Heavy handled brushes? Pros/Cons

[AndyPanda]

I have an Above The Tie silvertip badger brush with a lovely knot, but the handle is about twice as heavy as any of my other brushes. I'm 70 and have some arthritis in my thumbs and I face lather. This brush is really uncomfortable for me to hold - partly because of the extra weight but mostly the shape of the handle really irritates my arthritic thumb trying to hold the brush to face lather. So the brush has only been used a few times and it just seems like such a waste of a very nice knot to just leave it in my cabinet

I'm pretty handy with tools and not at all shy about re-carving the shape of a brush handle to suit me. I have a few Elk Antler brush handles that I've carved to give them a shape that suits my hands and I'm really happy with the results. But the ATT has a metal base so if I were to modify it, I would saw that off and then build up an acrylic base and shape it to suit me.

I guess the reason for making this post -- is there some advantage (for some people) to having a heavy brush handle? (i.e. should I leave it and pass it on to someone who would appreciate it for what it is?)

I'm attaching a picture of a few favorite, comfortable brushes of various sizes just for comparison. The ATT is the only one that is uncomfortable for me.

Simpson Classic 2 = 47g
Kent BK4 = 55g
ATT = 144g
Kent BK8 = 76g

I'm thinking I'll cut off the metal base and build it back with black acrylic and reshape but if I were keeping the metal base and most of the weight I would still want to reshape to give it a deeper waist or whatever you call that Persian Jar type shape.

Here's a side view of the brush:

and carve it to maybe something like this?:

 

[Anchovie666]

I am not at all handy with carving or cutting (other than modifying blades) but I'm sure you could pop the knot and re-seat it into a handle you prefer. Also anything Above The Tie is unobtanium, so someone may be looking for that particular brush and/or it may command a higher re-sale price because ATT is now out of business. I know someone bought their name and designs but so far haven't seen anything produced.

 

[Big Jim]

Anytime you want to separate the knot from the handle you risk damaging on or the other, or both. The most dependable way to remove the knot is with a lathe and destroy the handle in the process. Attempting to separate them by steaming often works, but could damage both.

If you want to alter the handle, it would be best to use a lathe. You will have to put the knot end into the chuck so it needs to be protected. I have done that by wrapping it with a rag.

All things considered, I would find another brush and find a buyer for that one.

Personally, one of my favorite brushes is one I made from a purchased handle and a purchased wonderful silvertip knot. The handle is white stone. I wanted to use a larger knot than it was drilled for and had to buy diamond tipped tools for my Dremel to enlarge it. It is a heavy brush. Very heavy, but very beautiful, and a joy to use occasionally.

 

[AndyPanda]

I've had one or two old brushes where the knot loosened up and came out fairly easily but IME the glue used to set knots these days makes it pretty impossible to "pop the knot" to put it in another handle. It would most likely require carefully grinding away the handle and trimming it down to the knot. And for me, that would be much more work than just reshaping the handle. And then I'd have to buy a handle (overpriced from what I've seen shopping for handles). Plus carving the old one is just more fun for me and I get to custom shape it to my hand.

The way I've reshaped handles in the past is to tie up the knot with wraps of cotton cord and then I fit the tied up knot into a plastic pill bottle like prescriptions come in from the pharmacy and tape that up tight to the top of the handle. That keeps my knot protected while I work on the handle.

If I cut off the metal base, I would then build the base back with black acrylic. I use acrylic powder and monomer liquid and then you have about 2 minutes to apply it and give it a rough, blob of a shape before it stiffens up. Let it set for a few more minutes and then start carving it. And if I want it shiny, I go thru a series of micromesh pads to take it to a near glossy finish and then the buffing wheel.

 

[AndyPanda]

Anytime you want to separate the knot from the handle you risk damaging on or the other, or both. The most dependable way to remove the knot is with a lathe and destroy the handle in the process.

Yep! Your post came in while I was still editing my response to the previous suggestion.

 

[NorthernSoul]

Brush handles that are too light can feel cheap. Maybe ATT went too far in this case, trying to create a feeling of luxury but making something too heavy and awkward instead.

Brush knots are usually glued into the handle, so you only need to break the glue bond to remove the knot. You shouldn't need to destroy the handle to obtain the knot.

Still, to me it would make more sense to sell the ATT brush to someone who would enjoy it and then buy a bare knot to put into your own custom horn handle. I like custom-made things and that sounds like a nice project.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I have a brush like that, it was branded for a different online shaving store but I would bet a nickel it's the same brush. It's like lathering with a bowling ball.

 

[AndyPanda]

It's really helpful to hear what you guys think.

Just let me add that the last thing I need is another brush. I have at least a dozen really nice Silvertip brushes and I can't begin to use all of them. So even if I were to pass this brush on to someone with younger, stronger thumbs than mine - I would have no desire or need to buy another knot and handle and make another brush.

I mainly was just wondering if there is some advantage to someone for a brush to be this heavy (just call me Mister Curious). And if there is, then I'd probably be inclined to pass the brush on to someone who would appreciate the weight. Otherwise I'd tear into it with some tools just for my own enjoyment - not because I need another brush.

And as @Darth Scandalous said so eloquently ... YES! it is exactly like lathering with a bowling ball.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I mainly was just wondering if there is some advantage to someone for a brush to be this heavy

I like the knot a lot, I like my silvertips tall. I can't see any real advantage to the weight, though. My 47 year old hand cramps up using it.

 

[Rudy Vey]

I have an Above The Tie silvertip badger brush with a lovely knot, but the handle is about twice as heavy as any of my other brushes. I'm 70 and have some arthritis in my thumbs and I face lather. This brush is really uncomfortable for me to hold - partly because of the extra weight but mostly the shape of the handle really irritates my arthritic thumb trying to hold the brush to face lather. So the brush has only been used a few times and it just seems like such a waste of a very nice knot to just leave it in my cabinet

I'm pretty handy with tools and not at all shy about re-carving the shape of a brush handle to suit me. I have a few Elk Antler brush handles that I've carved to give them a shape that suits my hands and I'm really happy with the results. But the ATT has a metal base so if I were to modify it, I would saw that off and then build up an acrylic base and shape it to suit me.

I guess the reason for making this post -- is there some advantage (for some people) to having a heavy brush handle? (i.e. should I leave it and pass it on to someone who would appreciate it for what it is?)

I'm attaching a picture of a few favorite, comfortable brushes of various sizes just for comparison. The ATT is the only one that is uncomfortable for me.

Simpson Classic 2 = 47g
Kent BK4 = 55g
ATT = 144g
Kent BK8 = 76g

View attachment 1858798

I'm thinking I'll cut off the metal base and build it back with black acrylic and reshape but if I were keeping the metal base and most of the weight I would still want to reshape to give it a deeper waist or whatever you call that Persian Jar type shape.

Here's a side view of the brush:
View attachment 1858811
and carve it to maybe something like this?:
View attachment 1858820

See if you can unscrew the metal part at the bottom. Sometimes it comes off easily and it is the part that contributes most to the weight of the brush.

 

[AndyPanda]

See if you can unscrew the metal part at the bottom. Sometimes it comes off easily and it is the part that contributes most to the weight of the brush.

I tried with bare hands and no movement - haven't tried a vice with pliers or pipe wrench and I think I'd just saw it off if it comes to that.

 

[njpaddy]

I have a discontinued heavy-handled chrome RazoRock 24mm synthetic from some years back which is my favorite synth. I just learned to adjust.

 

[Darth Scandalous]

I just had what was probably a terrible idea, but a guy could drill 3 holes, maybe quarter inch or so, through the handle. Would look kind of like a bowling ball (well, more like a bowling ball) and lighten it up a bit too.

 

[AndyPanda]

See if you can unscrew the metal part at the bottom. Sometimes it comes off easily and it is the part that contributes most to the weight of the brush.

Correct on the screw - however this was epoxied so tightly that no amount of twisting and hammering would budge it. I had to saw it off

 

[AndyPanda]

I tied up the knot with cotton string and wrapped that with blue painters tape and then glued on a pill bottle to protect the bristles while I built up the bass with black acrylic. I use acrylic nail powder and monomer liquid to turn it into acrylic plastic. It hardens in just a few minutes so you can start working on it ASAP.

I've got it rough shaped and going to use it for a few days while I decide how deep to cut the waist. I lathered up some MWF just to see how it feels in my hand and even with the rough sanded finish, the brush has transformed from being a heavy, hand-cramp creating, miserable brush into a really comfortable brush. But I think I'll take in that waist area a bit deeper. This is kind how I like to do it rather than buying a new handle - this way I get to hold it in my hand and keep shaping until it fits my hand just right.
View attachment 1864203

 

[AndyPanda]

Thinking something like this

 

[AndyPanda]

Well I've got it feeling comfortable in my hand now. I kept it simple and only sanded it to 800 grit and then 0000 steel wool to give it a dull, mat finish. I have micro-mesh pads that could take it to a shine but I prefer the flat black over a gloss . I've really been enjoying lathering up with this brush now. Here it is next to a few of my favorite badger brushes

 

[AndyPanda]

 

[Darth Scandalous]

Nice save.

 

[AndyPanda]

Nice save.

Thanks! It would have been much faster with a lathe - but I'm retired and don't have any schedule to keep, so I enjoyed just using files and sandpaper and a pocket knife to shape it by hand. I'm sure if you chucked it in a lathe it would wobble but it feels great in the hand now and face lathers beautifully!

Oh! And it's 63g now (down from 144g)