My first Rubberset 400 - 4 light restoration
- Thread starter Sideburns
- Start date
gile
Forum GOD!
What's the inner diameter of the hole?
Sideburns
Über Member
Unfortunately the inner diameter isn’t uniform due the residual potting resin that’s remaining within the ferrule. My smallest point is 24mm so far. I may try to even out the hole by removing more resin, but there’s a chance I’ll catch the outer edge with the file, so I’ve left it for now.
AndThatsARockFact
Guru
Exactly.
That’s where I’m at these days.
When I was in my twenties I pulled my 401k and flew to Rome for three months with no hotel booked, and nothing but the clothes on my back and one change in a daypack.
Of course everything was fine. Italy is wonderful.
Now I’m 100% domesticated and the idea of being away from home for even a few days is daunting. I love the *idea* of visiting St James street in London, revisiting the leather vendors of Florence, coffee shops in Vienna, Prague, Tbilisi, etc.
Never going to happen at this point. We’re such homebodies, and the world is very different now.
Sideburns
Über Member
That’s brave and probably liberating going away with so little. I’ve travelled around mainland Europe without booking anywhere in advance to stay.
These days, I’m more attuned to my creature comforts, so it’s better planned and less spontaneous and adults only hotels.
I haven’t spent 3 months in Rome, but given the opportunity I could very easily.
Last trip there we did a lot of the sights captured in Roman Holiday and had a lot of fun probably like all the tourists with Bocca della Verità.
I haven’t been to Tbilisi and guess I’m unlikely to risk it with all that’s going on in the world.
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TobyC
Patriot
Do you have a Dremel or something similar?
Sideburns
Über Member
Yes I do, that’s probably a simpler way of doing it.
TobyC
Patriot
Sideburns
Über Member
Great tip. I’ve seen some of those in the kit I have, though I’ve never had call to use them - until now, I’ll hook them out tomorrow.
It’s so far been an interesting experience.
Sideburns
Über Member
Ferrule opened out to 25mm diameter all the way around. I’ve taken it all very slowly and was lucky not to ding the thread or the shoulder of the ferrule. I now have 1mm clearance play for epoxying in a 24 boar knot when I find one.
I can now work on polishing it a bit - I notice this one has facets that are not pitted but have a slight uneven nature to the surface. The only time I’ve seen this effect before is with a cast item. I have no idea how this was made, but since my last one was so heavily pitted, it obscured this finish - if it was there at all. I think I’ll do some web searching to see if there’s anything definitive on its manufacture.
I can now work on polishing it a bit - I notice this one has facets that are not pitted but have a slight uneven nature to the surface. The only time I’ve seen this effect before is with a cast item. I have no idea how this was made, but since my last one was so heavily pitted, it obscured this finish - if it was there at all. I think I’ll do some web searching to see if there’s anything definitive on its manufacture.
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Sideburns
Über Member
Managed to buff some shine into the 400-4 with some PEEK polish, cotton cloths and newspaper. No sanding left as is, just elbow grease and polish. It’s ready for a donor boar knot that I’ve ordered from Connaught shaving.
I’ll put a before picture up first, then the finished buffed up stage.
I’ll put a before picture up first, then the finished buffed up stage.
UKRob
Forum GOD!
I’ve restored quite a few aluminium Rubberset brushes and found that you need to beware of putting too much pressure on the ferrule as the fracture easily. I was fortunate that one of the members on here made a very accurate replacement. I would avoid using a clamp if that’s possible for you.
Here are some of mine - one on the right is original boar whereas the left was a replacement but can’t recall where from.
One tip for you if you get any more Rubberset - if the ferrule is stuck try soaking in a limescale remover before using something like WD40.
Here are some of mine - one on the right is original boar whereas the left was a replacement but can’t recall where from.
One tip for you if you get any more Rubberset - if the ferrule is stuck try soaking in a limescale remover before using something like WD40.
Sideburns
Über Member
Thank you for the real world advice - that’s incredibly helpful. You have a beautiful collection. This is my second, but it’s my first ground up restore.
In the UK where I’m based, this style of brush doesn’t seem to be widely available, even though they were made by the thousands in the US. So for me, I took a punt on a brush I saw on EBay and got stuffed by the delivery cost and tax, but I wanted to scratch an itch, that was essentially; - could I restore an iconic Rubberset 400 with minimal tools and no workshop to speak of?
The limescale remover soak sounds a brilliant idea. I also wondered about what effect citric acid solution would have, I’ve found a test piece of aluminium to experiment on, to see what the acid does to the surface of the metal.
Donor brush knot has just arrived.
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Sideburns
Über Member
Donor brush boar knot bought from Connaught Shaving
I have to figure out how to harvest the knot AND what I’m going to use to secure the new knot in the Rubberset ferrule with. I read an article last night of someone using silicone sealant
Almost seems criminal to do this to a perfectly good brush
I have to figure out how to harvest the knot AND what I’m going to use to secure the new knot in the Rubberset ferrule with. I read an article last night of someone using silicone sealant
Almost seems criminal to do this to a perfectly good brush