The 400 club

Discussion in 'The Brush' started by Darkbulb, Nov 3, 2014.

  1. Dave in KY

    Dave in KY On second thought, Buttercup

    I would HIGHLY recommend Jason @jtspartan
     
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  2. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    I believe I know exactly what I'm doing, but if you're not comfortable I'm not comfortable.
    My first attempt I used an exterior caulk that came highly recommended due to the ease of replacing the knot if desired.
    What I found is soaking it in hot water wasn't conducive to the caulk.
    Now I'm using a marine grade epoxy in black that matches the original material in look and feel. It'll easily last multiple lifetimes.

    Sent from my SM-G977U using Tapatalk
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2021
  3. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Well that definitely sounds much better. Jeff @stingraysrock did a brush restore for me about 8 or 9 years ago and I remember him talking about using marine grade epoxy, and when I saw people using caulk, I was quite hesitant.

    Let's take this to PM to discuss knots, get your address, etc. ?
    :eatdrink047:
     
  4. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    LOL, I'm seeing my quote in your post and cursing text to speech. I edited my post above if anyone needs the intended translation!
    Jody I pm'd you a moment ago...
     
  5. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Excitement builds! Mike has my knot ordered - went with a 24mm Finest-grade 2-band badger because I like a good stiff backbone in my brushes - and I'll be mailing the beautiful 400 handles to him tomorrow, one for him and one for me! We'll have cousin 400s! I've been wanting at least one of these brushes restored for at least 9 years but they have just been sitting here collecting dust after I removed the old knots from them, especially after the stroke I had a few years ago - which is one more reason why I am just not confident in my abilities to do all of the polishing and such. My hands just are not what they used to be. These days, I do good just to drive and swing a safety razor around my face. Anyway, Mike has been great in the messages working with me on this and making it happen. So stay tuned!


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  6. Dave in KY

    Dave in KY On second thought, Buttercup

    Congratulations to you both. High time they got put to use :happy088:
     
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  7. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    Thanks Dave, just putting the knowledge you shared to good use. I'm happy to help and almost feel guilty :) .
    I feel another PIF coming, but guess what it won't be...a 400 lol!
     
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  8. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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  9. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    They're coming! I've got to run them through the Photo Editor batch resizer.
     
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  10. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    I say to myself, "Hello self. Welcome to the 400 Club!"

    Much appreciation and exuberant thanks to Mike @Old School for beautifully restoring my 400! 24mm Finest-grade 2-band badger hair knot from The Golden Nib, set at 44mm loft for fantastic backbone!

    Before (I sent him two - one for him and one for me):
    IMG_20210504_194544~2.jpg IMG_20210504_194624~2.jpg IMG_20210504_194639~2.jpg IMG_20210504_194603~2.jpg

    After, before first use by me:
    IMG_20210519_120153.jpg IMG_20210519_120309.jpg IMG_20210519_120336.jpg IMG_20210519_120239.jpg
    IMG_20210519_120251.jpg IMG_20210519_120409.jpg IMG_20210519_120353.jpg

    First use/lather:
    IMG_20210520_003359.jpg IMG_20210520_004229.jpg IMG_20210520_003430.jpg IMG_20210520_003426.jpg

    After first use/lather:
    IMG_20210520_004948.jpg IMG_20210520_004938.jpg IMG_20210520_004933.jpg IMG_20210520_004930.jpg
    IMG_20210520_005007.jpg
     
  11. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Fast forward a month and a half, and I scored a Rubberset 400-4 to go along with my 400-3! And it too, along with a High Mountain Silvertip badger knot from The Golden Nib, is now on the journey to Mike @Old School for restoration! This will complete my Rubberset 400 dream of having one really stiff backbone knot - the #3 - and one really pillowy, lofty, soft knot - the #4 - that I can swap out the handle on, and I'll have a backup handle to boot! Mike did such a wonderful job on my #3 restore so I'm looking forward to his handiwork on my #4.

    I also am aware they made these without any number so I am curious if there is a #1, #2, #5 and so on... Hrmmm.
    Screenshot_20210703-192354~2a.jpg
     
  12. Dave in KY

    Dave in KY On second thought, Buttercup

    Nope Just the No Number , #3 and #4 which designated the knot loft from what I know. @Clouds does ferrules to swap out too.......I had all 3 but Pif'd my #3. I do have a few of Claudio's ferrules for selection though that I'm still filling......
    IMG_20210703_204602332.jpg
     
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  13. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    I've seen his work and it is very nice. I just wanted to stick with all original vintage. But good to know I'm not missing out on any other numbers. Seems odd they have no number ones and then skip 1 and 2. Someone at Rubberset was drunk. lol
     
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  14. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    So after having my 400-3 awesomely restored by Mike @Old School , I finally got my hands on a 400-4 and it too was restored for me by Mike. With the #3, I went deep for very firm backbone to smash up the harder soaps I use. For this #4, I went shallow, floppy, BIG for whipping up the soft creams I use. The #4 was restored with a TGN High Mountain Silvertip badger knot. Now I have a #3 and #4 to swap out with the handle as needed, and a spare handle! Mike did fantastic work polishing the aluminum and setting the knots on both brushes. You can see my #3 in a previous post in this thread, and here's my #4!

    Sidenotes: This past May commemorates the 70th Anniversary of the patent for Rubberset 400.

    There were three versions of the brush: the 400-3, 400-4, and an unnumbered brush. All brushes required a 24 mm diameter knot. The 3 or 4 indicator represents the length of the original boar knot with the 4 being slightly longer than the 3 and the unnumbered version being in the middle.

    Here's an excellent history of the 400 article by Joe Borrelli written for the Sharpologist site:
    https://sharpologist.com/the-rubberset-400s-70th-anniversary/

    Before:
    Screenshot_20210703-192354_2a.jpg

    After:
    IMG_20210718_185653_resize_97.jpg

    IMG_20210718_185701_resize_67.jpg IMG_20210718_185658_resize_53.jpg IMG_20210718_183047_resize_75.jpg

    Both the #3 and #4 together:
    IMG_20210718_180734_resize_99.jpg
    IMG_20210715_233541_resize_96.jpg

    IMG_20210718_180756_resize_30.jpg IMG_20210718_181042_resize_68.jpg IMG_20210718_180948_resize_51.jpg IMG_20210718_181030_resize_64.jpg IMG_20210718_180857_resize_89.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2021
  15. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    Thank you for the kind words Jody!
    I'm here for you when you find that elusive no number ;) .
    I'm glad you're happy with them, they spent many hours in front of the TV with me and a polishing cloth! I find it rewarding to bring these back and thrilled you're happy!
     
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  16. Dave in KY

    Dave in KY On second thought, Buttercup

    I had pif'd my #3 Rubberset which left a hole in my collection of having all 3 brushes. So when this #3 popped up I decided to get it and it arrived today. Some squirts of WD40 and Some heat applied to the ferrule (Boar hair STINKS when it burns) expanded it enough from the base to twist it off with ease. A little scissor work on the hair and a drill press run through the knot and the rubber it is set in made way for a little screw driver and hammer taps which removed the old knot and rubber setting. Now for the polishing which I need to go slower on as I scarred up my No Number one a tad on the fluting and it could use some sanding now to fix it before further polishing. I need a better actual Dremel to use as the Rotozip isn't long and narrow enough for the chuck not to accidentally catch the handle while polishing. Enough progress for today and will take up the rest at a later date when I can get some better tools..........
    IMG_20210807_153708017.jpg IMG_20210807_191632501.jpg IMG_20210807_192810526.jpg
     
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  17. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Welcome back to the #3 Division of the 400 Club! :eatdrink047::D
     
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  18. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    I scored a #4 on Fleabay and it has arrived!
    The knot looks like it's new, the handle is in need of polishing.
    Here's the lineup, #3 on the left, no# in the middle and the #4 on the right... the grout line in the background gives a good reference to see the differences in loft, showing clearly the #4 is by far the longest, while the difference between the no # and #3 appears negligible, but there.
    [​IMG]

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  19. IAmTheJody

    IAmTheJody Gillette-i Master Staff Member

    Über swëët to find a №. 4 and especially one that hasn't ever been used!

    Reckon I need a No Number now, to go along with my №. 3 and №. 4... Thanks enabler. :p
     
  20. Old School

    Old School *$&%@#~

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    You're welcome :) !
    BTW, it's been used, last night in fact.
    I have to say that I do like the original knots.
    Scrubbing up the lather on your face is a bit different with the long bristles, but when you "paint" it over it really gives a nice thick, smooth layer. I like it.
    [​IMG]

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