DIY 7-Tap 3" Black Pipe Draft Tower

[philipCT]

I've been planning this for some time. I really like the tappedbeer.com towers, but just didn't want to pay their prices. Though their work is awesome, and their prices reasonable for what you get, I am just a cheap bastard and I was pretty sure I could do it myself.

I didn't underestimate the type and caliber of work required, and there was no way I was going to undertake the metalshop work. I have neither the tools or the skills. So, like most of my DIY projects, there was a portion that I subbed out.

I did all the design (to be clear - stole all the design ideas from tappedbeer) and prepared the shop drawings and, after talking to a few people, found the right metal shop with a guy who was willing to do the work cheaply, but who was obsessively fixated on precision and quality. And it shows. The work he did was crazy. Suited me perfectly.

Here's a before shot of the pieces that I assembled, followed by after shots showing the work.

 

[smithabusa]

Very nice! My father in law made me one for xmas this year

 

[cantrell00]

Your machinist did an immaculate job...

Gotta love people that take that degree of care & pride in their work..

 

[philipCT]

Did the final assembly yesterday. Fabricated foam insulation inserts. Mounted elbow shanks onto faucet panels. Ran bev lines.

Installing onto kegerator today.

 

[philipCT]

Hawthorne, my machinist, who has become a friend in the process of building this thing, came over to help install it this morning.

Things we so smoothly due to his experience and confidence marking, pilot drilling, drilling out and finally tapping the mounting holes. He fabricated special mounting bolts to maintain the real look of a full 5/8" bolt, yet carry a 1/4" by 28 threaded rod into the kegerator top. His work has been genius.

End result - well - see for yourself.

 

[WrkdbfGuy]

Man that is seriously sweet.

 

[Calfj60]

That is bad ass! Great work to you and the machinist.

 

[philipCT]

And finally, after all the kegs are connected back up an fully tested, and the tap board updated...

 

[BrewdogSC]

That is beautiful, great job!

 

[nacho2100]

Did the final assembly yesterday. Fabricated foam insulation inserts. Mounted elbow shanks onto faucet panels. Ran bev lines.

Installing onto kegerator today.

really like the shanks. Can you point me to where you got them?

 

[Weezy]

Beautiful project!

 

[philipCT]

I got the faucets and shanks at my LHBS, Maltose Express in Monroe, CT. Hope that helps.

 

[KegHead]

This looks very good. Im gonna keep this idea in mind the next time im at the machine shop. I think making a partially completed (all mill, drill and forming work) but modular kit for DIYers may be neat, and a good cost compromise as well.

 

[user 208089]

Care to post dimensions so we can replicate? Awesome setup!

 

[Tahdi]

Hawthorne, my machinist, who has become a friend in the process of building this thing, came over to help install it this morning.

Things we so smoothly due to his experience and confidence marking, pilot drilling, drilling out and finally tapping the mounting holes. He fabricated special mounting bolts to maintain the real look of a full 5/8" bolt, yet carry a 1/4" by 28 threaded rod into the kegerator top. His work has been genius.

End result - well - see for yourself.

Would your machinist be willing to make the bolts for others doing similar projects? I'm in RI. Thanks

 

[philipCT]

Would your machinist be willing to make the bolts for others doing similar projects? I'm in RI. Thanks

I'm sure he would but just keep in mind, he's a real pro with a full machine shop and gets professional machine-shop rates so don't expect the work to be free. Still, I found him quite reasonable for the quality.

PM me for contact details.

 

[philipCT]

Care to post dimensions so we can replicate? Awesome setup!

Sure. I'll look for the folder with those drawings and post. Warning - the drawings were all hand-drawn by me, so not professional, but Hawthorne didn't seem to have any problem understanding them.

 

[user 208089]

really like the shanks. Can you point me to where you got them?

Adventures in Homebrewing carry identical shanks: Krome Dispense brand.

S/S Column Shank Assembly (90 degree barb)
Item Number:40-C331

 

[Jester369]

Excellent!

 

[martianpc]

I love the look of this and it's industrial design!

A few questions, what is the height and total width. IE : how long of black pipe nipples did you buy?

What is the point of the cutout with the plate over it instead of just mounting the faucets right to the pipe?

Thanks!

 

[user 208089]

Finished this tap few weeks ago. I used a lot of the same ideas/design as philipmeese. I used the front cut out for access and future shank/line servicing. I originally planned to drill/mount the shanks directly to the black pipe, but realized that I could miss drill a hole and cause the taps not to lineup.

 

[KegHead]

Finished this tap few weeks ago. I used a lot of the same ideas/design as philipmeese. I used the front cut out for access and future shank/line servicing. I originally planned to drill/mount the shanks directly to the black pipe, but realized that I could miss drill a hole and cause the taps not to lineup.

Is the plate rolled sheet metal or scrap pipe?

 

[Resonator]

Looks solid. Nice work!

 

[philipCT]

Finished this tap few weeks ago. I used a lot of the same ideas/design as philipmeese. I used the front cut out for access and future shank/line servicing. I originally planned to drill/mount the shanks directly to the black pipe, but realized that I could miss drill a hole and cause the taps not to lineup.

Great looking tap gang. I like those end pieces. I used a "T" configuration to match with the existing through-holes in my kegerator.

 

[philipCT]

I love the look of this and it's industrial design!

A few questions, what is the height and total width. IE : how long of black pipe nipples did you buy?

What is the point of the cutout with the plate over it instead of just mounting the faucets right to the pipe?

Thanks!

As I recall, the middle nipple was 10" and the sides weren't much shorter - but maybe 9". I picked those dimensions so I could match the down-pipes to existing through-the-top-holes in my kegerator.

I looked at a million different tap gangs and finally figured that the minimum distance between faucets was about 2-1/4", then I calculated everything backwards from there.

The main reason to use the plate, instead of just mounting directly into holes the pipe, is that you can remove the plate and change out or muck with the tubing in back of the shank more easily.

 

[philipCT]

Is the plate rolled sheet metal or scrap pipe?

The plate I used was rolled sheet metal.

 

[martianpc]

Finished this tap few weeks ago. I used a lot of the same ideas/design as philipmeese. I used the front cut out for access and future shank/line servicing. I originally planned to drill/mount the shanks directly to the black pipe, but realized that I could miss drill a hole and cause the taps not to lineup.

Which shanks did you use? Elbow or just a short regular?

 

[user 208089]

Is the plate rolled sheet metal or scrap pipe?

Scrap 4 inch thin wall pipe. Cut to my needed size them reshaped radius to fit the 3 inch black pipe.

 

[user 208089]

Which shanks did you use? Elbow or just a short regular?

See link below or post #18. Those shanks worked well. I did change the plastic flange to a steel one from Micro Matic (D6P3C). The chrome plating chipped once flange nut was tightened. http://www.homebrewing.org/SS-Column-Shank-Assembly-90-degree-barb_p_4652.html

 

[abrahamcharron]

Awesome job! I'm looking to make mine almost identical. My question is would it be possible to have the removable panel on the back only(out of sight) and have only tap holes on the front?

 

[philipCT]

Awesome job! I'm looking to make mine almost identical. My question is would it be possible to have the removable panel on the back only(out of sight) and have only tap holes on the front?

You could, but it might be tricky getting your fingers in there to work with the back parts of the faucets. That panel, with the faucets mounted on it makes working with the faucets drop-dead simple. You just pop the retaining screws and it comes right out with all the hose and shanks right there.

IMO the panel only enhances from the overall industrial design effect.

 

[philipCT]

Found the shop drawings I did - such as they are...

Note: I had purchased and dry-fitted (with plumbers goo so they wouldn't seize) the 3" black pipe pieces together the way I wanted them. Then I delivered the assembly to my shop guy. So the instructions are meant for him.

One note about the 7/8" holes: when he cut them, he cut them EXACTLY 7/8" and my shanks didn't quite fit. He said that I should have told him that I needed to fit a 7/8" shank into the hole and he would have cut it a few thousandths wider. As it turned out, I reamed the wholes out with a round file for about 30 seconds and everything fit perfectly.

On my "T" configuration, the pipe lengths were:

• Side pieces: 8"
• Center piece: 10"
• Risers: 10"

View attachment SteampunkBlackPipeTapGang-TechDrawings-PDM.pdf

 

[Tonnex]

Finished this tap few weeks ago. I used a lot of the same ideas/design as philipmeese. I used the front cut out for access and future shank/line servicing. I originally planned to drill/mount the shanks directly to the black pipe, but realized that I could miss drill a hole and cause the taps not to lineup.

Hi, I'm also looking on making a draft system like yours. Mind if I ask where you got the Kegerator?

 

[user 208089]

Hi, I'm also looking on making a draft system like yours. Mind if I ask where you got the Kegerator?

Alamo Refrigeration in San Antonio TX. It's a XUBB60.
http://alamorefrigeration.com/proje...rator-glass-doors-stainless-steel-countertop/

 

[HatchetJackson]

I have Been lurking long enough. Time just to ask. I really like the your set up and am finishing up only needing to buy pipe. I regularly fill growlers off my system if there enough room with your set up to do so? How long are the different sections of Pipe?

 

[philipCT]

I have Been lurking long enough. Time just to ask. I really like the your set up and am finishing up only needing to buy pipe. I regularly fill growlers off my system if there enough room with your set up to do so? How long are the different sections of Pipe?

I think I uploaded drawings earlier in the thread that lay that out. I think the middle section is 10" and the ends are 9". I actually found the order form for all the pipe sections so let me know if that doesn't make sense and I'll scan and upload that.

I totally fill growlers all the time off my system. Literally every time we leave the house to a party or a dinner with friends. I don't know what I'd do with all the beer otherwise !!!

 

[HatchetJackson]

I think I uploaded drawings earlier in the thread that lay that out. I think the middle section is 10" and the ends are 9". I actually found the order form for all the pipe sections so let me know if that doesn't make sense and I'll scan and upload that.

I looked at the fabrication request it details out the cuts but not the pipe lengths.
The order form would help but don't go out your way.
I am having trouble finding 3" pipe so knowing where you got it may help me. Ball bark how much did you spend on the pipe only?

so to confirm
Sides 9"
Center 10"
what size are the "legs"?

 

[Bigs166]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=592605

Here's my build if you needed some more inspiration for yours. I have all my plans detailed as well if you need them.

 

[Byrd]

All of these look fantastic!

You guys mind sharing your source for the pipes / fittings? Is there a place online I can go or search terms?

I'm also looking to tie in a light (like this https://img0.etsystatic.com/106/0/6191915/il_570xN.1029466490_ii96.jpg) - any thoughts on a solution?

I found grainger to be a semi solid choice. Thanks in advance!

 

[lonepalm]

Had to share mine 😋

View attachment 1497286220931.jpg