DIY brush ideas

I found a badger knot supplier. Thought I would make my own brush. Ordered the knot, reasonably priced at about $15US. When it arrived, realized I don't have access to a wood shop to turn a handle. Now for the fun. Any suggestions for a handle for a 23mm knot? If I remember it was a finest grade not silvertip. The site carried both, I opted for a finest for my first attempt to keep the financial officer, wife, happy. When I can figure out to post a pic, I will. The knot is 22x67mm.

I was thinking maybe something as simple as PVC or copper pipe fittings. :confused: Let the creative juices start flowing.

Thanks all.]

How about a billiards ball? Maybe an 8-ball... Grind down one side flat (maybe 1sq inch or so) so it can sit upright, and then bore out the other end for the knot.

OR...some of those letter blocks that kids use. Maybe the letter that corresponds to your name. Bore out the hole, seal it up with some poly or something...

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Originally Posted by Beast

How about a billiards ball? Maybe an 8-ball... Grind down one side flat (maybe 1sq inch or so) so it can sit upright, and then bore out the other end for the knot.

OR...some of those letter blocks that kids use. Maybe the letter that corresponds to your name. Bore out the hole, seal it up with some poly or something...

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Wow, now I like that!

I may have to try something along those lines...

You could use polymorph plastic to make a handle that fits you like a glove.
DIY Material Guide: Polymorph Plastic ( a thermal plastic with low melting point)

Well w/o ability to turn on a lathe or other equipment you are limited to a simple mold and acrylic where you set the knot into the end before it dries using PVC pipe for a mold (or even a cardboard tube. REmove the mold and hand sand. Im place of acrylic maybe RTV or maybe a clay that hardens. Xheapest and fastest glue the knot to the end of a rod. If rod is wood or plastic you can carve and sand it. :shrug:

Or you could hand carve it with a knife, just get a piece of wood and a good knife... :)

All great ideas. I will have to think some more. I found a PVC coupler at work that I like. I may end up using it and tying a Turk's Head knot on it for decoration. It is a good size and when i glued a spacer in to set the knot at the right height, it has a good, solid feel. Needs a little work to clean up the outside to remove some threads. But that is a job for my belt sander.

Maybe cut a chunk off of a fat wood candlestick or a stair baluster. It would already be lathed for you.

you can see what i did here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...-many-pix.html

You can buy vintage brushes with bad bristles off ebay very cheaply.Then just rip or cut out the old bristles and glue in the new.The only problem may be that you've already bought the bristles.The ones I bought were all 22mm size but you may be able to grind off 1mm on your belt sander.These are the ones I made.

www.straightrazorplace.com/forums/gallery/30017-vintage-brush-restores.html

I looked into making a handle without a lathe and the best I could come up with was a baluster or chair leg (about $3-8). Alternatively, most hardware stores sell handles for files that may work.

I am making a brush with a silvertip knot, but I will not be using a lathe either... In fact, I dont plan to make it cylindrical at all... maybe you could come up with a design you like that isn't limited to a cylindrical (turned) brush.:shrug:

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Originally Posted by jockeys

you can see what i did here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...-many-pix.html

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Haha, when I saw that huge slab of wood at the beginning it reminded me of that 10-pin bowling joke in the Simpsons where every time the pins were knocked down a new set had to be made, each one being turned from an entire tree. :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by Revs

I found a badger knot supplier. Thought I would make my own brush. Ordered the knot, reasonably priced at about $15US. When it arrived, realized I don't have access to a wood shop to turn a handle. Now for the fun. Any suggestions for a handle for a 23mm knot? If I remember it was a finest grade not silvertip. The site carried both, I opted for a finest for my first attempt to keep the financial officer, wife, happy. When I can figure out to post a pic, I will. The knot is 22x67mm.

I was thinking maybe something as simple as PVC or copper pipe fittings. :confused: Let the creative juices start flowing.

Thanks all.]

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I have a couple old brushes I would like to refurbish and am looking for a supplier of Badger knots. Where did you get your knots?

bj

This question was not directed to me but I get mine at thegoldennib.com.They are good quality and inexpensive.My only knock with them was the packaging.They sent my knots in a padded envelope and they were a bit squashed upon arrival.They worked just fine though.

a cool looking branch with a hole drilled in the end. cool because of a knot hole or bark ;)

a small cow horn cut to the approiate length to get the knot to fit tightly

i have both - quick and easy:)

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Originally Posted by 2Sharp

I have a couple old brushes I would like to refurbish and am looking for a supplier of Badger knots. Where did you get your knots?

bj

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As was said above, the Golden Nib is a good supplier of inexpensive knots.

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Originally Posted by Seraphim

As was said above, the Golden Nib is a good supplier of inexpensive knots.

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It's where I got mine... they're tops.

Thanks Guys. I have an order in. I have a couple old brushes from an Antique Shop and and old Burma Shave brush that I have drilled out and will bring them to back to life with new Silvertip Knots. I might even try to turn a couple blanks with my brothers lathe.

bj