Thanks for the compound idea. This sounds a lot better. I can probably fill in all the nooks and create a better hole for the knot. How much lift does the silicone/adhesive give you? Also how well does the silicone hold? I was going to use silicone to test the loft, but if it holds well I may just leave it.
I have used silicone on the last 4 knots I mounted. The knot is removable! The first one I did, I changed my mind and decided to use a different knot of the same size. I grasped the handle tightly in one hand and the knot tightly in the other and pulled hard! It took several tries, but eventually the knot popped out without any damage. That sold me on silicone vs epoxy - removing a knot without a Dremel tool! That knot went into a different handle later. The first time I used silicone, I put in too much and made a mess, but I cleaned up the mess and did it again without any panic. I do let the brush sit undisturbed for at least 48 hours to cure.
I filled my made right handle with 5 minute epoxy. Poured it in to the level I wanted then let it harden. The handle has a nice solid weight.
Hand drill attachment. Picked it up at the hardware store. Let me run it by the mods and see if I can post a link.
Here is the link to the polishing kit I used. $10 bucks. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-Metal-Buffing-Kit-7-Piece-A10BK71/205642376
Sold!! I'll check them out this weekend. I scooped up two more vintage handles to restore. My brother already called dibbs on my rubberset 200-3...merry christmas.
Also Also as a tip to those who try this polishing, take your time. Don't use the highest speed. I just feathered the trigger and polished it slowly . If you speed it up, it will snatch the handle out of your hand/device and send it flying. Again be patient and take your time. I sat in the garage, fired up some tunes and had a couple beers. Total time was about 2 hours (just polishing) not including time spent drilling knot out.
I took the advice from Mike (MoAllen) and filled the handle with epoxy putty. I ended up filling it too much and had to drill a little of the putty out for the knot to fit. This step added substantial weight to the handle. It now feels very solid.
And here it is.... I went with a 24mm TGN Finest bulb. I set it at 50mm. Set in silicone for now. The total weight of the brush with knot is 78 grams. The second pic is a picture of a few of my brushes to give you an idea of the size. Usually vintage brushes are a little small for my tastes but this one feels about right. I can't wait to give it a try tomorrow. Last pic is my set up for tomorrow. EJ XL 25mm 86 grams Shavemac 23mm 61 grams Fuller 24mm 78 grams Pav Tulip 26mm WSP 70 grams
looking forward to seeing the post bloom pics. well done, and thanks again for sharing the experience with us.
I like the colors. Especially the butterscotch handles. I did see a Rubberset 203 (I believe) with a yellow and black handle. I may keep an eye out for one of these.
