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Thread: Setting a Brush Knot (pic heavy)

  1. #1
    Junior Member iKon's Avatar
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    Default Setting a Brush Knot (pic heavy)

    This is a quick photo essay how I set my brush knots. I will preface it by saying this is not the only way or the correct way - it is what works best for me after making a bunch of brushes.

    Would also ask anyone else with some good tips to please add to the thread.


    Simple elements are



    The Knot

    Handle

    Epoxy


    Important parts:

    Prep Work and a clean work station.



    The Knot - a matter of preference , loft height , plug size , badger hair , boar bristle or synthetic .



    I prefer badger hair in a short chubby loft. The origins of the best badger hair/knots is a subject of contention with many "wet shaving connoisseurs", some even believe that places like England and France actually still cull badgers to source the hair from them to use in their brushes - anything is possible.






    The Handle - An endless selection of materials that could be used for a shaving brush handle - use your imagination.

    Unfortunately plastic seem to be the norm these days - raw materials for these cost about $1 each per handle - the labor is the expensive part.






    Epoxy (not glue) - I suggest two part plumbers waterproof epoxy in separate tubes (easier to mix than the dual plunger variety) - this is made to be used around water and suits the purpose of gluing a knot quite well. I use a German brand called Pattex this works best for me. Have read folks using Gorilla Glue , clear silicone tub caulking and even crazy glue - think epoxy






    The most important thing before attempting to set the knot is your handle is clean and free of any dust or debris - this is true for any material being used whether or not you are doing a refurb of and old handle scored on eBay or petrified wood or stainless steel like the examples I am showing - same goes for the knot you are using - it should dry and dust free.



    Second is the fit - prior to setting the knot you want to make sure you have a perfect or as close to it as possible "fit" - like the old saying "To Be Sure , You Have To Make Sure" - be sure of the fit before epoxying anything.








    Mixing the epoxy -



    I use a Q-Tip with the end snipped off to do this and keep some other Q-Tips on hand to wipe away any excess epoxy






    How much epoxy? , use enough but work clean - if you gunk up the knot base with glue it sure will not look very nice.



    I suggest to use most of the epoxy in the handle portion - this is your anchor - keep the rim of the handle opening as glue free as possible , use the q-tip ( the q-tip can be slightly damp with warm water) to wipe any excess away from the top and rim of the handle opening.




    Epoxy's work by joining bonds - so you need to apply epoxy to the plug (the yellow knot base) as well ,but this can be a light coating - as long as there is enough to form a bond.


    Again work clean here and use less than you may think is needed.








    Below image shows adhesion - I am pushing down on it using a bit of force - a small bit of epoxy squirts out around one edge - this quickly gets wiped away with the q-tip.





    Here is the knot "set" and ready for drying






    This epoxy is strong - I let it cure for a full 24 hours before the brush is even touched again - then it is fully dry and ready for use.

    Below image is of my personal brush made with a Jade handle - I'm trying to pull the knot out - the bond is very strong - this is the objective.






    Hope this helps some folks out there with their own projects.



    --- Greg / iKon Razors

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  3. #2
    Senior Member cyclelu's Avatar
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    Greg,

    Thank you for sharing.

    Lu

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    Great Post, I did this exact thing to twice yesterday. I made a mess the wife was ****ed off but what can i do but get a nice clean shave for her.

  5. #4
    Junior Member iKon's Avatar
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    Here are some of the out take images that did not fit on the 1st post.


    The actual set up




    Folks Expressing their Badger Interests







    Image of Epoxy Brand I Use - any home center will have a variety of products to select from







    Modern Shave Brush Handles Prior to Shaping




    Plug base - easy to shape with sand paper or a Dremel tool to help with the proper fit if needed




    Applying epoxy to the knot base






    End result



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    Senior Member kwlfca's Avatar
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    I've seen two part epoxy tubes at the dollar store. If you squirted some onto a piece of paper or something and made sure that the two gels mixed well enough, would it work? Or should I spring for some Gorilla epoxy that I'll probably never use again?

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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    Now that's what I call a super duper post.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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    Senior Member irish19's Avatar
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    The only issue with Gorilla Glue is that it expands as it cures. I've had a problem with this when I used it to make pens. The expansion is enough to cause splitting on the wood blank. As the mortise for the knot is the weakest part of the brush handle, I would worry about the same thing possibly happening.
    It might also expand over the edge of the handle IMHO.

  10. #8
    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Gorilla Epoxy, and gorrila glue for wood are two differant things.Epoxys are epoxys.Devcon or loctite will serve you well.
    That being said,I did have a shedder a few months back,returned, full deposit made.
    Cut the handle in half,disc sanded down to the Knot base,it was cracked in half,Caused by the epoxy curing?? maybe so.

  11. #9
    Senior Member blabbermouth Chevhead's Avatar
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    This is GREAT!

  12. #10
    Senior Member MattCB's Avatar
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    This would be a great addition to the wiki.
    The older I get the more I realize how little I actually know.

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