changing knot size

[mdunn]

I just recieved an old bone turnback brush, the knot is only like 12mm. Is it possible to trim the knot size of a TGN knot so that it will fit this smaller base?

(clarification: im not talking about trimming height, its reducing the diameter of the base)

 

[alexo]

I think you'll risk ruining your knot. Your best bet would be to create an adapter that will hold the knot on one side and get glued to the handle on the other. One way would be to mold it from polymeric clay, shape it from pine wood (relatively soft and easy to work with) or order it from one of the artisans in this forum.

 

[ambrose]

sand that plug as small as it will go before the hairs start to show on the sides.

 

[mdunn]

I think you'll risk ruining your knot. Your best bet would be to create an adapter that will hold the knot on one side and get glued to the handle on the other. One way would be to mold it from polymeric clay, shape it from pine wood (relatively soft and easy to work with) or order it from one of the artisans in this forum.

A plug wont work at all for this brush, given its a turnback. Tis a good idea though. (and if I ruin one knot, its no big deal)

sand that plug as small as it will go before the hairs start to show on the sides.

I thought I would have to do something like this - how are the knots secured, is it just a whole bunch of hair glued together in the TGN knots (so I can lose a few layers of hair around the outside without making the inner hairs come out)?

Or an actual knot set in glue? (where removing some outside hairs would compromise the knot itself)

 

[EFaden]

A plug wont work at all for this brush, given its a turnback. Tis a good idea though. (and if I ruin one knot, its no big deal)



I thought I would have to do something like this - how are the knots secured, is it just a whole bunch of hair glued together in the TGN knots (so I can lose a few layers of hair around the outside without making the inner hairs come out)?

Or an actual knot set in glue? (where removing some outside hairs would compromise the knot itself)

What exactly is a "turnback"? Do you have some pictures?

 

[mdunn]

its not this brush, but its similar.

The brush turns-back inside the handle for safety in storage, especially for travel

 

[EFaden]

its not this brush, but its similar.

The brush turns-back inside the handle for safety in storage, especially for travel

Interesting. The knot mounted in the top isn't a plug though? I would assume you could just remove the existing knot and then replace it with something. Since it looks cylindrical I wouldn't try to enlarge the hole. I guess I am just a little confused since the top half looks like it would be constructed just like any other brush.

 

[Ookla The Mok]

You may be able to trim back a 16mm without too much damage. I have sanded the circumference of a couple of knots to get them into brushes, but I didn't take off anywhere near 4mm. That said, I think it is possible. You may lose a little hair from the outside of the knot, but I think you'll have plenty left to work with.

 

[lax1mxr]

I've done exactly that with a 14mm hole. That turnback is probably 14mm or could be sanded out some to fit. if you order from GNIB, just ask for a small 16mm knot. You will have some of the base to sand down.

You may also want to try blankity blanks. Not sure if they still sell knots, but they used to carry a 14mm knot.

http://www.blankity-blanks.com/brushes.htm

 

[huracan]

Give Tony a call or send him an email with the diameter and depth of the hole in the brush and note if there are any reductions in size inside it (my restore had some 'ridges' inside towards the bottom that reduced the overall diameter); and give him an idea of the loft you want when set.

The knot in finest I bought without asking was considerably wider above the glue plug, which effectively made it larger than the advertised size and I was unable to sink it as far as I would have liked, thus the loft was longer than I wanted. In other words, the glue plug fit the hole I had available for it, but no amount of trimming on my particular knot let it go past where the hair started. This may not be an issue if the loft is already where you want it, but I thought it would be something to consider.

Bone turn back huh? That thing is going to look gorgeous!

 

[chukka]

if you go on the golden nib site you can see in the description the size of the base which could not be the same of the knot .i have used a 20 mm knot whith a 16mm base in my last restoration ,still i have to file it to fit in the tiny gillette handle .the back side is you lost a bit of hair .good luck on your project & we'll be very pleased to see pics or maybe a little pictorial when it will be done .