Thread: Lord I love Real Lignum:)

have not been able to find the real deal in a very long time in a size for brush handles.
I scored a small Lignum log recently (will last me a very long time)
So what the hay,lets dance with what we got.
Lignum with a spun copper band.(teaching myself the old art of metal spinning)
The other has a fossil walrus Ivory top band cut from a eskimo sled runner (thousands of years old) alas I have no more both knots are TGN grade As.
A good day in the shop.

Once again, very nice Pixel. Your work is always awesome.

Can't find any cheap antique lawn bowls around yer area? Must have been a lot of old lawn bowlers In my parts. I've come across many these days.

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Once again, very nice Pixel. Your work is always awesome.

Can't find any cheap antique lawn bowls around yer area? Must have been a lot of old lawn bowlers In my parts. I've come across many these days.

Thank you,Yes I have cut up many British lawn bowls for material,and Ivory Billiard balls,but I have developed an aversion of destroying things that are no longer made anymore,Lawn bowls in my local are no longer cheap

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhh,,,,,,yes, some nice ones they are !

Once again Bill beautifull brushes, the walrus ivory looks superb! I like the look of the copper band but with time it will cause verdigris (turn green) and i think the powder from that is toxic.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Once again Bill beautifull brushes, the walrus ivory looks superb! I like the look of the copper band but with time it will cause verdigris (turn green) and i think the powder from that is toxic.

Good Question Martin,The knots are not set in copper,they are set in the wood handle and the copper is a band that surrounds the wood,the knot has no contact with the copper band,The band will oxidize over time,if you treat them on occasion with ren-wax they will stay bright for a very long time.To My Knowledge,the several I have made have not had an issue with Verdigris,yes copper can be toxic if not treated with a sealent.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Good Question Martin,The knots are not set in copper,they are set in the wood handle and the copper is a band that surrounds the wood,the knot has no contact with the copper band,The band will oxidize over time,if you treat them on occasion with ren-wax they will stay bright for a very long time.To My Knowledge,the several I have made have not had an issue with Verdigris,yes copper can be toxic if not treated with a sealent.

Makes perfect sense now! I just wanted to point it out, without any verdigris issues and a little ren-wax once in a while, makes a great looking brush.

Originally Posted by Martin103

Once again Bill beautifull brushes, the walrus ivory looks superb! I like the look of the copper band but with time it will cause verdigris (turn green) and i think the powder from that is toxic.

Copper vessels' have been used for centuries in many applications (candy and distilling, and they still are),
many a forefather knew to coat serving and cooking utensils with tin to avoid the toxicity (the acids in food released it).
A band on a shaving brush is going to be far from causing an issue.

Agreed with the above,People are funny these days about so called toxic things.In modern housing, the water you drink comes thru copper pipe.
ten years ago the joints were soldered with lead solder.
When you Barbeque a steak or smoke meat in a smoker,the wood by products and heat cause protiens in the meat to turn into nitrates (carcinogins) the evils of mercury are a real hoot to me,we used to turn copper pennys silver with mercury,Elimental mercury is not toxic,You Burn it than it is. the list go's on and on,sorry to wander O.T

Pixel, after listening to Martin, I wouldn't risk it. I would pull all of these brushes from your stock & have them disposed of,,,,,,,,yes, I know you have a lot of time & money in them,,,,, but think about the harm they could do 100 years from now.

Fortunate for you, this guy deals in matters like yours & he's discreet,,,,,no questions asked,,,,I can reach out to him for you.