Thread: knot removal

I have restored a few vintage brushes ... I have drilled out the old knots and had mixed success.. after cleaning up the opening with a dremel I seem to do more damage than good to the opening.. has anybody used the steam method with success ??or I have seen I believe glen and others make a post about cleanly removing the knot by using a bench vice?? If anybody can gimme any suggestions or ideas would b great explain the vice method.. bottom line is I wanna b able to remove the knot without breaking out dremel.. I was using grinding wheel on dremel mayb I need to use a sanding disc instead..

I've gotten out nearly all by just crushing the base of the knot with pliers.

The ones that don't come out that way, I cut the hair at the base, drill the center, leaving about .050 at the sides and then scrape that out with a chisel.

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

I have restored a few vintage brushes ... I have drilled out the old knots and had mixed success.. after cleaning up the opening with a dremel I seem to do more damage than good to the opening.. has anybody used the steam method with success ??or I have seen I believe glen and others make a post about cleanly removing the knot by using a bench vice?? If anybody can gimme any suggestions or ideas would b great explain the vice method.. bottom line is I wanna b able to remove the knot without breaking out dremel.. I was using grinding wheel on dremel mayb I need to use a sanding disc instead..

Actually a Dremel "burr"can be a good method, after drilling a cut off knot, for cleaning them out. One of the guys used steam in a pot with the brush held above the water. Cheeck the wiki
~Richard

removing knots from old handles can be pretty easy,or notI wrap the knot heavily in tape.clamp in a vice,twist and pull,No Go? you need power tools but run the risk of damage.
I re-knotted 4 vintage simpsons last week for a guy,all in real Ivory,talk about a PITA.They used Aliphatic Marine glue back in the day,and may still.
Each one of those knots took me at least 3 hrs to remove do not want to do them again.

I got the knot out cleanly .. I used pliers went OK. Do u stick the bristles in the vice or the handle itself. I found with the pliers it kept slipping off the bristles as I pulled.. so when using a vice would u b kind enough to explain.. I'll post pics shortly once my wife let's me near the iPad using my phone its difficult.. looked at golden nib for high mountain white only have it in 24 mm.. I have a 22 mm opening and I bowl lather.. I like the 48 mm loft what size knot do u guys think?? And anywhere else I can get high mountain white??

Originally Posted by Airportcopper

I got the knot out cleanly .. I used pliers went OK. Do u stick the bristles in the vice or the handle itself. I found with the pliers it kept slipping off the bristles as I pulled.. so when using a vice would u b kind enough to explain.. I'll post pics shortly once my wife let's me near the iPad using my phone its difficult.. looked at golden nib for high mountain white only have it in 24 mm.. I have a 22 mm opening and I bowl lather.. I like the 48 mm loft what size knot do u guys think?? And anywhere else I can get high mountain white??

Put the knot in the vice,look at TGNs Finest two bands,they are very nice knots IMO

ok here is what I have nice clean 22 mm opening.. I was so happy last time using a 20 mm knot set at 48mm I have just ordered a finest two band 20 mm from tgn at the recommendation of pixel .. Ill keep u guys posted with pictures...

That knot will please you,they have alot of so called backbone,might consider a tad higher loft.You wil know when you get it,have fun man

i'm afraid to use steam after my first failed attempt on a ever-ready(melted into a distorted pile of plastic). make sure what your steaming can handle the heat!

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Put the knot in the vice,look at TGNs Finest two bands,they are very nice knots IMO

+1 for the TGN two band . I have one , and it's everything I want in a brush . Soft but not too soft , and plenty of backbone .