Thread: A stiffy. :)

This is a rehandle I did for a fellow member who wanted an Omega 98 slammed down to a 50mm loft. This will be a nice firm, stiff boar brush. The materials are Briar burl top and bottom, with a piece of birdseye maple cut on an angle also on the top. The mid portion is African blackwood. I left a bit of bark on the one edge of the Briar burl, to give it some character. I also ran into some problems when a bunch of inclusions came flying out of the top portion when boring the hole for the knot. I was hopping that section would stay and match the bottom but didn't. Hence, the section of birdseye maple. Its cut along the length of the eyes which gives a ton of Chatoyance in the light.

Here it is, and thanks for looking!

great piece!

DANG! That IS a stiffy! Reminds of old shoe-shine brushes! If you like em stiff, that is it!
Lovely work, as always!

Andrew, here we go again. But thankfully my need for daily food (and drink) is keeping me in check this time. It's in the memory file for later.

Very nice brush, by the way.

Nice save on that top piece!

It's getting cold, you turning in the basement? If not how concerned are you with warpage when turning.

Originally Posted by CyberShdw

Nice save on that top piece!

It's getting cold, you turning in the basement? If not how concerned are you with warpage when turning.

I've had problems with these kinds of brushes with many pieces glued together. Each wood moves differently than the other surrounding it, causing major problems. I've been putting my handles in a vacuum chamber and sucking in oil. It helps a lot with this problem giving moisture no place to get into the material.

I have turned a bunch of candlesticks in the past with different woods. I find putting a hand made dowel thru the center allows the glue to grab better. The problem is end grain to end grain soaks up the glue instead of binding.

So you're turning in the cold then? Between the rain and the cold I haven't spent much time in the garage. I have been mentally kicking around a segmented brush handle but the moisture and cold always warp the build. Turning cold wood also causes a lot of checking.. at least with my hand on the tool rest.

Originally Posted by CyberShdw

I have turned a bunch of candlesticks in the past with different woods. I find putting a hand made dowel thru the center allows the glue to grab better. The problem is end grain to end grain soaks up the glue instead of binding.

So you're turning in the cold then? Between the rain and the cold I haven't spent much time in the garage. I have been mentally kicking around a segmented brush handle but the moisture and cold always warp the build. Turning cold wood also causes a lot of checking.. at least with my hand on the tool rest.

Sorry, should have stated that I'm turning inside, in the basement. All my wood is room temp. and yes I also dowl all my multi material woods. I learned that from the master Pixelfixed. This greatly increases the bond along with cutting channels for the glue to grab onto.

Here is a piece I have bored for a dowel and some rings cut in the face for the glue to hold onto.

Andrew, It looks fantastic. I can hardly wait to get my hands on it. Thanks.