Category: Uncategorized

  • Blade 2.0 Update: Version 3 Test Print

    Tonight’s garage update is a good one.

    The Gen 2 Blade handle has officially moved into Version 3, and this test print is a major improvement over Version 2.

    The earlier version proved the concept, but it still felt like a blade-style body trying to solve a pub-handle problem. Version 3 moves the design back toward a more traditional pub-style tap handle while keeping the modular base concept that started the whole redesign.

    That is the important part.

    The goal with this handle is not just to make another custom beer tap handle. The goal is to solve a real fitment issue that can show up on certain draft systems, especially when a tap handle’s closed position creates an awkward angle or limits clearance.

    Version 3 keeps the separate base and removable handle body, but the overall shape is cleaner, more stable, and closer to what people expect when they see a pub-style tap handle. The rounded top gives it a more familiar silhouette, while the long body still gives us room for branding, text, color changes, logos, or future engraving work.

    The new base interface is also a big step forward. The handle now seats more confidently into the base, and the test fit shows the direction is working. There is still cleanup to do, but the jump from Version 2 to Version 3 is exactly why we prototype in-house.

    Design it.

    Print it.

    Test the fit.

    Find the weak point.

    Change the geometry.

    Run it again.

    That loop is the advantage of garage-based micro manufacturing. We are not waiting weeks to find out whether an idea works. We can model it, print it, mount it, physically test it, and make the next revision almost immediately.

    Blade 2.0 started as a way to explore a swappable blade-style tap handle system. Version 3 is showing that the better product may be a hybrid: modular like the blade concept, but visually closer to a classic pub pull.

    That is a good development.

    More refinement is coming, but tonight’s test print was a clear step in the right direction.

    GarageCraft3D
    Custom tap handles, prototype development, and small-batch production out of Lake Forest, CA.

  • Blade 2.0: Correcting Tap Handle Throw Angle for Wall-Mounted Draft Systems

    Not every tap handle problem starts with the handle.

    Sometimes the issue is the faucet geometry.

    Diagram illustrating the handle throw angle of a tap with an interference zone labeled, showing how the handle contacts the wall before full closure.

    On a wall-mounted tap, the faucet closes at a specific throw angle. Depending on the installation, that closed position can leave a tap handle sitting too far forward, too far back, or at an awkward angle. The handle may technically install correctly, but it does not sit where it needs to sit.

    That matters.

    A tap handle is supposed to be functional, readable, and part of the visual presentation of the draft system. If the closed position pushes the handle into the wrong angle, the branding can be hard to see, the handle can feel awkward to use, or the overall setup just looks off.

    That is the problem Blade 2.0 is being designed to solve.

    This version uses a separate base and swappable blade-style handle. The base can be designed with different angle corrections, allowing the handle to compensate for the faucet’s throw angle and sit in a better final position when the tap is closed.

    Instead of forcing one handle geometry to work across every wall-mounted setup, the base becomes the adjustment point.

    Need a different correction angle? Use a different base.

    Want to keep the same branded blade but adjust the fitment for another tap location? Swap the base.

    Want to test fit before committing to a production run? Print a draft base, check the angle, and refine from there.

    That is where small-batch, garage-based manufacturing makes sense. We can prototype the geometry, physically test the fit, and make small corrections before moving into final production.

    Blade 2.0 is still being refined, but the direction is clear: a modular tap handle system built around real-world fitment, not just a nice-looking render.

    For wall-mounted taps, that detail matters.

    GarageCraft3D offers free consultation and mockup design for custom tap handle projects. For hyper-local clients, we can also bring a draft version for test fitment before final production.

  • Study Break Hard Seltzer Summer Tap Handle

    Study Break Hard Seltzer Summer Tap Handle

    Back in the garage working through a summer run for Study Break.

    This one was built as a seasonal “generic” handle. One design that can run across multiple flavors instead of swapping handles every time something rotates on tap.

    Built for rotation

    If you’re pushing multiple SKUs, constantly changing handles becomes a problem.

    This solves that.

    One handle, consistent look, easy swaps behind the bar.

    Keeps things clean and recognizable without overcomplicating it.

    Design and production

    This run pushed multi color printing a bit further while keeping output consistent across the batch.

    Focus was simple:

    • clean color separation
    • consistent finish from unit to unit
    • repeatability at scale

    The character gives it presence, but the real work is making sure every piece comes off the bed the same and holds up in use.

    These are going into rotation, not sitting on a shelf.

    Local work matters

    For local clients, speed and iteration is where this makes sense.

    I’ll do:

    • free consult
    • mockup design
    • physical draft prototype

    If you’re close enough, I’ll bring a draft out and we’ll test fit it on your taps.

    Check clearance, height, visibility, how it actually feels in hand.

    Make the adjustments before committing to a full run.

    Process

    Everything follows the same loop:

    Design
    Print
    Test
    Refine
    Repeat

    No production floor. No outsourcing.

    Just a garage setup that’s dialed in and repeatable.

    If you’re local

    Orange County, LA, Inland Empire, all fair game.

    If you’re running a rotating lineup or just need something that actually fits your setup, reach out.

    We’ll start with a consult and a mockup and go from there.

  • Next 100!

    As we work on developing the next batch of handles for Study Break Hard Seltzer we received in our next batch of 100 hanger bolts and ferrule couplers. That’s 100 Tap Handles that can be produced in the next 48 hours for a brewery or restaurant chain in need!

    Second note we are beyond knee deep in Farmers Market PReparations. Taking a page out of my old Marine Corps playbook. It’s not a matter of “if” it’s now a matter of “when”. The answer… still a bit cloudy but needless to say it will be soon!

    Hawk the Wares!

    -Nick@GC3D

  • GarageCraft3d in 2026: Built to Be Seen

    As we move into 2026, GarageCraft3d is stepping out from behind the screen and into the community.

    This year is about presence.

    At farmers markets across Orange County, we’re bringing our workshop with us, engraving custom glassware on-site, building tap handles in-house, and letting customers see how their items are made in real time.

    A promotional banner for GarageCraft 3D, displaying services like custom artwork, tap handles, laser engraving, and CNC machining. The design features a QR code and emphasizes that the company is veteran-owned and based in Orange County, CA.

    Every product we offer is designed and produced by us. No outsourcing. No drop-shipping. No mystery supply chains. What you see on the table is what we make.

    Live laser engraving allows us to personalize gifts while you wait, names, dates, celebrations, and one-off designs. Turning a simple purchase into an experience.

    Banner for GarageCraft3D promoting custom artwork, tap handles, laser engraving, and CNC machining, highlighting it as a veteran-owned business in Orange County, CA.

    Behind the scenes, we’ve spent the last year refining our tools, materials, and workflows so that what happens at the booth is fast, safe, and repeatable. That preparation lets us focus on what matters most at the market: quality work and real conversations.

    GarageCraft3d is veteran owned, locally operated, and built around modern fabrication done the right way.

    If you see the laser running, stop by.
    I’d behappy to show you how it works.

    -Nick
    GarageCraft3d

  • Wrapping a Production Run for Mission Ready Brewing

    Wrapping a Production Run for Mission Ready Brewing

    Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

    There’s something uniquely satisfying about closing out a production run that represents both continuity and evolution. This latest batch of custom tap handles for Mission Ready Brewing (MRB) does exactly that.

    Located in Rancho Santa Margarita, Mission Ready Brewing operates out of the former Laguna Beer Company facility — a space that already carried local recognition and history before MRB took the reins. Rather than wiping the slate clean, the Mission Ready team has taken a deliberate, respectful approach: retain what worked, refine what didn’t, and elevate the brand with intention.

    That philosophy aligns closely with how we approach design and fabrication at GarageCraft3D.

    From Laguna Beer Company to Mission Ready Brewing

    Laguna Beer Company established itself as a neighborhood brewery in Rancho Santa Margarita, building a loyal local following. When ownership transitioned and Mission Ready Brewing stepped in, the goal wasn’t simply a name change — it was a repositioning.

    Mission Ready Brewing brought a clearer identity, veteran-owned leadership, and a sharper focus on brand cohesion. The beer stayed approachable. The space stayed familiar. But the presentation, from graphics to tap handles, began moving toward something more purposeful and unmistakably MRB.

    That’s where this production run fits into the bigger picture.

    A collection of custom two-tone tap handles for Mission Ready Brewing, featuring OD Green and Coyote Brown colors with detailed logo designs, displayed on a wooden surface.

    Two-Tone Stubby Handles, Purpose-Built

    For this run, MRB opted for custom stubby-style tap handles with a distinctly tactical aesthetic:

    • OD Green on one face
    • Coyote Brown on the opposing face
    • Crisp, high-contrast logo detailing
    • Durable construction designed for daily service

    The two-tone layout wasn’t just a color choice — it was a way to give the handle visual depth while keeping it rooted in Mission Ready’s brand language. Depending on where you’re standing at the bar, you catch a slightly different look, but it always reads as intentional.

    These are not off-the-shelf handles. Each unit was designed, fabricated, finished, and assembled in-house, ensuring consistency across the entire lineup.

    Production Matters

    Tap handles are small objects that do a lot of work. They are touched constantly, seen from across the room, and subconsciously shape how a beer is perceived before it’s ever poured.

    This production run focused on:

    • Repeatable quality across multiple units
    • Clean edge definition and surface finish
    • Secure mounting hardware
    • Long-term durability in a commercial environment

    When a brewery is actively refining its identity, details like this matter.

    Looking Ahead

    Mission Ready Brewing continues to build on the foundation left behind while confidently moving forward with their own voice. We’re proud to support that transition with hardware that reflects where the brand is headed, not just where it’s been.

    If you find yourself in Rancho Santa Margarita, stop in, grab a pint, and take a closer look at the handles behind the bar. They’re a small piece of a much larger story, one that’s still being written.

    More to come.

    Nick@GC3D
    Veteran-Owned | Designed & Fabricated In-House

  • GC3D Blog Update: Mission Ready Brewing Stubby Handle

    We wrapped two production samples for Mission Ready Brewing using their Hop styled badge: one in olive drab and one in desert tan for final color review.

    Both pieces were run through our multi-color production workflow with raised surface detailing, reinforced internal structure, and the standard 3/8″-16 insert and ferrule coupler. These reflect the geometry and finish we plan to carry forward into full batches.

    Check them out and grab a pint @Mission Ready Brewing
    https://missionreadybrewing.com

    Print sequencing and throughput follow our current daily window of roughly 28–32 units depending on design complexity.

    We are at the 99% for choice on color, engraving and minor finishing touched. Once that’s all flushed out final production will begin.

    @nickgc3d

  • Webb’s Grainworks: Golden Republic Founders Club Release

    A full production weekend at GC3D

    Webb’s Grainworks just launched their Golden Republic Bourbon, GC3D supported their Founder’s Club gift baskets. The club is a program built around their commitment to locally grown grain, small batch distillation, and California craftsmanship. That focus on local production and hands-on quality is the same foundation GC3D operates on, which made this collaboration a natural fit. More about the Golden Republic release can be found at https://www.webbsgrainworks.com/.

    A wooden crate containing Webb's Golden Republic California Bourbon Whiskey, two engraved tasting glasses, and decorative filler.

    Each Founders Crate included a hand-signed bottle of Golden Republic California Bourbon Whiskey, a pair of engraved tasting glasses, and a thick metal Founders Club card. The card was designed as part of the full kit and quickly became a point of envy at the launch dinner. Webb’s presentation, paired with these elements, delivered a cohesive and premium experience that reflected the spirit of the release.

    GC3D handled the full fabrication run for the glassware and the cards. This included dialing in the laser settings, managing cycle consistency across the entire batch, and completing the production workload over a dedicated weekend in the garage. The final display at Webb’s tasting room shows the level of detail that went into the project and the alignment between both teams in producing something local and thoughtfully made.

    If you picked up a Founders Crate at the event, enjoy. This was a rewarding project to support.

    -Nick@GC3D

  • Laser Engraved Glassware for Webb’s Grainworks

    Today’s production work focused on dialing in laser settings and preparing for a full run of specialty glassware for Webb’s Grainworks in support of their upcoming Golden Republic bourbon release. The objective was to achieve consistent, high-detail etching across both the front crest and the base logo, ensuring clarity, even line weight, and uniform depth on every unit.

    Test engravings were completed on Glencairn-style tasting glasses with positive results. The crest, scrollwork, and “Golden Republic” title presented crisp edges and balanced contrast when paired against a dark backing cloth for inspection. Base engravings of the Webb’s mark were centered and clean, confirming proper rotation and focus adjustments for the underside pass.

    Next steps include finalizing production settings, locking in throughput timings, and validating the pricing model for the complete batch. Once parameters are confirmed, GC3D will transition into full production to support the release.

  • Another Production Run for Study Break Hard Seltzer for the 2025 Festival of Holidays

    GarageCraft3d completed another production run for Study Break Hard Seltzer that will support their offerings during the Disney Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure. This run included two returning favorites and two new seasonal releases.

    Production totals for this batch were:

    • 10 Blast of Baja
    • 10 L. A. Punch
    • 3 Cranberry Moscow Mule
    • 3 Peppermint Mocha

    Every tap handle was designed from provided artwork and produced in-house with GC3D’s multi-color print workflow to keep the artwork clean, bright, and consistent across the lineup.

    When these go live during the Festival of Holidays, snap a picture with them and send it our way. It would mean a lot to GC3D this season.

    Cheers to you and yours!

    -@nickgc3d

    A collection of tap handles for Study Break Hard Seltzer featuring designs for Blast of Baja, L.A. Punch, Cranberry Moscow Mule, and Peppermint Mocha, arranged on a wooden table.
    Three colorful tap handles for Study Break Hard Seltzer flavors: LA Punch, Cranberry Moscow Mule, and Blast of Baja, arranged on a wooden surface.
    A close-up of a tap handle for Peppermint Mocha Study Break, featuring a festive design with red and white stripes and candy imagery, alongside other tap handles on a wooden surface.
    Close-up of tap handles for Study Break Hard Seltzer featuring 'Peppermint Mocha' and 'Cranberry Moscow Mule' designs on a wooden surface.