All Right, I've gutted my VDH handle and now...

[gearchow]

Ok, I'm taking the plunge. I'm using my first brush - a VDH - and I got the old bristle out but haven't drilled out completely, just about 3/8 deep. I measured the opening and I got .91 on my dial caliper - a little over 23 mm? I may have to invest in some metric measuring instruments. oh yeah.

I've started removing the molding lines, but I need to order a knot so I got to get that going.

I've read post after post and I am more confused about badger type, knot size and loft (knot height?) then I was when I never read nothing.

Is there a post, a wiki, a FAQ, a guru what can help me make sense out of this?

I got T88 epoxy on order, I'm going to get a metric ruler tomorrow but I need to get going on the knot. I'm thinking I want something that will specialize in whipping up cream but I should keep it in the cheap to medium price range - first try and all.

Any advice for a knot?

-jim

 

[Rudy Vey]

Ok, I'm taking the plunge. I'm using my first brush - a VDH - and I got the old bristle out but haven't drilled out completely, just about 3/8 deep. I measured the opening and I got .91 on my dial caliper - a little over 23 mm? I may have to invest in some metric measuring instruments. oh yeah.

I've started removing the molding lines, but I need to order a knot so I got to get that going.

I've read post after post and I am more confused about badger type, knot size and loft (knot height?) then I was when I never read nothing.

Is there a post, a wiki, a FAQ, a guru what can help me make sense out of this?

I got T88 epoxy on order, I'm going to get a metric ruler tomorrow but I need to get going on the knot. I'm thinking I want something that will specialize in whipping up cream but I should keep it in the cheap to medium price range - first try and all.

Any advice for a knot?

-jim

Yes, get a 22 mm Finest knot from TGN (The Golden Nib), about $21, but Tony also carries Best or Pure which are lower in price. However, the finest is really a great knot. His 22 mm knots are all in the range of $14 - $25.

 

[gearchow]

Thank you. I ordered the 22mm Finest Badger Fan Shape from TGN. I asked Tony a question, I ordered the knot, it shipped soon there after.

Far out.

Maybe next time, I'll try the bulb shape.

-jim

 

[SliceOfLife]

I haven't gotten a bad knot from TGN.

 

[faster_than_u]

What is the difference between silver tip, finest, best or pure badger? I would like to put a new know into my vdh brush because the boar one in there sucks it sheds A LOT.

 

[gorgehiker]

Jim, is this the green handled one you can get at Fred Meyer?

 

[michiganlover]

Jim:

I had endevored to do this as a project as well. I had a VDH kit I had picked up for $2 on cleareance at Wal-Mart, I also had a 20mm badger knot I had gotten through a trade. I thought the knot would be the perfect match with the VDH handle.

I started to drill out the VDH boar knot, and found it's base was fiberglass!! Huh???

The resulting hole was far bigger than my 20mm knot, so I figured I would fill it with epoxy, and re-drill to the right size.

At this point, I came to the conclusion I would invest more money into the project than it was likely worth.

I left the project at my father's house; he owns a welding and machine shop, and is extremely skilled with a lathe. He must have gotten bored, as he decided to turn me an entirely new handle out of some plastic blanks he had laying around. He patterned it after the VDH handle....

Here is the awesome result (the best thing, is it's something that is uniquely mine, since my father made it for me):

P.S. My ions old digital camera really sucks at taking pictures.

 

[gorgehiker]

That is a sexy brush!!

 

[gearchow]

Jim, is this the green handled one you can get at Fred Meyer?

Yep, green box about $8. Walgreens too.

-jim

 

[gearchow]

Jim:

I had endevored to do this as a project as well. I had a VDH kit I had picked up for $2 on cleareance at Wal-Mart, I also had a 20mm badger knot I had gotten through a trade. I thought the knot would be the perfect match with the VDH handle.

I started to drill out the VDH boar knot, and found it's base was fiberglass!! Huh???

The resulting hole was far bigger than my 20mm knot, so I figured I would fill it with epoxy, and re-drill to the right size.

At this point, I came to the conclusion I would invest more money into the project than it was likely worth.

I left the project at my father's house; he owns a welding and machine shop, and is extremely skilled with a lathe. He must have gotten bored, as he decided to turn me an entirely new handle out of some plastic blanks he had laying around. He patterned it after the VDH handle....

Here is the awesome result (the best thing, is it's something that is uniquely mine, since my father made it for me):

P.S. My ions old digital camera really sucks at taking pictures.

That is great story. And I bet this one doesn't get sold off!

-jim

 

[Topgumby]

It could be just me, but given the vast number of fabulous, beautiful, interesting and historic vintage brush handles out there, isn't putting a new knot in a plastic VDH brush handle just like putting lipstick on this beast?

I know, a bird in the hand and all, but c'mon!

 

[Topgumby]

OK, I admit I've thought about doing it, too.

 

[gearchow]

You got to admit, that's a damn fine looking pig!!!



I got plenty of very nice handles at this point, but I really really want to make my mistakes on this one. And one of the things I know can go wrong from woodworking is the glue up. So I'm working through the procedure with my little fat greenie.

And I hope there are more knots to buy?

-jim

 

[Topgumby]

Perfect reasoning, and truth be told, I like that chubby VDH handle, anyway.

 

[gorgehiker]

I was going to redo mine just cause its so cheep and if I mess up oh well...got any pics jim?

 

[gearchow]

So I was working on my little fat greenie

View attachment 99368

and I got bored and I noticed that I had gotten this tossed in with something else:

View attachment 99366

Cheap, light weight plastic so I thought what if I combine the two, so I did:

(sanax used for comparison purposes only!)

View attachment 99369

The red guy really was hollow cheapo plastic, so I decided to fill it in with some resin from left over bondo kit. Good thing I did too, because just some real easy polishing wore through the concave on the red guy:

View attachment 99370

Darn it. I was mostly happy with it till that happened. I know it's really an odd looking thing, but it actually feels pretty nice in my hand. And I could have lived with the imperfect mating surfaces. Could have done better in cleaning up the red guy's cut.

I might hack off the red guy or maybe cut the bad section out and insert another piece of plastic - give it a bit of a reveal.

Things I have learned.

• if you fill in a void, try and color match it. I read that adding dry Tempura powder to epoxy is OK, but can compromise structural integrity. OK for filler.
• I need some better grits. I used some old Turtle Wax Polishing compound, I need some thing finer. I have the whole realm of sand papers.
• Pay attention to the structure of the knob (if possible). For instance that Sanax comes apart and the bottom is filled and the top is hollow and thin.

Well now I'm stuck till I figure out what I am going to do...

-jim