3rd Restore - Ever Ready Lucite 150 L (Pic heavy)

[theretroshave]

Hi all. I picked this one up a week or two ago from the bay, and I've been slowly working on it. I decided to try a 20mm silvertip from whippeddog.com, and boy was I shocked at the softness right out of the package. Anyway, I wanted to take a moment to share a few pics, and get some opinions on finishing it. It is a Lucite brush, as my title indicates, but it is about the size of an Omega 11047 or 599. I intend to replace my current travel brush, which is a 11047. I've included a side-by-side for comparison below.

To clean it up, I had to remove the maroon red paint that was originally in the knot hole. It had some holes, and I didn't like the maroon anyway. I used non-acetone nail polish remover to rub out the old paint. I decided to use the 20mm knot, which was larger than the hole, so I had to open the hole a bit, and file down the edges of the knot base. I used my Dremel with a sanding drum to open the hole a bit, which probably wasn't the best way to go about it, but it's not too bad considering. I still have a few scrape marks in the hole, but I think I'll sand it out a third, and final time to try to remove those. I then polished out the hole with my 3M rubbing compound.

So, my question to the community is, what color should I fill the hole with, if any? Please let me know what color you think I should use in the poll above. I'll definitely consider opinions, but I may not go with the poll winner. I just want to know what people think.

 

[Greg1911]

I picked blue but any color will be cool as...

What about White? Like the Semogue 2010 LE?

 

[ras120]

I voted "other". I think you should do something that really stands out like a deep purple or competition orange.

We've already seem all of those other colors.

 

[red zeppelin]

Greg, where did you get the stand that has the wood handled brush in it?

 

[OccamsBadger]

I voted green. You rarely see that in a brush so it would be unique. I think it will look good in whatever you use.

 

[Jimbob]

Great job! I have a small Stag lucite I'm working on and never considered removing the paint like that, you've given me something to think about now

 

[FL shaver]

I voted red like a Semogue 610 or 820. My second vote would be for blue.

 

[mattdenicola]

I voted other ... I like the idea of a sunshine yellow or even a gold.

 

[GDCarrington]

Blue, but a light sky blue rather than a dark blue.

 

[theretroshave]

Great ideas, all around! Thanks everyone for the input. I decided on a color, but I'm just hoping that the scratches left by my heavy-handedness with the dremel sanding drum don't look too bad with my color. I sanded the hole out 3 times from 320 grit up to 3000, and I just can't get the scratches out. At this point, it is what it is. But, it if looks awful because of the scratches, I may take it back to clear, and just set it so that the cracks don't look so obvious. I'm keeping my fingers crossed though.

Should I mention my choice, or leave it as a surprise for when the brush is finished?...

 

[Mike H]

Finish it and post the photo already!

 

[Kostas1]

white with gold flake

 

[mattdenicola]

Should I mention my choice, or leave it as a surprise for when the brush is finished?...

Leave us in suspense for the grand unveiling

 

[theretroshave]

white with gold flake

Cool idea. Maybe I'll try this for my next Lucite handle.

 

[FL shaver]

Ahh...

The suggestions for a metallic paint sound interesting....

 

[Greg1911]

Greg, where did you get the stand that has the wood handled brush in it?

I think it is a Muhle stand. Don't remember where I snagged it....

 

[theretroshave]

So, yesterday I sprayed another layer of paint, and impatiently waited for it to dry... I'll add a post-bloom pic after the 24 hour cure is finished.

Tonight, I set the knot. Here is the result:

It's John Deere Green. My inspiration is the vegetable garden I'm going to attempt this summer. The location requires travel, so this will be my brush during my garden travels. I am thinking of adding yellow into the small ribs to complete the John Deere look.

 

[packersfan117]

Nicely done, Brian!

 

[theretroshave]

Nicely done, Brian!

Thanks Josh. Aside from the tiny cracks created by the drum sanding, which were too deep to sand out, I'm very pleased with the result. I can't wait to use this little guy. I only hope that it works as great as it looks to me.

 

[urkel]

absolutely stunning. great work