A dowel rod, a drill press and a file...

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03-08-2010, 08:52 PM
Ookla

A dowel rod, a drill press and a file...

For some reason I felt like making a brush handle. Since I lack some of the fancier tools to turn a really nice block of exotic wood into a shapely handle, I set out to make one out of pedestrian materials with minimal tools.

I started with a 1.5" diameter section of "Market Select Hardwood" dowel rod. Four feet of the stuff is about $3. I'm not sure what wood it is, but it mostly doesn't matter for the purpose of the project. I cut it to 2.5 inches. The end product is a bit shorter, but it was a handle height I could live with.

I went about finding the "dead center" and drilled a pilot hole with the drill press to insure it was perfectly straight. I screwed a long deck screw into the pilot hole about 3/4" into the piece of wood. Then I cut the head of the screw off with a hacksaw. Then I put the screw and wood into the drill press and tightened it so that the very top of the wood was touching the chuck.

I used only a file and some sandpaper to make the shape and then drilled the hole for the knot. A couple of coats of Tung oil and that's about it. The knot is a TGN 20mm finest fan shape.

I was going to take pictures along the way, but I just plum forgot to. Anyway, here's the finished product pre and post bloom.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/attachm...1&d=1268082152 http://badgerandblade.com/vb/attachm...1&d=1268082161
03-08-2010, 09:52 PM
HNSB

Very nice work from a drill press!
03-09-2010, 12:04 AM
Del1r1um

I think it's a winner, good job. I like that shape, how do you like your finished brush in hand and when lathering?
03-09-2010, 12:14 AM
Ookla

I like the shape and feel. I tried a couple of different weights and styles out before I decided on this one. It's far from perfect, but nice considering the cost and ease of construction.
03-09-2010, 09:29 PM
stdreb27

This looks like fun, I'm definately going to have to try this. Forgive my ignorance, but how do you fasten the knot to the handle. Is it glued or just wedged in there?
03-09-2010, 09:33 PM
Muirtach

Nicely done. Very elegant look.
03-09-2010, 09:37 PM
Birnando

Man, that's creative!
And it looks really nice to.
Thanks for the inspiration, I've gotta try that some time:)
03-10-2010, 12:07 AM
str8tshaver

Thttp://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...1-hpim1550.jpgThese are all made on a drill press to, guess im not the only back yard macanique.
03-10-2010, 12:26 AM
dannyr

Good job. Thats how I like to do things. Give it a good eyeball and start hacking away.
dannyr:tu
03-10-2010, 01:42 AM
AnarchoPhil

What is the purpose of the screw in the handle?
03-10-2010, 02:03 AM
TheRedlines

that might be how he chucked it into the drill press. Maybe with some threaded rod or hacked one of those bolt heads off.
03-10-2010, 02:22 AM
freyguy

That is awesome. I love doing things outside of the norm. That came out really nice too.
03-13-2010, 11:39 PM
mrmaroon

I was wondering the same thing.
03-15-2010, 02:12 AM
ward1402

:)Very nice work!
03-15-2010, 11:40 PM
str8tshaver

The screw is there to hold on to when the sealer is applied.
03-15-2010, 11:51 PM
str8tshaver

I do cut the ends off.
03-25-2010, 04:27 AM
cyclelu

Erick,

Great job!

I just purchased a drill press and came across TGN site a couple of nights ago. Have been tossing around the idea of make a brush in this manner. Thank you for posting, my decision has been made. TGN has a mandrel that from the description seems that it would work in place of the screw. I can not access the site at the moment to link the item, but it was inexpensive.

Thanks again.

Here is the link to the mandrel http://www.thegoldennib.com/index.ph...roducts_id=216

Lu
03-25-2010, 01:47 PM
Stubear

Lovely job! :) It looks great..!
03-25-2010, 01:52 PM
BigIan

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnarchoPhil

What is the purpose of the screw in the handle?

Its so the woos can be held in the chuck of the drill. and also i imagine comes in handy when varnishing.

Speaking of varnishing/oiling do you do that after you have drilled out for the knot? or after?

and what do you use to fix the knot in place?
03-25-2010, 05:04 PM
Ookla

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigIan

Its so the woos can be held in the chuck of the drill. and also i imagine comes in handy when varnishing.

Speaking of varnishing/oiling do you do that after you have drilled out for the knot? or after?

and what do you use to fix the knot in place?

I do it after I drill the hole for the knot and use 5min epoxy to hold it in.
03-25-2010, 05:18 PM
Alembic

Holy Crap that is some nice work. God don't let my wife see what you did with that little amount of tools. I would talk her into letting me get a Bridgeport and a Metal Lathe to do the same thing.:D