Thread: Brush Restorations

Just wanted to share a few brush restorations I recently did.

L to R Ever Ready 100, Strong Set Sterilized, Rubberset 153, & a Made Rite 203. I cut of the hair, drilled out the old plugs using a forstner bit, and a sanding drum attached to a rotary tool to make room for the knot. I didn't do any exterior sanding on the Strongset because it was a wood handle and I didn't want to end up re-painting a wood handle. On all the other ones I did the sanding using 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 & 2000 grit paper and several applications of Meguiar's Plast-X to bring out the shine. Once drilled out I used cork to set the shelf and epoxy to set the knots. I used a TGN Best Badger knot on the Strongset and TGN Finest 22mm XH knots (my favorite) on all the rest. I hope you enjoy.

Here are the handles after I cut out the hair and before I did the sanding.


ER 100, The swirly green patter caught my eye when I saw it and is what got me started on doing these restorations. I filled in the letter using some Flat Green Testor's enamel paint.


As you can see from the group picture. The Rubberset had a butterscotch patina that would come off as I began sanding. At first I was a little disappointed it was coming off but didn't feel so bad once I saw what was under it. I did leave the butterscotch finish on the very bottom because I like the way the contrast looked and I didn't want to lose the faint lettering. I also sanded off the mold seams to give a smooth one piece look.


I like the way this brush came out but honestly, I'm not a big fan of the Best Badger knot. Not enough backbone for a dedicated soap user like myself.


This Made Rite looked practically new when I bought it. It just some light scratches that could have been buffed out easily. At first that was all I was going to do but then decided to sand out the mold seam as well to give it a one piece look like the Rubberset.

Great work !!

fantastic work

Thank you both!

Uh-oh Plast-X? I have a bulletin on that stuff somewhere. They recalled it, seems it's contaminated with a rare African Disease that does horrible things to you. You better send all those to me so I can dispose of them properly.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Uh-oh Plast-X? I have a bulletin on that stuff somewhere. They recalled it, seems it's contaminated with a rare African Disease that does horrible things to you. You better send all those to me so I can dispose of them properly.

I heard about this too. It seems this disease leads to great lather making which in turn leads to great shaves. I'm learning to live with it. Just taking it one day at a time.