Step-by-step Ever-Ready brush restoration

[blackfoot]

How long do you fellas wait once you drop the knot in before you are using the brush? I used clear marine epoxy.

Depends on the epoxy, but 24 hours should do it.

 

[Vinny Bobo]

Agree. 24 hours will suffice.

 

[Savor the Stick]

I am basically too impatient and inept at using tools, and as such don't have any sort of workshop or any sort of collection of tools and yet I've completed restorations with a minimum of tools:

1. Use scissors to cut off old bristles as close to handle as possible ( Still got all fingers...check )
1a. Tape top of handle just incase you slip ( hand not attached to handle with tape....check )
2. Use pliers start pulling out as much of the old bristle as possible. Don't go for big chunks, go for small chunks. Start from the inside out ( Haven't jammed fingers in pliers...check )
3. Use knife/corkscrew/drill and drill bit to start drilling/digging out the middle of the knot. ( no holes in hand/leg/arm .....check )
4. Use pliers to keep pulling out bristles until you can't get any more out ( still got all fingers....check )
5. Use drill at an angle ( think cup and spoon ), to drill out the bottom of the know. Work slowly, drill a bit, plier out bristles, drill a bit more..... Make sure your angle isn't so great that it's hitting the top of the brush ( hard to explain , hopefully makes sense ) ( Still no holes in any part of the body ...check )
6. All bristles out ???? Use bigger drill bit just to clean up the hole ( Wow...still no holes in any part of my body ).
7. In it's simplest case...glue in new knot ( Haven't glued the knot to hand, forehead...check ).

It's not the most economical way in terms of time of doing it but it can be done.

See my restoration http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=119154

Great step by step...I can see myself doing my restoration this way( I have no shop either). Thanks and isn't it about time for you to do another restore?

A vise is not absolutely necessary but it does make things quite a bit easier and more precise.

A pen makers vise works exceptionally well for these old handles...

Penn State Industries sells these...not cheap but a nice portable tool...no shop or garage required.

I use a standard twist drill about 1/4" to "cut" out the old hair...starting from the center then working out to the edge.

Then I use a sanding drum on a Dremel tool to clean out the hole.

If I need to drill deeper I use an appropriately sizes forstner bit.

Thank for the info about the vise I may be picking one of these up to clamp to the dining table.

 

[Vinny Bobo]

Great idea for your vice.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

I am posting a step-by-step pictorial brush restoration.

1.) cut the bristles down
2.) drill out old bristles
3.) file scratches (I use my wife's fingernail file.)
4.) polish with Flitz
5.) set new knot in marine epoxy mix (photo forthcoming)

Vinny:
How much doe's Flitz cost and where do I find it to 'polish & shine' my ER Brushes? Christopher

Christopher

 

[setldown]

Vinny:
How much doe's Flitz cost and where do I find it to 'polish & shine' my ER Brushes? Christopher

Christopher

You can probably get it at a local hardware store but here's a link if you can't find it. A tube will last forever and you can use it on a variety of projects.


http://www.amazon.com/Flitz-BP03511-Metal-Polish-Tube/dp/B000T9LZDI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303519953&sr=8-2

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

You can probably get it at a local hardware store but here's a link if you can't find it. A tube will last forever and you can use it on a variety of projects.

Thanx Rick...You're Da Man.

Christopher

 

[Vinny Bobo]

I get Flitz at Tru-Value Hardware Store. It's also at Arrow Hardware. It costs around $8.00.

 

[nrdoty]

Has anyone ever used automotive paint rubbing compound on a brush handle? I can buy some Flitz if I need to but I had some No.7 laying around and was wondering if it would work.

 

[Donmuerto]

I was wondering that very thing, and for the same reasons.

 

[Blade Boy]

Here's a few more that I've done. Note the Fuller brush with white epoxy. This was my first restoration and I learned never to use white marine epoxy.

Wow that striped one is very cool.

 

[eastomjac]

Thanks. Looks like a new AD. Brush Acquisition & Restoration Disorder.

BARD.

I'll be scouring the antique stores soon.

Mike

i'm hooked already too

 

[nrdoty]

Has anyone ever used automotive paint rubbing compound on a brush handle? I can buy some Flitz if I need to but I had some No.7 laying around and was wondering if it would work.

I was wondering that very thing, and for the same reasons.

I got the brush in a whole bag of stuff for a dollar garage sale so my investment thus-far is maybe 10 cents. I'm gonna have to buy the new knot for it anyway so it would be cool to be able to make the handle look nice just using what I had.

Also, has anybody ever reknotted a VDH handle? I know, that kinda seems silly. But I was given and old one that belonged to my wifes grandpa. I hate that it sits on the shelf and gets no use. It has lost quite a few bristles and sheds like crazy, otherwise I might just use it as-is once in a while. If I did reknot it I would go with boar to keep it original looking.

 

[Vinny Bobo]

I have never tried the rubbing compound, but give it a try. As for a VDH handle with new bristles... I woud do it especially if it has sentimental value.

 

[urkel]

this sticky has been filled with many good suggestions and i'm bitten to refurbish some old brushes. my question would be if anyone has any suggestions on how to remove yellowing on a vintage everyready. i believe this brush to be cream/black but it's a deep yellowing from many years of shaving

 

[yung puck]

awesome job!but when you polished it up did it take out the white from the lettering or is that just soap scum from time,just curious.but it looks better with out the white

question for vinny bobo on first post

 

[Snargle]

this sticky has been filled with many good suggestions and i'm bitten to refurbish some old brushes. my question would be if anyone has any suggestions on how to remove yellowing on a vintage everyready. i believe this brush to be cream/black but it's a deep yellowing from many years of shaving

If you're sure you want to remove the "patina", then I would use progressively finer grades of wet-dry sandpaper (used wet), followed by some hand rubbing with a plastic polish (the type used for automobile headlight covers).

 

[urkel]

oh the patina is set so no matter how much i used sandpaper it didn't seem to help. but now i have a very nice glossy handle. thanks larry

 

[riveragolden]

Wow this is really a good one..By following the steps given by you in your post everyone can do this as you did..This 5 steps are so simple and easy to follow..I must appreciate your idea,really nice..Thanks

 

[leonidas]

....i just acquired 4 old brush handles, and i am going to try my hand in removing the old knots and putting in new ones.....

..... but one question, how do you know what size knot to put in??

......how do you measure the inside of the handle to determine this?

...i am guessing that when the old knot is removed, that it is in such a bad state that you can't use it to measure for the new knot......