"Custom" brush

[karlthev]

I'm pretty new here so.... I haven't used a straight razor in years but have a very nice one on order. I am in hot pursuit of a strop and brush but am interested in having a brush or two made from a Hippo tooth and boar tooth I have around from years ago as part of a collection of Ivory. Who can made/build/craft me a brush or two from these natural Ivories? It'll have to be in the USA--I'm not about to send anything overseas for this.



Karl

 

[Sueto]

sounds like a job for Cooncatbob or Rudy Vey

 

[karlthev]

Thanks! Rudy turned out to be the one!


Karl

 

[TravelingMan82]

I just had a brush made by Rudy. He and his product are top notch.

 

[jwhite]

Please post pics when they're done, sounds too cool to miss.

 

[dreadpirate]

Ask cooncatbob.

I'm pretty new here so.... I haven't used a straight razor in years but have a very nice one on order. I am in hot pursuit of a strop and brush but am interested in having a brush or two made from a Hippo tooth and boar tooth I have around from years ago as part of a collection of Ivory. Who can made/build/craft me a brush or two from these natural Ivories? It'll have to be in the USA--I'm not about to send anything overseas for this.



Karl

 

[karlthev]

Please post pics when they're done, sounds too cool to miss.

Left to right...Walrus Oosik and Buffalo horn, Hippo Tusk and Buffalo Horn inlayed with mother of peral snowflake and, Hippo Tusk with Desert Ironwood and Hippo Ivory slice.

Karl

 

[Schwert]

Interesting handles all around.

Did you do them or have them done?

 

[karlthev]

Well the knots I acquired from Anthony Turchetta and the handle raw materials years ago from knife-making supply houses--which quite frankly I don't remember at this point. I cut the Oosik, Hippo Ivory, Buffalo horn and Ironwood and hand-sanded and polished them and inlaid the mother of pearl snowflake myself. I then drilled out the cavity for the knots and cemented them in with waterproof epoxy. I guess that means I made them myself. How'd I do?


Karl

 

[ssultan]

I've never seen such unique 'natural' handles...very unique shapes and I quite like them...the only suggestion I'd have is to go easy on the epoxy next time around..seems to be over-flowing in all three installs...it should never get onto the actual knot itself...you only need a dab to keep the knot in there.

May I ask why you decided against silvertip for all three considering the effort you put into the three handles? Let us know how you like those turchetta knots once you've used them a bit...I've never seen them before...

 

[SliceOfLife]

The far right one actually looks comfortable (through pure coincidence). I'd slip my index finger right in that little indentation and lather away. They are all very handsome and unique. Nice work.

 

[fidjit]

Very very nice work !!

Very unique !

 

[jdeville]

Gorgeous brushes!

 

[SeaBee]

is that gray stuff on the bristles the cement you used ?

 

[karlthev]

I've never seen such unique 'natural' handles...very unique shapes and I quite like them...the only suggestion I'd have is to go easy on the epoxy next time around..seems to be over-flowing in all three installs...it should never get onto the actual knot itself...you only need a dab to keep the knot in there.

May I ask why you decided against silvertip for all three considering the effort you put into the three handles? Let us know how you like those turchetta knots once you've used them a bit...I've never seen them before...

Thanks, appreciated! I areed with the overflow...in part. The epoxy turned light blue after hardening and shows more than I'd like. Seemed the only "waterproof" epoxy I could find unfortunately. The "overflow" was somewhat intentional---I don't know how much moisture may get into the handles and I felt a need to firmly secure the knots to avoid future loosening--I have had this happen using natural materials for a cane handle and repair was much more difficult than the initial setting--of course these sure aren't cane handles! I guess they won't come out though... Next time I'll look for clear and the epoxy won't show. As an aside, the drilling of the Oosik and particularly the Hippo was tedious and I only had a 1/2" bit available so hole size was limited and I ended up enlarging the holes with a dremel and sanding attachment. I would have preferred to have been able to use water as a coolant since the material is exceedingly hard and began to heat up considerably---cracking a
real possibility-- but, I just didn't have the equipment for that type of cooling. This was a spur of the moment thought and well, next time...? I don't think the epoxy will affect performance but not the prettiest job I'll admit....practice, practice...

I didn't use Silvertip due to the smaller size of the knot attachment base I had available from the supplier and size of the handle material. I'll have to see if I can get a bigger bit that will fit into a 1/2" chuck or, see if small daimeter knots may be offered in Silvertip...

Thanks again, suggestions taken positively!


Karl

 

[karlthev]

is that gray stuff on the bristles the cement you used ?

Yeah (note previous post), I guess I may have overdone the cement a bit...next time a bit more care...


Karl