Handle cleaning question

[justice4all]

I am restoring my wife's late grandfather's old brush, and I have a question. What can I do to clean the bottom part of the handle? I don't know if you can tell by the pictures or not, but there is black crud stuck in that seam at the base of the handle. I really don't want to screw this up because my wife will kill me, but is there something I can soak this in to get it out? The seam is too small to get anything in there and clean it out by hand. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

View attachment 68430View attachment 68431

 

[fidjit]

Soak for a while, water and soap.

Toothbrush ( or other brush ) and toothpaste with a gentle scrubbing should do it.

Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any damage done either by the toothbrush or you wife if this doesn't work

 

[luvmysuper]

I'd be really careful about any chemical cleaners.
I suggest some warm water, with a healthy dose of Dawn dish detergent and an extended soak.
Follow that up (with the wifes helpful holding of the handle) with some dental floss (non waxed) used very gently while it is still wet and soapy.

 

[justice4all]

Follow that up (with the wifes helpful holding of the handle) with some dental floss (non waxed) used very gently while it is still wet and soapy.

I didn't even think of dental floss! I will definitely give that a try.

 

[john parker]

Looking at it, that groove does not appear to be smooth; sort of jagged. That may be difficult but agree that a toothbrush would be best. Am thinking it may not clean up perfectly, so I wouldn't get carried away trying. Good luck, John

 

[Rudy Vey]

Toothbrush and floss are good ideas, but I have had great success with buffing these old handles on brushes I restored with the buffing wheels I can put on my lathe.

 

[justice4all]

Toothbrush and floss are good ideas, but I have had great success with buffing these old handles on brushes I restored with the buffing wheels I can put on my lathe.

I, unfortunately, do not have a lathe. Is there something on a dremel that I can use?

 

[Jwolf24601]

I, unfortunately, do not have a lathe. Is there something on a dremel that I can use?

They do make cloth buffing wheels for Dremel. Not sure how effect it will be at getting in the groove there. To me it looks like the bottom plate and the rest of the handle are two separate pieces. Is that so?

 

[justice4all]

To me it looks like the bottom plate and the rest of the handle are two separate pieces. Is that so?

It may be two pieces but they are glued together very securely.

 

[SpartanFan]

If you do go the dremel route, be careful. Depending on the handle material the buffing wheel can create enough heat to melt a small area and cause a blemish mark. This can happen very quickly - I have managed to do it more than once. It all depends on what material the handle is but I would hate to have you find out the hard way with a brush with a family history. I like the unwaxed dental floss and soap idea so far.