Anything that can go wrong will happen while I'm shaving...

Looking good mrdoug Vintage Gillette's can be a collecting rabbit hole. But a fun one. Sounds like you have a solid Christmas plan developing. 
Fluffy

So two new items arrived today:

(1) A Trotter Handcrafts handle, with coin (Reticuli)

(2) A tub of Wholly Kaw la superieure (thanks Dave in KY )

I already started to set the G5C knot in the Reticuli brush. It look gorgeous, awesome work Paul! This is my only brush with a coin, so I immediately applied some Ren wax to protect it. Overprotective? Probably. Lol.

The soap was a gift from our generous friend Dave. Thank you! It smells so wonderful. I know he had irritation from it. Hope I do not. We'll find out tomorrow night, as I think it deserves an immediate use.

So two new items arrived today:

(1) A Trotter Handcrafts handle, with coin (Reticuli)

(2) A tub of Wholly Kaw la superieure (thanks Dave in KY )

I already started to set the G5C knot in the Reticuli brush. It look gorgeous, awesome work Paul! This is my only brush with a coin, so I immediately applied some Ren wax to protect it. Overprotective? Probably. Lol.

The soap was a gift from our generous friend Dave. Thank you! It smells so wonderful. I know he had irritation from it. Hope I do not. We'll find out tomorrow night, as I think it deserves an immediate use.

Cool Paul! Happy new gear day!

Thanks again for the purchase!

This thread has been severely lacking so I thought I'd post some mindless ramblings...

Another great Boar shave today. I have a few new synths to use, but I am sticking with the Boars for December (except for the below).

I managed to procure a Gamechanger 84 and 68, in the same design Lipripper has been using. I pondered taking Dave up on the offer to borrow his, so I could try it first. However, now that I have a package lost in the USPSea, I don't like that idea. The postal service is having a rough time. I just hope Bryan's package resurfaces. I have filed a trace on it and they think it's just in transit. Fingers crossed!

The scent on that Dolci Tobacco is nice, and I'm happy to report no irritation. I was shocked to find it is similar to the Mick's Grooming Tomas. WK is a bit sharper, with less sweetness and more dark notes. I almost want to say there's something like bourbon or somesuch in it. Basically, It's a different play on a theme I really like. I've only used it once, but so far I'm impressed.

Finally, the biggest surprise... I received a wonderful and shocking gift from Fluffy . He had asked for opinions on some new brush designs. One of which really free my eye due to its unique addition. Yesterday it landed in my mailbox.

The knot size is smaller ... It is made for a 24mm. It just so happens I had a 24mm Maggards synth knot sitting around. I set it immediately. As per the design, as you can see, the brass bolt at the bottom is the perfect grip to hold the brush. It is a joy to wield, and the heft really lends to an easy splay. That is where we come to the 'except for the below'... Though it is DecemBoar, I plan to skip out on 12/25 to use this Fluffy Industries synth. It was a thoughtful and wonderful gift from an exceptional gentleman and I think it deserves it's place of prominence among the Christmas day shave.

Happy Friday DFS!

Glad you like it. I’m honored that you are saving it for a Christmas shave.

Merry Christmas DFS!

Today's shave was a good one. I decided to groundhog day The Stirling Christmas Eve soap. I used my Fluffy Industries brush. Finally, I used the Gamechanger 84 along with a Persona CC blade as the weapon of choice. Three passes and some clean-up and I clean shaven and happy.

Today's shave was a good test for the Hexagon brush. It solidified my decision to replace the knot. Not that I have anything against the maggard black and white. Still, I think I will enjoy the maggard Boar knot much better. It should also looks a step sharper in this beauty of a handle. Tomorrow it should arrive.

I hope everyone enjoys their holiday.

Let me ask my friends here, who have much more experience than I...

As you may recall from the Decemboar thread, I tried the vintage ever-ready but didn't like it. Though many do, I am not a fan of short and scritchy brushes.

Last night, after thinking about it, I decided to pull the knot. This must have been set with some industrial adhesive, for it was a huge battle first tearing the bristles out then chiseling away at the glue. This was all done with a hammer, a screwdriver, a drill, and some sandpaper.

My question... How clean does it have to be? I'm thinking as long as it's down close enough, I should be able to set a new knot. The base is nowhere near even. However I can fix that with a bit of silicone. I figure it's better than accidentally breaking through the other side (as I know these old brushes are hollow below the socket).

Anyone have any advice for me? I'm ordering a Maggards 24 Boar for this guy. I think it'll work much better, judging from my break-in work with the fluffy hexagon.

Thanks DFS!

Let me ask my friends here, who have much more experience than I...

As you may recall from the Decemboar thread, I tried the vintage ever-ready but didn't like it. Though many do, I am not a fan of short and scritchy brushes.

Last night, after thinking about it, I decided to pull the knot. This must have been set with some industrial adhesive, for it was a huge battle first tearing the bristles out then chiseling away at the glue. This was all done with a hammer, a screwdriver, a drill, and some sandpaper.

My question... How clean does it have to be? I'm thinking as long as it's down close enough, I should be able to set a new knot. The base is nowhere near even. However I can fix that with a bit of silicone. I figure it's better than accidentally breaking through the other side (as I know these old brushes are hollow below the socket).

Anyone have any advice for me? I'm ordering a Maggards 24 Boar for this guy.  I think it'll work much better, judging from my break-in work with the fluffy hexagon.

Thanks DFS!

Hey Paul. I’ll add my 2 cents, for what it’s worth.

Do you own a “forstner” drill bit that fits in that knot socket?… this is what I use on my lathe and have also used numerous times on old handles to clear hard adhesive from the socket (can be chucked in a drill or drill press). This bit type will produce a nice, flush base. You can buy them on Amazon for under $10.

Personally, I think it’s pretty important to have a clean and level socket for a new knot. That said, in this vintage handle situation, you can probably do some self-leveling with the silicone. Your end goal is obviously to have the new knot lay level once set.

One trick that could help, is to silicone a coin on the bottom of the socket (on top of the old residue), again using a little silicone to help level the coin. I wouldn’t normally recommend this, but in this case it could help get you a level, flat base for the new knot to securely be seated on.

Good luck my friend!

Let me ask my friends here, who have much more experience than I...

As you may recall from the Decemboar thread, I tried the vintage ever-ready but didn't like it. Though many do, I am not a fan of short and scritchy brushes.

Last night, after thinking about it, I decided to pull the knot. This must have been set with some industrial adhesive, for it was a huge battle first tearing the bristles out then chiseling away at the glue. This was all done with a hammer, a screwdriver, a drill, and some sandpaper.

My question... How clean does it have to be? I'm thinking as long as it's down close enough, I should be able to set a new knot. The base is nowhere near even. However I can fix that with a bit of silicone. I figure it's better than accidentally breaking through the other side (as I know these old brushes are hollow below the socket).

Anyone have any advice for me? I'm ordering a Maggards 24 Boar for this guy. I think it'll work much better, judging from my break-in work with the fluffy hexagon.

Thanks DFS!

Hey Paul. I’ll add my 2 cents, for what it’s worth.

Do you own a “forstner” drill bit that fits in that knot socket?… this is what I use on my lathe and have also used numerous times on old handles to clear hard adhesive from the socket (can be chucked in a drill or drill press). This bit type will produce a nice, flush base. You can buy them on Amazon for under $10.

Personally, I think it’s pretty important to have a clean and level socket for a new knot. That said, in this vintage handle situation, you can probably do some self-leveling with the silicone. Your end goal is obviously to have the new knot lay level once set.

Once trick that could help, is to silicone a coin on the bottom of the socket (on top of the old residue), again using a little silicone to help level the coin. I wouldn’t normally recommend this, but in this case it could help get you a level, flat base for the new knot to securely be seated on.

Good luck my friend!

I might give that coin a try. I'm wary of digging too deep. I have tried this before and have broken through (which is how I know it is hollow below, lol). Currently it is at just under 10mm. Keep in mind this was probably a 20 mm knot brush in it's early life. It won't have the space for a deep socket you'd expect in 24, 26, 28.

I won't do much more until the knot arrives. I need to see it side by side and it just needs to clear the glue bump by a small margin, I think.

I think is the part that scares me, "I think". Lol.

Thanks for the tips Paul!

Let me ask my friends here, who have much more experience than I...

As you may recall from the Decemboar thread, I tried the vintage ever-ready but didn't like it. Though many do, I am not a fan of short and scritchy brushes.

Last night, after thinking about it, I decided to pull the knot. This must have been set with some industrial adhesive, for it was a huge battle first tearing the bristles out then chiseling away at the glue. This was all done with a hammer, a screwdriver, a drill, and some sandpaper.

My question... How clean does it have to be? I'm thinking as long as it's down close enough, I should be able to set a new knot. The base is nowhere near even. However I can fix that with a bit of silicone. I figure it's better than accidentally breaking through the other side (as I know these old brushes are hollow below the socket).

Anyone have any advice for me? I'm ordering a Maggards 24 Boar for this guy. I think it'll work much better, judging from my break-in work with the fluffy hexagon.

Thanks DFS!

TobyC just posted some pic, remember, on another thread showing his restorations. Maybe PM him or jump in on that thread and ask him. Dave in KY helped me out, but my Stirling handle wasn't vintage. I thought about the drill bit, but I am woefully lacking in proper tools (no vice to hold the handle while I drilled, and I figured I should hold it in one hand and the drill in the other1)

Good luck, I bet you will get it sorted and have a great brush in the end!