Thread: Depth of knot into handle

I'm about to turn my first brush handle. I read in another thread where the depth of the knot hole is important. I was prepared to just cover the epoxied area of the knot.
How should I determine the depth?

How do you lather?Bowl,face, creams, hard soaps, what size is the knot.

I usually drill my holes so the knot can be set up to a height of 40-42 mm. No one would probably want one that low, but it is possible. Much easier to shim up the hole than re-drill it later. Knot height is personal preference. For what it's worth, I like around 47mm with a TGN 22mm extra stuffed Finest. But that's just me.

Pixel, could you, or perhaps someone else, please post the relative differences in height for these various uses? I get confused about the relative differences.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

How do you lather?Bowl,face, creams, hard soaps, what size is the knot.

Originally Posted by skipnord

Pixel, could you, or perhaps someone else, please post the relative differences in height for these various uses? I get confused about the relative differences.

Are no set rules,am a face lather guy 48mm with a 24mm overstuffed knot serves me well,you go with a two band 24, a bit Higher I think.
Above all you want to avoid a Floppy Knot,measure the Vulfix brushes,the lofts are always 55+++ they are known for being floppy.
I rarely set any size knot over 50mm,seems to work.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

How do you lather?Bowl,face, creams, hard soaps, what size is the knot.

I have two 24mm knots on order from Golden Nib. Also have a scuttle on the the way. So, face lathering now, but that may change.
I like the temp setting with shimming ability to determine what feels right, before using epoxy.

What grade badger did you get? Silvertip, finest, pure, High Mountain White???

1 ea. 24mm Super Badger Bulb
1 ea. 24mm Silvertip STD XH

Just make sure if you test with silicone you use very little, epoxy will not stick to it.

Originally Posted by WetShaveObsession

Very true, The silicone should be removed from both the knot and the handle before epoxying the knot in. Literally a small pearl sized drop of silicone on the bottom of the knot plug will do the trick.
Also to the OP if you are unaware its not a bad idea to take a dremel with a cutoff wheel and put very small notched in the side of the knot plug and a crosshatch pattern on the bottom of it. The epoxy will hold much better if you do this. Crosshatch and notch the sides on the plug, clean off all the dust and then epoxy in. If you already knew this , well then maybe someone will read it that didnt.

Is no way to remove Silicone from wood fibers unless you drill deeper,all your trying to do is secure a Knot that wgts 5/8s of an Oz.
You do not need Marine grade epoxy or 10 ton epoxy.
No need for cutting into the base IMO, you comprimize the integrity of the base, you will end up with a shedder.