My first brush build attempts,

Evening gents. From what I've read, watched and learned on this forum I decided that without a badger hair brush in my arsenal I was missing some of the SR experience at its fullest.
That being the case I decided to build one, or three.
so I set out to reclaim an old set of Texas longhorns into my first brush handle. That coupled with a 22x65 mm badger hair knot and my trusty dremel and end mill bit I got to it.
End results are pleasing to my eye, and I'll know in the AM how it feels against the jowls.
cheers..
next project, from the same set,,,,scales..

Nice, Mike! I like the way they sit and the grain of the horn. If I may, I would recommend in the future to make the hole deeper so you can adjust the knot lower if you want. Seems they are at the top. Gonna have a big bloom after use!
Took me a while to learn. Thick O-rings work great to tighten them up if need be.
Nice Work

Thanks for the feedback..
Brilliant idea on the O-ring!!:beer1:
They looked set deep enough dry, the horn is so nice to work with and shapes and sands like, well fingernails, but I did not account for displacement from the epoxy and as they set, they both rose a touch.
I was so pissed at the flaw but couldn't do anything. The O-ring will provide a much better base look aesthetically and allow for bloom control. Thanks for that tip!
The skinny one I'm keeping but the larger one is for a Christmas shaving kit I've put together for my 19year old son so it needs to look its best!
I have a NOS 1946 Gillette Millord DE, stand, soap, and now this brush made from steer horn owned by his grandpa to set him on the right path to proper man scaping, hehe.
Here's the little one in my homemade rack.
Attachment 146893

Cool! We learn every time we work. I always say those o-rings are good for protecting the handle as I bang it around in a mug! :D Seriously, they work great and change the brush radically, or not, depending upon the diameter and thickness. A way to "tune" a brush after the epoxy has set.
Just be shure to roll the O-rings up and over the handle's end and onto the hairs. Off the end of the hairs if removing it. The other way don't work! :gl:

They look great,good work

Nice Rack Mike!
uhh that may have come out wrong :D

And a few fine looking brushes.
Your son should thoroughly enjoy his present, a very nice way to utilize a piece of memorabilia.

Sweet Mike! The brushes look awesome, same with that stand too. I'm sure your son will love the gift. If my Dad gave me that back when I was 19, I would have thought it was so cool!! Which means your a cool Dad!!! :)

Very nice there Mike! It is nice to see some brushes that are out of the norm. I don't mean that as a slam, but as a compliment! Personally I like a big ole honking mushroom bloom. It may not be proper but that is what makes us different. I also like a floppy brush but thats just me. With every build will be a lesson learned. It makes the next build better!
You have done well here. I hope you don't mind if I highjack your idea for the future. Looks to be a cool project. Also a set of scales from the same horn to have a matched razor and brush, awesome!!
I am sure your son will be pleased to have his set and the memory that his dad took time out of his day and life for him!!

Ray

Those brushes look great!

Appreciate all the kind feedback and suggestions/tips for future builds. This forum is great, due to it's members!
I am learning lots, developing skills, and spending more time in the bathroom than I have since I was single, lol.
My wife appreciates the attention I have started to give to my face, and in fact, her attention to my face has increased exponentially as well.;)
Go figure..
Cheers.

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Originally Posted by MikeB52

her attention to my face has increased exponentially as well.;)
Cheers.

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This is a side effect of this I think many of us suffer,
there is a cure, cartridge razors.
But be forewarned the list of unpleasant side effects from it are long and unpleasant. ;)

Props go to sharptonn for the o-ring idea.
I used a traditional oring on the one and a shaft seal on the other.
Think that'll do just fine!
Thanks again gents.
Attachment 146979

Mike what a great gift. They came out great.

That shaft seal is a good idea. It will make the hairs much stiffer and still have some "give"! I see a line of hair between the o-ring and the handle on the other. A touch of CA and work your way around the handle will make it stay flush unless your o-ring is too tight. I had one I stacked 2 o-rings on! Myself and other (unnamed) persons have been known to have some o-rings in the bathroom medicine cabinet. I will not divulge who. :rofl2:

Using O-rings and rubber shaft rings on nice brushes such as they are,is just WRONG,JMO

This is arguably true, however once the epoxy is set, it sometimes becomes a necessity until the knots are being set according to experience. I think we all set them high to begin with and find out the advantages of setting them a bit lower. I used to have several with 0-rings. At last check, I have 8 brushes. Only one still has an o-ring. It's my fave! ;)
As the epoxy sets, the only way to undo it is to destroy the knot. Not always an option!
Of course, no one has set more knots than you, Bill! I need to post that little brush you did for me post-bloom. It is perfect! This is one reason I give my knots a good bath in strong Oxyclean (besides killing the "smell") is that as they dry, the bloom has begun and a feel for the finished brush can be had before gluing-in.

actually is pretty easy to remove an epoxied in knot,I have waze:) but you destroy the handle in the process.

I think the o-ring is a little tight as you mentioned. Eyeballed it and "borrowed" from the plant, going to see if I can find one a mm or 2 bigger.
I will be trying it with, and without the support ring to see which feels the best. Those shaft seals are tapered outward so it sat really flush to the knot which is nice, but it does have a bit more of a shoulder than I like so it may come off. Takes away from the natural look of the horn. I think I will try to trim it between the taper and the lower portion. It will still cover the raised knot base, and provide some brush stiffness..
I take your comment as high praise for my first handles, pixelfixed so thanks for that as well.
Cheers all.

They are nice looking brushes,had you set the loft lower,you would not need the rings.

"Also a set of scales from the same horn to have a matched razor and brush, awesome!!"
That's exactly what I was thinking. Awesome indeed.

Really awesome idea!.

I might try this with some antlers i gather from time to time. not quite as pretty, but should still be impressive

Where did you purchase your knots? haven't seen loose knots before.

Those brushes are sweet! Does that horn smell as bad as deer antler when you are cutting and sanding it?

I bought the heads on eBay from below
virginiasheng | eBay
Real badger hair and seemingly well bonded into their knots..
Needed a soaking in lather, and then conditioner to get rid of the animal odor but aside from that, good heads.
As far as the smell, I think the horn reeked like burnt hair through the entire cut and sand process. But the results made up for the inconvenience. I like the irregular shape of them, fits real nice in the hand during lathering and the added rubber rings really do quieten the mug banging at 6am..going to make a bunch more in the new year. Just making a jig to cut some scales from the same horn stock with a backsaw.
If they turn out, I'll post the results as well.
Cheers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikeB52

I bought the heads on eBay from below
virginiasheng | eBay
Real badger hair and seemingly well bonded into their knots..
Needed a soaking in lather, and then conditioner to get rid of the animal odor but aside from that, good heads.
As far as the smell, I think the horn reeked like burnt hair through the entire cut and sand process. But the results made up for the inconvenience. I like the irregular shape of them, fits real nice in the hand during lathering and the added rubber rings really do quieten the mug banging at 6am..going to make a bunch more in the new year. Just making a jig to cut some scales from the same horn stock with a backsaw.
If they turn out, I'll post the results as well.
Cheers.

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keep at it, I work with horn and bone everyday,you get used to the smell:)

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

keep at it, I work with horn and bone everyday,you get used to the smell:)

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No you don't!!

Ya it sure isn't as nice as working with Paduak or Amboyna. That stuff smells like candy!!! Never get sick of that smell.

I have fired off an order for three badger knots from your supplier Mike, Thanks for the inspiration. I just have to source handle material now.
That's another facet of the art of straight razoring designed to hoover cash out of my wallet ;)

Wow those are nice id deffinately line up to buy one

Cheers gents, appreciate the kind words on the work. Almost ready to slice off my first scale blanks. Might get four sets per horn set, which would be cool. Will post the results.
Andrew, here's a pic of me with a piece of Amboyna I'm going to make some handles from.
Attachment 148598
Just kidding, wish it was me with that slab! Google images is such a tease.
Never even heard of that asian wood till your reply above. Now I need to finally get my old lathe dialed in again and start to turn out some new projects..
Going to order silver hair knots for my next brushes as well as set them deeper.
:beer1:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MikeB52

Cheers gents, appreciate the kind words on the work. Almost ready to slice off my first scale blanks. Might get four sets per horn set, which would be cool. Will post the results.
Andrew, here's a pic of me with a piece of Amboyna I'm going to make some handles from.
Attachment 148598
Just kidding, wish it was me with that slab! Google images is such a tease.
Never even heard of that asian wood till your reply above. Now I need to finally get my old lathe dialed in again and start to turn out some new projects..
Going to order silver hair knots for my next brushes as well as set them deeper.
:beer1:

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holy Crap:) thats nice material,will be in a place come next week that has burl like that,will try to swing some deals.
Right now I am getting ready to leave, to the same place and look at a 200 lb snakewood log,need to take it and have it xrayed first.

Seriously,....X-rayed???
Send us a pic while you are there. :rock:

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Originally Posted by Raol

Seriously,....X-rayed???
Send us a pic while you are there. :rock:

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Yep, is a $3000. pce of of wood,most comes from Vietnam were they are dredged from rivers, most logs are hundreds of years old.
Alot are rotted in the centers,if rotted, the price is far less.Take it to a vet clinic in morgan hill that specilizes in horses, have it exrayed.
If I can swing the deal. seller may not allow an exray, thats common

Mike if you ever are going to buy some Amboyna burl, there's an exotic wood store in Burlington, and a little further from you, another in Cambridge. Don't order one from ebay! Its best if you have it in hand, so you can see any inclusions, cracks, stuff you don't want. Hand select a piece. You don't want to drop $30, $40 on a 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 2" piece and have it show up with cracks you couldn't see. I've been burned on burl blanks from ebay in the past and it sucks.

As for your lathe, you should def get it up and running! I spent 6 hours on mine today turning a bunch of cosmetic brushes for the ladies in my life. It's one thing that just clears my mind and gives me a sense of zen!!! It eases my soul!!!

Attachment 148601

Must be my feminine side speakin then cause those turned out gorgeous Andrew.
Love the shapes you chose, reminds me of a Cuban Oscuro cigar..mmmm.

wow, just beautiful. enjoy the shaves

Great work! lovely handles!