Any suggestions on where to get brush handles? Although I appreciate custom, artisan type handles, I'm looking more for reasonably priced standard shapes and sizes similar to those that come with retail brushes. Thanks.
eBay is your best bet. You will of course, need to remove the tattered remains of the knot that used to inhabit them.
New ones, along with knots, can be purchased here http://thegoldennib.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65&zenid=d28f4dfdb638d078085f4df55a351a4e
There's also http://www.whippeddog.com/products/find/brushes-knots/page:1. They sell just handles, also. Ramsay, what size handle are you looking for? Do you have a knot already or one in mind?
Ok, so how do you get a knot out of a handle? Do all brushes have a knot? I have an AOS brush that is handmade cost about $110, can I take the knot out of it? The handle is just to short for my liking!?
Bobby Mac, one can get the knot out of the handle but most of the time it will render the knot useless, especially if the brush is well made. It can be done but you'd be taking a chance on ruining both pieces. In the case of your AOS brush, I'd recommend that you either try to trade it for something else that you have in mind, sell it outright and get what you like, or relegate it for travel only (which is what I probably would do). And yes, all modern day brushes that I've seen have a knot. I've seen a few vintage brushes where the tufts of hair was glued in a "bed" of sorts. Should you decide that you want to separate your AOS knot from its handle, read up on the steam method. Know that if not timed just right you can lose both pieces, so I wouldn't recommend it. We normally do a reknot when we are updating a handle, rather than a knot.
The brush is the knot. Actually there are two parts to a brush - the handle and the knot. As for getting the knot out, read *this*. It helped me.
The reason I asked is because I have a spare brush handle that I'm not going to use (the solid red acrylic in the center). However, it may be 20mm; I'll have to measure it tonight.