Thread: First Vintage Brush Restoration

After much deliberation, and trying to get someone restore my vintage Stag Best Badger brush, I decided to do it myself. After some coaching from 2 sharp and a 23mm silver badger brush from Golden Nib here is the results.

The lathering is awesome with this brush, soft yet stiff enough, one or two bristle sheds after 2 shaves.

Thanks to 2 Sharp, much respect Sir,

Nice job.Love those old lucite brushes.Have restored a couple myself.Very rewarding isn't it?And very frugal.

Yes, very rewarding! I can't help but wonder what they would cost new in todays dollars.

Thanks,

Nice job Jason. It's so rewarding to restore old things and give them a new life. I really like the handle. Another $100 brush for $20.

bj

It was easier than I thought, but I had old badger hair everywhere!!

Nice job!

Which version of the knots they sell did you use?

It was a 23mm silver badger hair knot from The Golden Nib. I went to their site and it looks like they are out of that particular knot. To be honest, 1mm smaller really wouldn't have mattered on my brush as the epoxy fills in the rest. I also drilled a bit deeper than the original to squeeze the hairs together a bit for a more firm brush.


Hope this helps!!

Originally Posted by jjpharris

It was a 23mm silver badger hair knot from The Golden Nib. I went to their site and it looks like they are out of that particular knot. To be honest, 1mm smaller really wouldn't have mattered on my brush as the epoxy fills in the rest. I also drilled a bit deeper than the original to squeeze the hairs together a bit for a more firm brush.

So it was the standard knot and not the UK version?

Could you describe your method of epoxying? I'm wondering whether you apply epoxy to just the handle, just the knot, or both...do you just glue the end or glue it all the way to the top of the handle...do you dip the knot in epoxy or brush it on?

Yes, the standard Silvertip knot. I don't even know what that UK knot is, it wasn't even offered when I bought mine. I wonder if it is offered for people who live there to save on shipping??

I mixed up the epoxy per the instructions and coated the inside of the handle with a fair amount, as i wanted to have enough to fill the gaps, but not as much to push the knot out. Then I applied a coating to the knot base with a q-tip with no cotton on it. The knot base is thicker at the bottom than at the top, and i wanted to fill that space in. Realize that the deeper you stick the knot in the handle, the tighteryou are squeezing the bristles together and that makes them more firm/stiffer.

I kind of wanted an in between brush so it took some messing around.

You'll get what I mean!!

I know exactly what you mean. I too prefer a slightly shorter loft to give the brush more backbone...which is probably why my favorite brush is a Rooney.

Thanks for that great explanation of the epoxying process! That is pretty much how I planned on approaching the process but I was curious if you just coated the bottom of the knot or dipped the knot in the epoxy to bind the base together and maybe avoid any future shedding...although I have to admit I've never actually seen one of their knots so maybe that's not necessary.