New addition to the family...

[ezmike]

Found this Rubberset N301 on ebay and the price was reasonable. Yeah, yeah rationalizing I know. I'm addicted and it didn't take long. I think she's kinda good looking, what do you think? I did discover a small issue though, I'll tell you about it later, photos first:

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Cream over a marbleized green base with green lettering.

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Okay, here's the base with the issue. It looks like and feels like there's a crack across the bottom but it does not extend up the edges. If I run my fingernail across it I can feel something but not on the edges. I couldn't see it at first until I gave her a bath. Will this be an issue for re-knotting her?

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Down into the bloom. Interesting knot to this novice. It looks and feels like two different types of hair, badger around the outside with something else as the bulk in the middle. It doesn't feel or look like boar though. Does anyone have any ideas?

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This photo shows the differences in the texture of the hair a little better. Maybe?

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This is just a little better photo.

My camera is an old entry level Kodak and my photography skills are worse so the photos are pretty bad.

Anyway, I'd like to re-knot (she's in pretty good shape, would you still call it a restoration?) her but that "crack" has me concerned. Plus, it would be my first or maybe second shot at it.

Should I try it myself or look for a fellow forumite with experience?

I look forward to hearing from you all.

Mike

 

[ouch]

It's a boy!

 

[ezmike]

ouch,

How can you tell?

Mike

 

[Blondie]

That's a good looking brush. I think that is what is referred to as badger cased, where they surround boar or nylon with badger hair. As far as the crack, are you sure it's not a seam from casting the handle? If it is definitely a crack, you may be able to inject some clear epoxy into the crack, and gently use something like a c-clamp, or a small woodworkers clamp. Vice grip makes them, they look like this:

 

[ouch]

ouch,

How can you tell?

Mike

Turn 'em upside down.

 

[ezmike]

That's a good looking brush. I think that is what is referred to as badger cased, where they surround boar or nylon with badger hair. As far as the crack, are you sure it's not a seam from casting the handle? If it is definitely a crack, you may be able to inject some clear epoxy into the crack, and gently use something like a c-clamp, or a small woodworkers clamp. Vice grip makes them, they look like this:

Phil, the inner hair doesn't feel like boar I compared it to one of the Ever-Ready brushes I posted the other day and when wet they were really different. The Rubberset didn't feel like hair so maybe it is nylon or something.
You may be right about the "crack", I'll investigate further.

Stay tuned.

Mike

 

[mretzloff]

Nice brush. My grandfather had a similar one, except the handle was red.

 

[rodeo]

Nice color combo! I would'a bought it too. Congrats!

 

[Schwert]

IT looks in very very good shape to me (the hair that is).

I would clean it up and try and use it a bit before restoring it. It that is a crack it should be fine if you can completely fill the handle (assuming it's hollow) with epoxy.

Nice looking brush for sure. You should do any work on it if you decide to go that route. Restoration is good for the soul.

 

[Darjeeling Express]

It is a beautiful brush. Before you restore, I would give the existing knot a full effort and tell us what that experience is all about. Enjoy!

 

[ezmike]

Okay guys thanks for the input. I'll give it a try for a few days and let you know what it's like.

I did clean it up including some polish but I do not have Flitz (sp), is that the best choice? And what does cleaning it up entail in your opinion?

The brush feels like it has some heft but if it is hollow and I do the restoration I will fill it to be safe.

Any other comments are appreciated.

thanks

Mike

 

[ezmike]

Okay, I used it for a couple of shaves. Interesting, not much backbone to it. Kind of like applying lather with a paint brush. This will be one of my first re-knotting projects. I'm thinking either a 2 band Finest or a Super bulb from TGN depending on knot size needed.

Comments or suggestions are appreciated.

Mike