Brush Restore Part Trois

[GigOne]

Received these two brushes and immediately thought, “Dayum, what did I get myself into?”


The first is a Baton 63030 in Butterscotch. Oh, real Bakelite too.

The arrival shots. . . .someone didn’t like cleaning their brush.

And funkyyyyy. I thought someone mailed me a dead animal.

A dishwashing soap bath and killed the knot.

I was surprised how nicely it cleaned up.

A few, shallow, small scratches hiding under all of the caked shaving lather residual, but a little sanding and polishing. . .

And knotted. . . .

Rather small brush. . . .

Overall height = 88.7mm
Handle height = 44mm
Loft height = 44.7mm
Knot size [hair diameter at base] = 19.5mm
Knot type: 18mm, 2-Band, Finest, bulb
Grip ring [narrow part of handle] = 31.6mm
Base of handle = 31.6mm
Weight: 1.7 oz or 47 gr

 

[GigOne]

This brush I call, “My Protagonist”. . . .a Rubberset 400-3 in aluminum.

Picked this brush up almost a year ago and knew it was going to be a bit labor intensive. I would work on it, get frustrated, sidetracked, come up with different finish ideas, and put it away. Several months would go by and the cycle would repeat.

The arrival shots. . . .oxidation from Hell.

Post hair removal. . . .

I’ve worked with aluminum before. Being it’s such a soft metal, it can be a chore to clean up and make it look right. What I thought was machined aluminum, turned out to be cast aluminum. . .once I got the upper portion of the handle removed. Mentally, I could “feel” the numerous imperfections.

The first task. . .try to remove the years and years of oxidation. I didn’t want to chemically treat it, so initially elected to do the labor intensive method. . .sanding, which turned out well, until I began polishing and buffing. And the imperfections of it being cast aluminum did more than leap out.

Immediate frustration ensued and it went into the “Awaiting Action” box.


Several months (like six) roll by and I get the itch to tackle the handle again. I still don’t want to treat the oxidation chemically, so back to the tried and previously failed method. . .sanding. As I complete the sanding of the upper portion of the handle, I got the idea of a satin finish. It looked so cool. But the lower portion of the handle, with it’s curves, dips, etc. . . .would be super, labor intensive? The satin finish on the upper was horizontal. Hmmm. . . .back into the “Awaiting Action” box.

Three months roll by and the itch returned. The upper immediately went to the buffer and the polished finish turned out great. But several problems. One, anytime you polish aluminum, it leaves that black residue. Again, since it’s cast aluminum, said residue finds its way into pits, scratches (even the minute scratches you can’t see), etc. They all stand out like a sore thumb. Two, oxidation? Still?

At this point, I’m wishing I had a tumbler.

Yep. . . .back into the “Awaiting Action” box.

A week or so ago, I’m tired of this little project being a thorn in my side. The handle finds light again. First, I need to tackle the oxidation. I’ll not succumb to no stinkin’ chemicals. lol WD-40 and a brass brush. Miracles never cease to. . .well, WD-40 and a brass brush are fairly close to a miracle.

Back to sanding. . . .heavy, course sanding. Holy mother of aluminum. . .the results are fantastic. I decided to avoid the buffer and polished / buffed by hand.

Knot at the ready. . . .

In for the win. . . .

Not a small brush. . . .

Overall height = 129.1mm
Handle height = 80mm
Loft height = 49.1mm
Knot size [hair diameter at base] = 25.1mm
Knot type: 24mm, 2-band, finest, bulb
Grip ring [narrow part of handle] = 21mm
Base of handle = 22m
Weight: 2.4 oz or 69 gr

 

[David Martin]

I thought the restored brushes looked great. DM