New-to-me Rubberset 400-4. Comments and question.

[Borderboss]

I just picked up this Rubberset 400-4 at what I thought was a good price from eBay. It looked in great shape and after a cleanup, seems like it is. I just tried it for my first shave and I was reminded why I tend to stay away from boar brushes. They have an "interesting" smell, especially those that are at least 70 years old. They're also harder to whip up a lather than with a badger knot, taking more product to do so. But so far, so good.

My question: When polishing the handle, I got a lot of black tarnish from it. Has anyone put a sealer on the handle to prevent further tarnish? I put Renaissance Wax on it, but the hot water from each soak in my bowl will take that off pretty quickly. Any thoughts?

 

[Jay21]

Beautiful brush and great find. I wouldn’t worry about sealing the handle. If you wipe it dry after each use, it should be fine. Re-polish it as necessary.

 

[Big Jim]

I hope you are not soaking the handle. soaking the tips of the knot, about 1/3, is all you need.

 

[Borderboss]

I hope you are not soaking the handle. soaking the tips of the knot, about 1/3, is all you need.

Some of the handle got soaked. Why is that an issue? It's aluminum.

 

[SmokedStanley]

I hope you are not soaking the handle. soaking the tips of the knot, about 1/3, is all you need

Soak it past the bristles. One of the aspects I love about this brush (and most metal handles) is how nice it feels when you whip up a lather with the handle and lather warmed up. Try it, if you don't care for it I still recommend soaking the entire knot and not just the tips. You want the entire bristle to get wet and soak in the moisture.

 

[mayer57619]

Not a water on the handle issue...I do not soak whole brush as I have had it weaken the "glue" portion of the knot in the handle causing failure.

 

[Big Jim]

Some of the handle got soaked. Why is that an issue? It's aluminum.

If you enjoy having the knot fall out, go right ahead.

 

[Borderboss]

If you enjoy having the knot fall out, go right ahead.

Very unlikely to happen unless it's soaked in boiling water. Cold water won't do anything, and if it did, there's more problem with the glue already. Plus that's a five minute epoxy repair.

 

[Big Jim]

Very unlikely to happen unless it's soaked in boiling water. Cold water won't do anything, and if it did, there's more problem with the glue already. Plus that's a five minute epoxy repair.

I don't know about you, but I don't shave with cold water. You might never have a problem, but why take chances that are completely avoidable.

 

[Borderboss]

I don't know about you, but I don't shave with cold water. You might never have a problem, but why take chances that are completely avoidable.

Since you're on this forum, you've undoubtedly read the many threads about restoring brushes and the absolute bear that old ones are to remove. I've restored a couple of dozen of them, and they all required drilling out. Soaking a brush into the handle in hot water for a couple of minutes will do absolutely nothing to the way these old knots were secured into the handle. The only problem I know of is when people don't use epoxy to secure the new knot and it lets go.

But you do what you want to do with your brushes. But don't worry about old glue getting squishy in hot water for a couple of minutes.

 

[Big Jim]

Since you're on this forum, you've undoubtedly read the many threads about restoring brushes and the absolute bear that old ones are to remove. I've restored a couple of dozen of them, and they all required drilling out. Soaking a brush into the handle in hot water for a couple of minutes will do absolutely nothing to the way these old knots were secured into the handle. The only problem I know of is when people don't use epoxy to secure the new knot and it lets go.

But you do what you want to do with your brushes. But don't worry about old glue getting squishy in hot water for a couple of minutes.

It appears that you and I have had similar experiences. I too have reknotted many brushes, well over a dozen. I have also made many brushes by either making or buying handles and gluing knots in them. I have also bought many brushes, new and used. A couple of years ago I bought a used Everready plastic handled brush that the knot fell out of driving home with it. I had the silvertip knot fall out of a two or three week old real horn handle. I've had a couple of knots fall out of handles from reputable vendors within a few weeks. I have worn out a couple of Surrey / VDH boar brushes that after a few years the bristles were shedding, and one of those the knot fell out.

I have never soaked any of them completely in water, hot or not.

So you do you and I'll do me, each of use based on our own experiences.

 

[chukka]

I’ ve done a rubberset 400 next to 15 years ago and glue it with marine epoxy , never move since and i lather with hot water , polished with maas and protected with an automotive product named auri, i’m not in the ultra shiny team thoug , I think she ´s more beautiful with a little patina .there’s a thread named share your restaurations .