So how did this one go from this,,,,,
To this???
This poor little handle was doomed right from the start. Firstly it was poured on a very hot day here in Brisbane, which meant the resin started curing much faster in the pouring cups than I expected, so when it came time to pour into the mould, it didn't go "well". Then air bubbles were introduced when trying to drag a skewer through the resin to create a pattern into it. So not a good start. Then I turned it into the shape you see in pic 1, which was great for a while, but then issues developed around the burl edges where it meets the resin and a raised edge had formed due to movement of the wood. Live and learn, I have changed the way I finish these hybrids now and haven't seen a repeat of the edge raising issue since. I've even rectified a couple on warranty return to me for the same reason since.
So after a long while of wondering what to do with this failed handle, I decide to refinish it using my new process. Back to the lathe where I put the expanding chuck jaws inside the knot socket (the knot pictured was not glued in) to hold it while I rework the sanding polishing process, and bang!!! The knot socket splits open and breaks off the top of the handle.
So a few weeks go by and I decide to press forward with a new shape design, salvaging what's left of this attractive but now severely flawed handle. I drilled and tapped a 14mm thread down the centre of it and mounted on a threaded steel bar/mandrel to keep the thing on centre while I rework the thing, again. This has now become an exercise in skill development instead of making a saleable product. I'll be keeping this one myself.
Given the reduced diameter I now had available for a knot socket, the knot had to be small, so I went for a random small knot in my stock and chose the only horse hair knot I have. A 23mm horse knot of unknown origin, so that'll have to do. After all the new work done to make it all smooth now, I'd say 99% happy with how it ended. Just a very small ringed area of hard CA glue underneath the handle that surrounds my makers mark medallion that I couldn't bring to 100% satisfaction without causing harm to the metal badge that stayed in place throughout the whole traumatic ordeal. I'll live with that considering this one isn't for sale. At least I now have a genuine Burl/Resin Hybrid TroyCraft Custom Shaving Brush in my own den to use