How do you Gents do this? What kind of drill? Do you just drill into center and the knot comes out as one?
Kirk
Kirk
How to drill out old knots?
- Thread starter BBS Kirk
- Start date
I just use a regular jobber length drill, probably 1/4" to 3/8" diameter, depending on the size of the old knot. I have used a drill press and a cordless drill with same effectiveness.Try to drill right in the middle so you do not damage the handle. Best bet is to trim the old knot down leaving a flat surface.
To remove the old knot, I used needle-nosed pliers to twist the hairs out of the knot. I start from the drilled hole.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
To remove the old knot, I used needle-nosed pliers to twist the hairs out of the knot. I start from the drilled hole.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
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I use a regular drill bit for the starter hole and then a forstner bit to drill out the plug. http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piec...ium-nitride-coated-forstner-bit-set-1903.html
This is a new handle being drilled, but its exactly how I drill out old knots.
Ronnie
I had trouble with my drill bit skipping and marring the handle, so I went to a dremel. I use a conical bit that doesn't jump out, followed by a carbide machining bit. I haven't marred a handle since I switched to this method.
What if you want to save the hair???
Some have reported getting knots out using steam, but generally, you will sacrifice the knot to save the handle, or sacrifice to the handle to save the knot.
+1 - This too is my technique.
- Thread starter
- #9
Thanks, Gents! Very helpful information.
Kirk
Kirk
Personally, I just did this for the first time on a handle my mom got from my grandfather's estate. Cut the hairs off with scissors to perhaps 1/8" above the handle, and then jammed my multi-tool pliers in and started twisting/yanking out clumps of hair, 10 minutes or so and I have an empty handle. Now this was on a ~40-50 year old Everready boar or synthetic brush, so any adhesive holding the knot in had definitely had it by now.
If you don't care about the knot try the Steam method or up-side down in a boiled water.
Then some bits and your Dremel with do the work
If you don't trust the handles endurance work with your hand not with a drill
Slow rotary moves with patience.
Then some bits and your Dremel with do the work
If you don't trust the handles endurance work with your hand not with a drill
Slow rotary moves with patience.
I would caution against using steam or boiling water for removing the knots from vintage brush handles. These are usually made from Bakelite or Catalin and do not stand up well to high heat. The steam process seems to work OK for modern (thermoplastic?) handles, but personally, I'm much more comfortable with mechanical removal of the knot.
I don't mean to "sit" them in a boiled water
I use the up-side method with a glove,the glue won't last and if we don't want to keep the knot 1-2 tight/strong twists will do the job.
I think you are right about the steam influence in some materials.
I use the up-side method with a glove,the glue won't last and if we don't want to keep the knot 1-2 tight/strong twists will do the job.
I think you are right about the steam influence in some materials.
