave