EverReady Connundrum

[LegionPrime]

To restore or not to restore, that is the question.

I just got this EverReady 300PBT off ebay. It shows up and its never been used. It looked to be just another ratty old knot in the pictures but it turns out it's really a tiny pure badger knot. Now I'm not sure what to do. I love the look of it with the chrome ring and I think it would look awesome with a big brand new knot in it. Plus it's really light, it really could stand to have a bit more heft. The knot in it now looks anemic when compared to the handle it's in. So everything says go for it, I just don't think I can just tear into an unused vintage brush that lightly.

 

[Snargle]

As much as I hate to see a decent badger knot go to waste, I vote to replace it with a new, larger knot. Most old knots like that are well past their prime, very floppy, and end up shedding. I picked up a similar red-and-black E-R brush, opened it up to 20mm, filled the hollow handle with coins and cork slices, shined it up, and epoxied in a new TGN Finest Badger knot. What was once a mediocre brush is now a first-class lather making machine!

 

[LegionPrime]

Yeah, the thought of using an old brush kind of skeeves me a bit. Not to the extent of the Fuller brush I won sight unseen, that one was REALLY sorry looking, but on the other hand I kinda feel bad cutting out a never used knot. I think you're right, It didn't take much, but I think I really won't be happy unless I get a new knot in it. I already measured & posted it in the thread for the EverReady spreadsheet, now I will have to decide on a knot. I have a 22mm short Best left over from my last brush, but I kinda feel like doing something stupid like a 24mm silvertip.
Now, it's currently a 16mm knot. I know I'll have to take out the current shelf in it's entirety, but as I plan on filling it with epoxy I think I can make it work. Eyeballing it it with a ruler I think a 24mm should make it in without looking too ridiculous, but I'm not sure. If anyone's done one of these style handles before do you think a 24mm is trying to cram too much in or should I just exercise some restraint and go with a 22mm?

 

[¢orey]

For the fun of it, I'd shampoo that hair and lather up the current knot a couple times. That way, you can say you tried it...but I'd still replace the knot.

 

[Mike'sWorld]

Use it a few times as is, then replace the knot with a modern one. And no, those handles will not look top heavy with a 24 mm knot. It's a large handle in circumference, it's the current knot that looks out of place. Just look at the pic.

 

[ras120]

Do you want a brush to use? Put a new knot in that puppy. Do you want a display piece? Leave it as is.

 

[LegionPrime]

Oh yeah, I think the handle may actually be BIGGER than the current knot. *LOL* I was just curious if anyone else had had any experience in going so far up from what was originally in a hollow handle. I figure since I plan on filling it to help weigh it down I should be ok, but it never hurts to ask. This is only my second resto.
I did just get an EverReady resto in which the handle had been filled and weighted. It did seem overly heavy in relation to the knot, but once I got it wet & loaded it up with lather I didn't even notice. The weight balanced out the loaded knot nicely so I know I want to do something similar with this. I don't think I want to try using a knot that old before tearing it out, but I will be sure to keep this updated with my progress. Thanks a lot guys!

 

[ras120]

If anyone's done one of these style handles before do you think a 24mm is trying to cram too much in or should I just exercise some restraint and go with a 22mm?

I did a similar looking handle right here with a 22mm TGN knot. An overstuffed TGN 22mm almost looks like a 24mm, so that may suffice.

 

[LegionPrime]

Awesome man, thanks! That looks WAY better proportionally with that knot. I went through a couple of the EverReady stickies and it seemed all I could find in that style were 16 or 18mm knots. Yeah, that 22mm looks WAY better! I think a 24mm Silvertip from TGN may be in my near future!

 

[ras120]

By the way, the loft was set at 50mm, and I weighted the handle with some BBs and epoxy.

Are you going to use a bulb or a fan shape knot? I think the bulb shape looks sharp in contrast to the angular lines of the handle.

 

[hig789]

I would at least try it. I have a few vintage badger knot that are my favorites. They are vintage England knots i.e., Culamk and Vulfix, you never know you might like it the way it is.

 

[buma]

I also say you should try a few test shaves with it. I have a vintage badger in my stable that is floppy, but oh-so loverly, still. It may not have a lot of 'face feel' but it sure do whip up the lather like no ones business. Who knows, maybe you'll like it? And worse come to worse, you can alway de-knot and re-knot

 

[DavidB]

I have a brush handle just like this. I want to put an 18mm knot, but the hole isn't big enough. What do you use to enlarge the hole without shredding the red top (which it looks like it's a fairly thin surface, vs. a solid chunk of red)? And it's hollow, so there's nothing for the knot to sit on while the glue is drying.

Any advice is appreciated! I'm even open to sending it to someone to do it for me, but I'd like to try it myself.

Dave

 

[Skyrider55]

here it is with a 22mm pure set @ 50mm
Just in case you're wondering what it would look like. I also added some weight to the bottom.
It weighs in @ 87 grams
I think it would still look good and balanced if you went up to a 24mm. The knot in it now is way to small for the brush IMO. It's a great handle. Which ever you choose you'll enjoy it!

I broke through the shelf accidentally because I wanted a shorter loft. You can fill it with a cork or epoxy to get your desired depth. It's currently filled with plaster if I remember correctly.

 

[LegionPrime]

DavidB, my current plan is to go with a 24mm knot so I plan on having to remove the ENTIRE recess the current knot is in. however another resto I got off the BST has a weighted handle that balances out the knot perfectly once it's loaded up with water or lather. I plan on doing just that with this one, I'll put some ballast in the bottom of the handle, fill it with epoxy to get the height I want for the knot and then epoxy in the knot. As for opening up the hole I'd recommend a dremel sanding drum to slowly open up the hole test fitting the knot to make sure you keep it concentric. I also have a cylindrical grinding stone which I use and is fantastic for squaring up the bottom of a hole I've cleared out with a ball end cutting bit. I used that on a solid Fuller bakelite handle and it worked perfectly. As for these hollow handles, this is the first one I've worked on but I plan on doing like Skyrider55 suggested and going with an epoxy fill.
My finances got flubbed this week since I found out about a couple local places to find some shave supplies, but it will be ordered and I will begin next week for sure! I will be sure to take pictures too!

 

[DavidB]

Thanks, LegionPrime. Very helpful. Is there any way to buff out light scratches in the plastic, or is that risky?

Dave

 

[DavidB]

Here is my first brush restore. It has an 18mm TGN silvertip grade A knot. I set the loft at just under my Savile Row #3118.

This is just like the brush my dad used, so it's extra special. Next to it is a ball end Gillette Tech, also like his.

Dave

 

[buma]

beautiful brush resto! I bet it'll be head of the line in your rotation for a while!

 

[DavidB]

Yes, indeed, Roy. It's definitely at the head of the line!

Dave

 

[FL shaver]

Yeah! Much better!