Thread: First brush making attempt could have been better

I have a Delta mini lathe in my shop that is little used (not much into turning).
Seeing you guys making brushes sucked me in.
I bored a 1" hole for a 23mm knot (yes, 23mm & 24mm Forstners are on order).
The stop on the drill press slipped and the hole is way too deep. Bondo will help out here with a build up.
The 1/4" drilled hole for the headless bolt is located off center by an 1/8". This will result in a brush being off-set. I have to think of a reason why I wanted it like that for whomevr I show it to.
The tuning of the olivewood went ok for not being a talented turner.
I applied a coat of fast drying varnish which is still sticky overnight. It's now unstairs where it's warmer.
I think I may wind up with a usable brush when done in spite of a bumpy trail.
It slipped my mind to make the first one out of scrap wood.
Photos to come later if it's not too embarasing.

Yeah photos are always good. And of course you'll learn a ton on the first few. I have and still have a long way to go.
Keep in mind the knot diameter is a little larger past the epoxy base so you'll have to play with the size of the bore.
Hope to see more!

Will come together,keep at it,23/24mm bits may actually be to small for a 23mm Knot base as the hair is usually wider above the base.
sometimes so, sometimes not.

I just picked up a delta mini lathe on a local classified site a couple months ago. I'm loving that machine a lot.

Find some scrap wood, try fire wood from a friends wood pile, and practice, practice, practice. Just getting use to how the tools work, and what cuts you can make with them will get you use to turning in general.

I'd say if your varnish is still tacky even after over night, you had it in a humid area, or the varnish itself is bad.


Keep those tools sharp!

Please post your finished handle. That way you can start comparing your first with the next and again with the next and the next 50 or so.
You will be surprised how far you have come. Also you can get some good feed back on style and techniques of turning. Pointer if you will.
No one on this form will ever make fun of your work. We all have had to start somewhere. Yes at the beginning just like you!!
Have fun with it and enjoy it. The name of this game is to die with all your fingers still attached. Oh yeah, and have a butt load of brushes to use too!!

Ray

Haven't turned olive for a while, so I'm not sure, but - some of the exotic hardwoods are so oily that poly doesn't ever dry on them. It helps to wipe with a rag soaked in lacquer thinner, or seal first with spray lacquer or CA glue. I've had to clean poly off and start over a couple of times. Good luck with your journey.

Originally Posted by skipnord

Haven't turned olive for a while, so I'm not sure, but - some of the exotic hardwoods are so oily that poly doesn't ever dry on them. It helps to wipe with a rag soaked in lacquer thinner, or seal first with spray lacquer or CA glue. I've had to clean poly off and start over a couple of times. Good luck with your journey.

I didn't know Olive was oily. That may be why it was still sticky after 3 days.
I just finished removing that sticky coat. Some real stubborn crap to get off.
I re-applied a coat of Waterlox (my favorite finish) before reading your post on oiliness.
I may wind up stripping that coat too.
I's called a learning curve. LOL

And now you know.