Thread: Silicone to set knots?

There was a thread posted on "the other forum" about using silicone glue instead of epoxy to set knots. I've always used epoxy - never thought about using anything else. The main advantage to using silicone for, those that use it, was that it was easy to remove a knot in the future, if necessary. Anyone what to chime in on their experiences? Just curious. Thanks.

If used in a thin layer, it is great. Unless catalyzed, it requires some moisture to set. That said, I have used it for a couple brushes.
~Richard

Have used it when people want to test a loft setting,is not a long term adhiesive for knots.

When my 35 year old Hoffritz brush lost the knot I used silicone to fix it it. A little goes a long way and I used too much. Squeezed out the top of the handle. Fixed the knot though. If I had to do it again I would use an alternative.

The main problem with using silicone is if you need to go deeper you will be okay,re-bore, get down to fresh material.
When you finally set the the knot properly with epoxy resin just remember,Epoxy will not bond on a surface that has silicone on it.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

The main problem with using silicone is if you need to go deeper you will be okay,re-bore, get down to fresh material.
When you finally set the the knot properly with epoxy resin just remember,Epoxy will not bond on a surface that has silicone on it.

Bill the brush was purchased in 1972 or '3 and it wasn't cut square on the bottom and glued into a pan and then set in the handle, but was done the old way where the knot was folded over and tied in the handle, and then set with some kind of white stuff. It dried out and one day ,30 some years later, I was shaking the brush out and the knot fell into the sink.

That was before I was computer literate and I didn't have any idea how to fix it so I went with the silicone. The stuff come over top of the handle and made the hair look like I was using "that greasy kid stuff" if you are old enough to remember .... I know you are Bill ......

Wildroot or Brylcream Jim? My hair left the building a long time ago

I once used Gorilla Glue to reset a knot. I knew it expanded as it dried but I mean...not that much. Talk about a mess.

I've used silicone to test set knots with no problems following up with epoxy so far. The bore size and loft really work together to make the same size knot feel very different so doing a real life test set with silicone really helps to make up your mind about the loft. I have a brush in use now that was "test set" with a small amount of silicone that is more permanent than I anticipated. A small smear is all you need to keep it temporary.

Epoxy will not adhere to cured silicone,JME