Quick Knot Size Advice!

[CyberJCM]

I have two handles I'm going to get TGN knots for. Not entirely sure which hair type yet, but that's not the most important thing right now. What is is getting the right knot size. I've done this several times and been hit or miss on choosing correctly.

The handle openings are (as approx. as I can get):

23.5mm
25mm

Normally I've bought to fit, but this time I have a little more specific result I'm after. And the handle sizes fall between the usual even number knot sizes. I want to make sure both are set to keep the knot nice and dense. I want a soap eater. no floppy! LOL I know setting a bit lower will help. One thing I really want to avoid though, is have you seen when a knot looks like it's been pinched into too much point? Yea, don't want that!

So what's your expert suggestion for knot size on these two handles to accomplish a nice dense knot setting?

EDIT: I just discovered PC Woodcraft knots. Anyone have experience with them and how they compare?

 

[Snargle]

I'd probably go with a 22mm and a 24mm TGN knot. There should be no problem fitting them.

 

[inspiringK]

I'd probably go with a 22mm and a 24mm TGN knot. There should be no problem fitting them.

Yip. Especially if you are looking to set the knot lower, you want to give yourself some extra room to work with - the further you get from the knot base the wider the knot gets.

One thing I really want to avoid though, is have you seen when a knot looks like it's been pinched into too much point? Yea, don't want that!

Not sure what this means really?

 

[rickboone1]

30mm knot. You can do it.

 

[Mr.Oak]

I would go for a 24mm knot in each of them. If you read the TGN site, it states the knot sizes usually vary by a half mm or so.

 

[CyberJCM]

Thanks guys, I was thinking going for the slightly smaller size. Do you think Tony could select knots for me that are on the bigger side of the variation if I asked him to?

InspiringK, I understand your confusion. Check out the pic in post #6 of this thread and you'll see what I mean:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/293304-New-Rudy-Vey-custom?highlight=Rudy

 

[inspiringK]

Aah, thanks for the link. Two things to keep in mind. 1. That pic is of an 18mm set at 42. It is really low, but it is also a smaller knot than your range (so while you can't get away with setting it that low, it may work well for an 18mm). 2. Most importantly, that is the pre-bloom pic. So I am sure the knot has bloomed a lot by now and really doesn't have that straight up and down shape.

I'd love to see how that brush looks now, but we are still waiting on the promised pic....

 

[seizure]

Thanks guys, I was thinking going for the slightly smaller size. Do you think Tony could select knots for me that are on the bigger side of the variation if I asked him to?

He definitely will select knots if you ask him to... I recently asked him to measure a few knots to see if there was one that was grossly out of spec to fit a small handle. He wasn't able to find one, so I drilled it out bigger and then ordered a knot and requested the shortest loft of the ones available. They happily sent me an e-mail stating they found one shorter than the listed specifications.

Fantastic customer service. Ask, and if it's possible, they will accommodate you.

 

[eizan70]

Great answers. Thanks. I was just getting to this point on my first brush restoration and these questions were starting to pop up for me as well.

 

[CyberJCM]

Aah, thanks for the link. Two things to keep in mind. 1. That pic is of an 18mm set at 42. It is really low, but it is also a smaller knot than your range (so while you can't get away with setting it that low, it may work well for an 18mm). 2. Most importantly, that is the pre-bloom pic. So I am sure the knot has bloomed a lot by now and really doesn't have that straight up and down shape.

I'd love to see how that brush looks now, but we are still waiting on the promised pic....

Thats true! I'm sure that smaller overall size is making a difference there. Knowing thats a TGN Finest that thing probably feels dang near solid at first, as dense as they are! I too would be interested to see how one like that blooms out.

I'm thinking of going standard silvertip, which I've had good experience with. They have the standard loft and the short loft versions. Big Question: Given that I'm setting in a slightly bigger hole, would it be a better choice to get the standard loft and set it on the low side rather than the short loft knot set at about an average height?

He definitely will select knots if you ask him to... I recently asked him to measure a few knots to see if there was one that was grossly out of spec to fit a small handle. He wasn't able to find one, so I drilled it out bigger and then ordered a knot and requested the shortest loft of the ones available. They happily sent me an e-mail stating they found one shorter than the listed specifications.

Fantastic customer service. Ask, and if it's possible, they will accommodate you.

Great, thanks! I will definitely ask him then! I think getting a knot on the slightly larger side of that variation will help to fill the larger hole a bit better.

 

[jkingrph]

Personally I would go a little bit large on the knot size for the estimated knot cavity. You can always enlarge the cavity a little and work the glue portion of the knot down a bit and achieve a good fit. I like to always hit the glue band on the knot with some very coarse sandpaper or lightly touch it alway the around with my grinding rock to make a lot of scratches for epoxy to grab and bind to.

 

[sprite]

@ 30mm