Ever-Ready 150 Restore Questions

[bmilcs]

As stated in a previous post, I picked up an ER150 today and need help getting started.

First of all, I plan on using best or super badger hair in a bulb shape for bowl lathering.

I currently enjoy my boar lineup because o the backbone and density. I'm looking for a knot that is soft but not overly floppy.

What size knot am I going to need? It seems like 65mm loft is standard at TGN and I saw some people use 20mm knot.

What would you recommend for me? What hair grade and size knot?

Note: my headshaving amigo warhawk is also looking for help on the topic as well. We are brand new to the restore scene and would love feedback.

We have both read the stickies and are looking for more specific info pertaining to our ER150's. thanks!

 

[Big Jim]

Remove the old knot and measure the hole before ordering the new one.

 

[bmilcs]

Will do.

From other posts, it seems 20mm is the size and I've decided to go with Finest Extra Hair.

I wonder if going bulb on a 20mm knot is a good idea. Is that too small and should I go fan?

 

[Snargle]

Will do.

From other posts, it seems 20mm is the size and I've decided to go with Finest Extra Hair.

I wonder if going bulb on a 20mm knot is a good idea. Is that too small and should I go fan?

I've found that fan-shaped knots are best for face lathering. 20 mm should be OK but if you can go up to 22, you might like it better. A finished loft around 50 to 55 mm should be good for bowl lathering.

 

[bmilcs]

Is making the knot hole in the handle difficult? This is my first restore

 

[chrismikehead]

Is making the knot hole in the handle difficult? This is my first restore

It would depend on the brush, obviously, but on the ones I have worked on, I've used a regular cordless drill with the largest bit I had to get a hole started in the center of the old knot, then used a dremel to clean out the rest of the knot and open up the hole. I'm not handy at all, and was able to do it fairly easily.

I did run into one brush that was very similar to the others I worked on, but the knot plug material was very stubborn. I had it most of the way opened up, but not as much as I needed, and my dremel sanding drums were getting nowhere with it. My brother-in-law grabbed a small file of some sort, and was able to clean out the troublesome gunk in no time at all.

 

[bmilcs]

What bit did you use with the dremel?

 

[chrismikehead]

What bit did you use with the dremel?

I used a couple different sanding drums and the tapered sanding bit, mostly. I know little about what the bits are for (it's my wife's dremel, and she is far more handy than I), so I just grabbed what I could find that looked like it might work. In almost all of the handles I worked on, the sanding drums worked really well, and it did not take long to clean out the knot plug. They worked well for opening up the holes a bit, too.

 

[bmilcs]

Well it looks like I am going to pick up a dremel tomorrow and use my dads drill to attempt to remove the original knot. I have zero experience with power tools so this should be interesting.

Should I just pick up a super cheap knot for my 1st restore? How tricky is this process?

 

[Snargle]

One important caution that hasn't been mentioned...before you start any work on the handle, either with hand or power tools, wrap the handle with several thick layers of masking tape. It's very easy for a tool to slip and gouge an ugly scratch or chip out of that beautiful handle. (I'm speaking from experience!) Also, if you're hand-holding the brush while working, please wear a heavy leather glove to protect your hand. I'm speaking from experience in that matter, also!

 

[bmilcs]

Well, I started removing the knot today. I used a drill and a dremel. How am I doing so far? I can't tell what I'm drilling into. It seems like wood? Or cork?

Do I keep going? I'm lost! Also I'm having a hell of a time with gettin the outer hairs off the handle near the outside of the knot. I've been using a normal knife because I dont have a pocket knife. I guess I need to pick one up?

 

[FL shaver]

You have to remove quite a bit more material to seat the plug. Drill down farther, possibly all the way through.

 

[bmilcs]

Ok drilled right through but I need to hollow out the rest I the material.

What dremel bit piece should I use?

 

[Snargle]

I would drill straight through the center. There's a thin shelf of plastic that holds the old knot in place and it's hollow underneath. You'll want to take everything out, including the old shelf. Once you drill through, the old glue and hair should chip away pretty easy with just a knife or screwdriver. Once you get the hole big enough, you can take the Dremel with a sanding drum and clean it up nicely. When you're ready to put the new knot in, you'll have to fill the empty part of the handle up to the level that you want to set the knot. You can use various things to fill it. I like to drop a few coins in the bottom for weight, cement them in place with a little epoxy, and then use a trimmed wine bottle cork on top of the coins. Any gaps would get filled with epoxy. Once everything is in place and set, then you can glue the knot in place. Be sure you have the height set exactly as you want it. Once you epoxy everything in place, there's no going back! Good luck!

Here's a pic of the Dremel sanding drum:

 

[bmilcs]

Many thanks Larry. I made it through the hole but my drill bit is rather small so I need to open the hole a bit more. I've already ruined 3 grinding bits doing so. The sanding bit won't fit yet. For my next restore as I know there will be many in my future, ill make sure to get a proper drill bit that'll allow me to go right to the sander. This ER150 is incredibly difficult to remove hairs and stuff from. It's fighting me every bit of the way.

I'm shooting for a 24mm knot. Well see though.

 

[bmilcs]

Updates:

 

[Snargle]

You'll need to remove all that junk right up to the black plastic. It's mostly just old glue and hair. You want to have a clean hole dropping straight down into the hollow base.

 

[FL shaver]

This is like my first restoration! You really have to remove a lot of material to get that sanding drum in there. Sometimes I put many small holes with a small drill bit into the remaining plug until chunks can be broken out. Life becomes much easier when you can get the sanding drum in there. I see other posters use Forstner bits that do a great job taking the bulk of the plug out. Keep the photos coming!

 

[WVUfanMG]

One important caution that hasn't been mentioned...before you start any work on the handle, either with hand or power tools, wrap the handle with several thick layers of masking tape. It's very easy for a tool to slip and gouge an ugly scratch or chip out of that beautiful handle. (I'm speaking from experience!) Also, if you're hand-holding the brush while working, please wear a heavy leather glove to protect your hand. I'm speaking from experience in that matter, also!

I wish I'd seen this note before I started rooting around with a knife and my Ever Ready brush... Now I'm nursing a finger that may, or may not, need stitches. I'm hoping some superglue will patch me up. What a dunce!

 

[Snargle]

I wish I'd seen this note before I started rooting around with a knife and my Ever Ready brush... Now I'm nursing a finger that may, or may not, need stitches. I'm hoping some superglue will patch me up. What a dunce!

Ouch...I feel your pain (or at least the memory of the pain!)