another brush

This one is made of Chakte Viga. An orange-colored wood from Mexico.

The last one I made like this cracked and was just not made right. Well, It was only my second brush handle so I count it as a learning step. A little small too. This one is bigger. Wider and longer. Fits perfectly in my hand! No cracks and drilled perfectly center this time. Seems the easiest way to deal with that issue is to drill first, then turn it. Ha.
Finished with CA and a 24mm SHD Fan knot. In this picture, I had just used it for my shave so it is wet and splayed out. The backbone was great but not too much, soft on the face with no scritch. I think this will be one of my favorite brushes.

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Different lighting
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Outstanding Jerry!

Nice, Jerry-The 24mm SHD Fan from Maggards is my favorite knot. I will definitely be doing some brushes with it. I hope you don't mind if I try to copy that style for a brush or two-I really like it. A couple of tech. questions:

How wide is the top part around the knot? I've had a couple crack on me too, probably because the walls were too thin around the knot, and the knot was too tight in a recess that maybe should have been drilled a mm or so wider. It swelled with water, and there she went. I also think I'm going to seal the insides of the recess against moisture before setting the knot-are you doing that? If so, with what? CA?

Fancy looking brush Jerry. It looks like you’ve caught on to the lathe quite quickly.

Thanks, guys. I'm still learning more and more about how to handle the cutters. And one kicked back at me yesterday pretty hard. I got a sore finger today but no blood and its not broken so I will call it part of the learning curve.

Aaron, I do seal inside with CA. I figure that is the wettest part of the handle so sealing just makes sense. I know the Glue/epoxy also seals it but... I drilled the hole at 1" for the 24mm knots and it feels right to me. As far as the thickness at the top, I'd say it's just over a 1/8". Maybe closer to 3/16". A couple of Quarters to shim it up. The hairs of the brush hide some of the edges when it splays out. I also bevel the inside edge of the hole just a bit to be easier on the hairs. Copy anything you want Aaron. This is all for fun.

I'm learning something new all the time and watching some vids on things to make and how to cut. But with everything I do, I don't have the proper time to learn working the hours I do. So I guess I'm one of the lucky one's who learns things quickly to make up for it. I may have to try selling a few items around these parts or I will end up with more brushes than 10 men need. Who am I kidding, I already have that many. But I need to work on my finishing abilities more first.

"I'm still learning more and more about how to handle the cutters. And one kicked back at me yesterday pretty hard. I got a sore finger today but no blood and its not broken so I will call it part of the learning curve."

One thing Alan sells and recommends (and gives a lot of advice on how to use it in the link) is the One Way cup drive with spring-loaded center: https://stores.alanswoodturningstore...2-morse-taper/
Apparently they make the inevitable "catch" less terrifying and safer. IIRC from his videos, he says he doesn't even use spur drives. He just sharpens the cup edges and files some notches around the rim, I believe. You can then seat it as loose or firmly as you like by varying tension from the quill on your tail-stock, and it will "slip" accordingly in the event of a catch. I'm thinking about getting one myself (and no, I have no vested interest in Lacer or his products-I just like his approach and the 1 product I've bought from him already).

I have read about this type of item. Lots of folks on the vids use them and make them. It is something to think about so thanks for the link and reminding me. Dammit! Another tool.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

I have read about this type of item. Lots of folks on the vids use them and make them. It is something to think about so thanks for the link and reminding me. Dammit! Another tool.

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I'm doing my apprenticeship under the Master Enabler, and we all know who that is. :rofl2:

Great job, Jerry. I can see you having a vendor badge in the future :)

Cool design, Jerry

U guys making wood handles, might think about a metal band that would fit inside the cup. I've seen this in vintage brushes, solely for the purpose of retaining, swelling knots

Metal band? That makes me wonder about putting one on the outside for looks.

Today I thought I'd make a couple more brushes as I had a couple of knots and some blanks so why not.

Walnut with a black synthetic knot and Spalted Tamarind with a mixed knot...

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The Tamarind is just rubbed with oils and the Walnut is CA.
The Walnut I put oil on first then did the CA. Oil is a mix of boiled linseed, and a couple more things. Soaks in and sets up nice. Shine Juice is what it was called when I found it on the web.
I do really like working with Walnut. It gets so smooth. I can see using it a lot more.

Very nice Jerry. I really like that style, long but not overly so. I hear a voice beckoning from down the rabbit hole.

Thanks, Paul. The handles are 3" long. I think its perfect in my hands as I have long fingers. Now someone with short stubby fingers might not like it as much.

More nice ones, Jerry! There's a video on YouTube of a guy doing a boiled linseed oil and CA finish on a wooden brush handle, putting them on together, believe it or not. I tried it, wasn't a fan of the combo. I've thought about mixing up some "shine juice," as I have all the ingredients. Captain Eddie gets some stunning results from it on his YouTube videos.

I'm also a big walnut fan; in fact, I brought home a giant slab of crotch-figured black walnut from the mountains to make into a coffee table after it dries. It looks like you burned in the grooves on both sides of that bottom bead. If so, what did you use? I've heard guitar strings work well.

Captain Eddie is great. I do watch him a lot. I got the shine juice from him. I've heard guitar string is what works but on mine what you see is shade. I took the pics outside. I've been wanting to get to the music store and pick up a wire/string. Time to google the burn wire to be sure. The last time I bought Guitar strings you could get them for 3 bucks each. No telling what they go for now.

Those are really nice brushes Jerry! I think that you have found your niche! You can give up driving that rolling bomb and focus on making brushes. "The Gasman Line" Has a nice ring to it?

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Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

I'm doing my apprenticeship under the Master Enabler, and we all know who that is. :rofl2:

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Yep! That's the Master right there!

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Yep! That's the Master right there!

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Those are looking really nice! You have got the bug now. No "turning" back.

3 more before i have to go back to work. These have not been sanded yet. Just shaped. 2 are Ebony and the one in the middle is Black and White Ebony. I ordered up some knots as I ran out. Im really enjoying making these. Hoping to start making some Pens soon.

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How about this one. I wanted to try putting two different kinds of wood together so I went easy the first time...

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With a little 22mm badger knot.

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What kind of woods are those?

I have some cocobolo that I would like to sandwich with some other light wood for the center.

That pattern would be nice with ebony and alder; one really dark wood and one really white wood. I like that shape Jerry.

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I was reading an old thread where HarryWally made a brush from cocobolo and horn. 4 section piece. He used a epoxy glue called G2. So I just googled it and here is a link. It is good for oily woods.

https://www.systemthree.com/products/g-2-epoxy-glue

Those are awesome Gasman. You are going to go broke buying knots.

I was just looking for contrasting colors of what I had laying around. The dark Orange is Chakte Viga and the lighter color is Maple. Id like to do more of this as its more eye catching. But it uses more wood too and can be a pian glueing. With my scedule its glue one day and turn next week. Ha.
Thanks for the props guys. I will be gathering them up soon to sell. Just so i can buy more knots and wood.

Two more for today and two Pens.

On the left is Marblewood with a boar knot. Its just been washed once so far and not glued just yet. On the right is Ebiara with a SHD badger Fan Knot also only washed and not glued.

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Then there are the two Pens I did. The first one is the fatter pen with dark blemishes in the finish. Remember to clean new tools before using them. :banghead:. The second one the wife called dibs on. Slim and much better than my first. They are both the Slimline type of Pens that twist to open. Now the wife wants a clicker Pen.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

Two more for today and two Pens.

On the left is Marblewood with a boar knot. Its just been washed once so far and not glued just yet. On the right is Ebiara with a SHD badger Fan Knot also only washed and not glued.

Then there are the two Pens I did. The first one is the fatter pen with dark blemishes in the finish. Remember to clean new tools before using them. :banghead:. The second one the wife called dibs on. Slim and much better than my first. They are both the Slimline type of Pens that twist to open. Now the wife wants a clicker Pen.

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"Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!"

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Gets addictive eh? Soon you'll have dozens lying around the house and then you'll be calling in sick because you can't stop making them.

I can imagine a U.P.S. truck pulling up in front of Jerry's house full of knots from The Golden Nib.

Pete <:-}

Jerry, if you run out of knots you can alway make soap bowls while you wait!

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Originally Posted by randydance062449

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What kind of woods are those?

I have some cocobolo that I would like to sandwich with some other light wood for the center.

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Apparently this wood has a fairly high natural oil content and can have real problems with being glued--

https://www.wood-database.com/cocobolo/

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Originally Posted by cudarunner

Apparently this wood has a fairly high natural oil content and can have real problems with being glued--

https://www.wood-database.com/cocobolo/

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Yep, that is very true. I've made a bunch of knives with Cocobolo handles. A slow curing two part epoxy is best such as the aforementioned G2. I've also used Devcon two part epoxy as well as West Systems epoxy with success. However Cocobolo is easy to adhere to when compared to HDPE. That stuff is like trying to glue snot.

I have had pretty good luck gluing coco and the other rosewoods (all the oily woods) by first roughing up the surface a bit with low-grit sand-paper and maybe some cross-hatched lines from a craft razor, then stripping the surface oils out as much as I can with DNA and a rag, and using epoxy like DVW.

And Jerry, it's amazing how quickly you've dialed in your skills on the lathe-I'll be watching your progress as I (maybe) try pens, duck calls and other things. You have set the bar high, my friend! :bow