A few weeks ago I posted pictures of some brushes my dad handed down to me. (pictures here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=153094)
My initial plan was to restore them both, and buy an antique store piece with no sentimental value to practice on first. The nylon knotted Made-Rite from my grandfather was to be done last, as it has a crack in the side and I didn't want it to disintegrate in my inexperienced hands.
Plans being subject to change, I decided to keep and use the older brush (Century, Great Grandfather's) as it was when I received it; turns out it's rather soft still and has whipped up the best lather out of all of my brushes so far. I just can't bring myself to cut the bristles off of it, knowing that it's been used by now 4 generations. I've taken it off the table for restoration and will pass it to my (any day now!) son regardless of it's condition, for a 5th generation to hold.
Anyway, I hadn't picked up the antique store brush yet, and with idle hands being the devil's playground... I went ahead and dipped my toes into brush restoration a little at a time using what was supposed to be the final project
Grandpop's brush as it was when given to me:
Knot removed down to epoxy plug (this stuff is a bear to deal with! Try to drill or grind it, it just warms up and redistributes itself!). Eventually I got through the plug down into the core of the handle and things went much quicker.
I went with a 20mm TGN overstuffed Finest Badger, set to 56mm loft.
Post "get the funk out" bloom, sitting next to the next restoration project.
Both handles have been scrubbed, polished, and waxed. The light tone of my grandpop's brush makes it hard to tell if it really looks cleaner or not, and it looks like it has a burn mark from being laid down on something hot or boiled on a stove... but the Drake cleaned up surprisingly well.
If I had it to do over again, I would have set it to 48/50mm... I had no idea what constituted a floppy brush until I shaved with it this morning! When I go to do the green/black Drake, I'll stick to the same TGN knot, but I'll certainly set it deeper to create an arsenal of brushes; cheap stiff beauty-shop boar hair (no pics, its junk), awesome 4 generation ancient mystery hair, dense & tight badger, and a floppy soft badger.
Thanks for looking, hopefully the next looks like a little more of a transformation.
My initial plan was to restore them both, and buy an antique store piece with no sentimental value to practice on first. The nylon knotted Made-Rite from my grandfather was to be done last, as it has a crack in the side and I didn't want it to disintegrate in my inexperienced hands.
Plans being subject to change, I decided to keep and use the older brush (Century, Great Grandfather's) as it was when I received it; turns out it's rather soft still and has whipped up the best lather out of all of my brushes so far. I just can't bring myself to cut the bristles off of it, knowing that it's been used by now 4 generations. I've taken it off the table for restoration and will pass it to my (any day now!) son regardless of it's condition, for a 5th generation to hold.
Anyway, I hadn't picked up the antique store brush yet, and with idle hands being the devil's playground... I went ahead and dipped my toes into brush restoration a little at a time using what was supposed to be the final project
Grandpop's brush as it was when given to me:
Knot removed down to epoxy plug (this stuff is a bear to deal with! Try to drill or grind it, it just warms up and redistributes itself!). Eventually I got through the plug down into the core of the handle and things went much quicker.
I went with a 20mm TGN overstuffed Finest Badger, set to 56mm loft.
Post "get the funk out" bloom, sitting next to the next restoration project.
Both handles have been scrubbed, polished, and waxed. The light tone of my grandpop's brush makes it hard to tell if it really looks cleaner or not, and it looks like it has a burn mark from being laid down on something hot or boiled on a stove... but the Drake cleaned up surprisingly well.
If I had it to do over again, I would have set it to 48/50mm... I had no idea what constituted a floppy brush until I shaved with it this morning! When I go to do the green/black Drake, I'll stick to the same TGN knot, but I'll certainly set it deeper to create an arsenal of brushes; cheap stiff beauty-shop boar hair (no pics, its junk), awesome 4 generation ancient mystery hair, dense & tight badger, and a floppy soft badger.
Thanks for looking, hopefully the next looks like a little more of a transformation.
. It is one of my favorites; almost got one on ebay but got outbid.
