Thread: Durrr, me so stoopid!

So, in a fit of procrastination from an essay I have due tomorrow, I decided that I'd had enough of my Tweezerman brush's habit of shedding 5 or so bristles every time I use it, no matter what it's used with or how hot my water is. I've got a 28mm and 22mm GN knot (both silvertip) so decided to put the 22mm knot into the Tweezerman handle, since it looked the right size. A few hours of plier work later, and I had a handle of old epoxy (sidenote - I didn't realise it stood so proud from the handle - must have been about half an inch of dried epoxy there, standing prouder than a honeymooner's d... I mean, standing very proud indeed). I eventually cracked it out with a pair of locking pliers, and went to put the knot in the handle to work out how deep I should drill the hole in order to set it just right for what I wanted.

SHOCK!! HORROR!! SCREAMING WOMEN FLEEING IN TERROR!! The knot's too big for the hole, and I can't enlarge the hole without removing the 'brass' ring round the hole (looks more like brass-coloured aluminium to me). I want to keep the ring cos it looks good, and protects the edge of the wood from water (don't really trust the finish they've put on it too much). So now I have to buy a smaller knot and try that instead - I am currently broke, and won't be able to pay for it until next week at the earliest. In the meantime, I'm left with a handle of absolutely no use, and now only have one brush to use til then (Semogue 2015).

Question - to prevent me buying a knot and finding out it's the wrong size again, does anyone know what size knot the Tweezerman brush takes? My sanity thanks you.

measure the inside diameter and that is the size of the knot. You can also ask the Golden Nib people whats the exact measurement of the knot base.

+1 on what Mainaman said. I used calipers to measure before I took the knot out. Just snugged it up against the bristles, just above the handle.

Couldn't you use the brush without a handle for the time being?

I haven't picked one up yet, but the knot has that little base. Would it be too hard to use the brush without the handle?

Just a thought, but like I said, haven't picked up a knot yet to see.

Bummer on the Tweezerman shedding. A Tweezerman is my "go to" brush and the same one has been for over a year and a half. No shedding. I love that brush.

Chris L

Avatar - I thought about that, but I have a rather deep mug, so can't keep a decent grip on the knot without a handle - it's a right bummer, cos I've got a lovely 28mm silvertip knot but no handle to put it in so can't use it.

Maina & Keen - I'm aware of how to measure the hole, the problem here is that it appears to taper slightly narrower as it goes into the handle. I think it should take a 20mm knot, but was wanting to find someone who's done something like this to a Tweezerman before to confirm that 20mm is the way to go, and not 18mm.

Chris - I know, I was rather annoyed too - I bought it based on good reviews from here, and it's shed like buggery. I'm not sure if I've used too hot water (the stuff from my tap is pretty hot, and can vary in temperature depending on how many people in my dorm have used the hot water recently) or if I've been a bit rough on the brush (I could have mashed the bristles into my mug a bit too hard when I was a rank n00b learning to lather), or whether I simply got a crappy knot (out of the hundreds and more that they sell, there's got to be at least one). Regardless of why it's done it, it was shedding 5 bristles or thereabouts per shave, and I was getting sick of them sticking to my face in the lather, so something had to be done. At least I have the Semogue, although I can't use that with my TGQ soaps, cos the bloom's too big for it to fit into my wee 1oz soap bowl that I keep my TGQ soap samples in.

Originally Posted by mosley59

Avatar - I thought about that, but I have a rather deep mug, so can't keep a decent grip on the knot without a handle - it's a right bummer, cos I've got a lovely 28mm silvertip knot but no handle to put it in so can't use it.

You might be able to smear some soap on your face and then face lather.

Originally Posted by mosley59

Maina & Keen - I'm aware of how to measure the hole, the problem here is that it appears to taper slightly narrower as it goes into the handle. I think it should take a 20mm knot, but was wanting to find someone who's done something like this to a Tweezerman before to confirm that 20mm is the way to go, and not 18mm.

I've not worked with a Tweezerman specifically but I'm wondering if you could take some material off the sides to remove the taper? I don't know if any of it would help, but I've got a few posts on my blog regarding a shaving brush restoration I just did:

Shaving Brush Restoration « Keen Edge

just get 18mm knot and you are good.
another option as mentioned above taper the knot base a little.