First Restore - Butterscotch

[Jeapeacock]

Yesterday I came across a butterscotch brush at an antique store for $15 and I figured it was time for me to do my first restore.

Here is the brush as I found it:

I started working on it today. I bored out the old brush, which was easier than I thought it was going to be. I cut the brush flush and drilled the brush out in a few places with a smaller drill bit then just pull out the bristles with a pair of pliers. Then to my surprise it the brush handle was hollow and the old knot was just glued in to the sides. (giving me insight on how to attach the new knot when It arrives). I "punched" out the old knot base with a hammer and a screw diver and filed the inside mostly smooth to remove the old knot and bristles.

Here is the brush with knot removed:

Finally I cleaned the handle with simple green and a tooth brush, then polished it up with Brasso (not sure if it was the best thing but worked well and it was recommended by people who restore old Bakelite phones).
I may still think about finding a polish that will give even a better shine, just have to do some research on what to use.
The photo does not show how well the butterscotch looks, it has a fantasic marbling that is not shown well in the photo:

I ordered a 22mm silver tip knot from golden nib, and I will update when as it progresses and when it is finished.

 

[Joe Edson]

Nice start! I would fill the hollow hole with some epoxy and maybe chopped up wine cork to the level you want to form your base. Let this set and then glue your knot to that. This way you can be sure to set the loft that you desire.

 

[Jeapeacock]

Nice start! I would fill the hollow hole with some epoxy and maybe chopped up wine cork to the level you want to form your base. Let this set and then glue your knot to that. This way you can be sure to set the loft that you desire.

Thanks for the suggestion, I think I may end up doing something like that once I decide the loft on the brush.

And I am a home brewer...so I have plenty of cork around t help with the fill.

 

[Joe Edson]

Thanks for the suggestion, I think I may end up doing something like that once I decide the loft on the brush.

And I am a home brewer...so I have plenty of cork around t help with the fill.

Be careful with the cork and epoxy and go slow. In my experience it kind of expands with epoxy and you could end up with a higher base level than you want. Alternatively, I have used pennies before with success to add some heft to brushes if you like that (or BBs, nuts, etc.)

 

[Jeapeacock]

Be careful with the cork and epoxy and go slow. In my experience it kind of expands with epoxy and you could end up with a higher base level than you want. Alternatively, I have used pennies before with success to add some heft to brushes if you like that (or BBs, nuts, etc.)

I can see that, I have a stash of unused bottle caps I cannot use due to slight rust/imperfections. I may think about using those stacked as a fill/heft

 

[Jeapeacock]

After looking a bit, I am now wondering if anyone has had issues with the heat/expansion of the epoxy cracking the base if used as a fill?

 

[Schwert]

I have used epoxy and cork or straight epoxy on several brushes for fill...no issues....actually the only issue is that is works perfectly.

I would not be tempted to use any filler material that could rust (bottle caps). That seems like a problem just waiting to happen sometime down the road. Pennies, cork, wood chips, stainless steel washers, lead shot....really anything but rusty iron should work in an epoxy matrix.

 

[Jeapeacock]

I recieved the knot last night and have finsihed the brush. The only camera I have at the moment is on my phone so the quality of the photo is a bit lacking. Hopefully I will get a better camera soon and will be able to take proper photo's.

But here it is: