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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jun 15, 2013 17:10:08 GMT -6
Here's my second brush restore project, and I gotta admit I'm pretty pleased with it. My 11 year old grandson helped me with it and is giving it to his dad tomorrow on Fathers Day. We set the knot, a 20MM TGN synthetic, with Loctite clear silicone adhesive and repainted the lettering with two coats of Testor's white model car paint. I hand polished the whole handle with Simichrome polish which seemed to brighten the red up a little. Here's a before picture with the original boar knot. And here's the finished product.
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papabear
Blade King
Looking for one that is just right
Posts: 465
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Post by papabear on Jun 15, 2013 18:26:55 GMT -6
Well done, HT. I have a couple of brushes that need to be restored. With this one, you inspired me to try it on my beat up old brush with a synthetic knot.
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Post by wchnu on Jun 15, 2013 21:42:54 GMT -6
Great looking brush. Love how the old things polish up and shine. Really nice job from you and the youngen.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jun 15, 2013 21:48:44 GMT -6
Nice restoration! It looks like new, maybe better than new.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jun 16, 2013 7:43:19 GMT -6
Thanks everyone. Brian, it's probably better than new because the TGN synthetic knot is undoubtedly better than the original boar knot. The usual way to take the old knot out is to cut it off and then drill it out. When I was researching how to restore these I came across a thread at TSD in which the OP removed the old knots by crushing them in a bench vise. It had a couple responses but never seemed like it got any traction. I tried it and it works remarkably well. This one just broke and fell out. My next one up is an ER 200T that has a large 26MM knot in it. It popped and broke into two big pieces that just fell out of the handle. Much easier than all of the drilling and grinding.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jun 16, 2013 22:35:38 GMT -6
Sounds like a good technique. I need to remember that!
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Post by wchnu on Jun 16, 2013 23:08:38 GMT -6
Thanks everyone. Brian, it's probably better than new because the TGN synthetic knot is undoubtedly better than the original boar knot. The usual way to take the old knot out is to cut it off and then drill it out. When I was researching how to restore these I came across a thread at TSD in which the OP removed the old knots by crushing them in a bench vise. It had a couple responses but never seemed like it got any traction. I tried it and it works remarkably well. This one just broke and fell out. My next one up is an ER 200T that has a large 26MM knot in it. It popped and broke into two big pieces that just fell out of the handle. Much easier than all of the drilling and grinding. Any pictures on that technique??
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jun 17, 2013 6:14:23 GMT -6
I didn't take any, but what I did was put the knot in the bench vise and positioned it so that the edges of the clamps was right where the knot comes out of the handle. As you start tightening it up the knot starts wanting to back out of the vise so you have to push it with your other hand to keep it in place.
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Post by birdlives on Jun 17, 2013 7:19:32 GMT -6
Wow! Thats so beautiful my man....."HT & Grand Son's Manf." looks like where I want to send my brush business.....You guys ROCK!! And thanks for saving those Ever Ready beauties and making them useful and productive members of shaving society again....aswell as absolutely fine subjects for "Brush Porn".... I bet the recipient of this sexy number will be walking around with a big smile for long after Father's Day....And you....I bet you must of had a ball working on this with your grandson and having it turn out so SWEET....I bet your GS is one smiling dude these days.... Congrats on some serious 'Coolness' being achieved...
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Post by wchnu on Jun 17, 2013 7:33:33 GMT -6
I didn't take any, but what I did was put the knot in the bench vise and positioned it so that the edges of the clamps was right where the knot comes out of the handle. As you start tightening it up the knot starts wanting to back out of the vise so you have to push it with your other hand to keep it in place. Thanks. I thought that might be it. Will keep that in mind for future projects.
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Possum
Master Shaver
Cast Iron Marsupial
Look out you "Fuzzy" wabbit!
Posts: 1,274
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Post by Possum on Jun 17, 2013 9:52:58 GMT -6
Tom,
I was a bit skeptical, no make that extremely skeptical of synthetic knots. But you may have convinced me to give one a try. Have 3 boars that have seen better days but still make nice lather. They just don't look all that nice. Can you tell me about the synthetic brushes. Do they compare to a boar or a badger?
Forgot, great looking restoration. I love the red brushes.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jun 17, 2013 13:45:22 GMT -6
Wow! Thats so beautiful my man....."HT & Grand Son's Manf." looks like where I want to send my brush business.....You guys ROCK!! And thanks for saving those Ever Ready beauties and making them useful and productive members of shaving society again....aswell as absolutely fine subjects for "Brush Porn".... I bet the recipient of this sexy number will be walking around with a big smile for long after Father's Day....And you....I bet you must of had a ball working on this with your grandson and having it turn out so SWEET....I bet your GS is one smiling dude these days.... Congrats on some serious 'Coolness' being achieved... Thanks, Lloyd. My son loved the brush, and was really proud of the time and effort his son put into it. It's one of those gifts that will hopefully be remembered for many years to come. I've got several more that I'm working on, I have caught the brush restoration bug big time! Tom, I was a bit skeptical, no make that extremely skeptical of synthetic knots. But you may have convinced me to give one a try. Have 3 boars that have seen better days but still make nice lather. They just don't look all that nice. Can you tell me about the synthetic brushes. Do they compare to a boar or a badger? Forgot, great looking restoration. I love the red brushes. I started using them based on Brian's excellent reviews in this thread: theoriginalsafetytoo.com/thread/597/synthetic-brushes-tgn-24mm-nylonSo far, the one I put in the Stag handle has performed flawlessly. It is much closer to a good badger knot than a boar, it's really soft but has very good backbone so it's not at all floppy feeling. Another benefit is that they have no scent, so there isn't the usual funk that comes with an animal hair brush. I am going to order a couple TGN Finest knots to have a little variety, and because one handle I want to restore takes a very small knot that isn't available in the synthetic line. Brian has a lot of experience with them, so he can speak with real authority about the synthetics. But, based on my limited experience, I can't find anything to not like about them. My next one will be bigger, a 24MM that is going in the ER 200T handle so I'll be able to see how much different the bigger one feels.
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Jun 17, 2013 21:58:59 GMT -6
Yup, the TGN synthetics have gel-like tips with backbone.
Tom, initially I was skeptical about such a large knot (24mm) as a face latherer. But I made one in that size and just had to try it. It was built to be used, right? I really was expecting a mop as it face lathered. That isn't the case at all. It holds it's shape same as it's little brother does. Yes, it's bigger, but it doesn't act like a badger and splay out.
Tom, if you'd like to try one before making one I can send you mine for a trial. Take your time with it. I can also send the Muhle V2 synthetic at the same time.
If one wants a more badger like synthetic, contact Muhle and tell them you want a version 2 synthetic knot of theirs. It's sold by special request only since it's not listed anywhere. Go to their site to see what sizes they make (look at the brushes). Their v2 knots aren't precisely like a badger, but they're the closest to badger that I've used so far. Just keep in mind that it's synthetic not badger and you'll do Ok with it. Their synthetic fibers are probably the best made today.
I had a Muhle V2 21mm travel brush. Liked the knot a lot, hated the handle. I wound up selling it. But I missed the knot and wound up buying one of their brushes with a normal handle. All is well again.
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Post by razorx on Jun 17, 2013 22:32:37 GMT -6
Looks great Tom,that's a special gift to receive.
I have one of those black and green ER brush's that I've been ignoring.I don't have the time to mess around with it right now but might throw it in my vice sometime soon and see if I can get inspired.
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Post by HoosierTrooper on Jun 18, 2013 4:22:36 GMT -6
Thanks Brian, I appreciate the offer, but I don't doubt I'm going to like the 24mm at least as much as I'm enjoying the 22.
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