Thread: Making custom brushes pt 2. (MANY PIX)

drilling the handles (yeah, that's smoke, even at 700 rpm); testing the fit; what it might look like when done

redneck clamping jig for brush 2 (using shopsmith as drill press); for brush 3; done drilling (dark purple is burn marks )

using a drill press this way is dangerous and stupid. don't ever do it. i warned you

looking good!

why I got chased out of the garage with a broom; part 2; my forstner bit is now VERY broken in

handle 1, the classic style. tried to make this one like a normal shaving brush.

handle 2, the sci fi look. got the idea for this one from a gun in a sci fi film.

handle 3, the long reacher. for using with a deep scuttle. as you can see, i used my fingers as a guide for the swells. !@#$%^ jig slipped, hole is not centered right

Originally Posted by Shaun

Hey...nice MARPAT kilt.

(Marine Pattern)

Where did you get that thing?

like everything else, i made it

I would take anyone of the three!! Good Work.

LESSONS LEARNED:
1) purpleheart has beautiful grain and smooths up really well
2) purpleheart is !@#$%^ hard, and will dull tools and catch fire if you work it at too high a speed
3) I am evidently allergic to purpleheart sawdust
4) drilling non square, non flat, unclampable things is very tricky. need to think of a solution for this before the next batch.
5) the shopsmith is the most useful tool ever made by man. the one pictured is my dad's, and I was astonished at how many different ways it can be used. (that I used: disc sander, bandsaw, lathe, drill press)

next step is to varnish and polish the handles, and then glue bristles into one, then see about getting more bristles.

comments and questions eagerly awaited!