My Ever-Ready C40 Restore...a work in progress

**brucered** · 06-09-2012, 08:14 PM

I picked up a nice condition little C40 off eBay with an OS mug and began my restore.

Removed the knot, separated the handle as it was loose (penmanship twisted it off in error when it arrived at work

)

Did some sanding and buffing and am now sizing up knots (TGN) and will hopefully order one soon.

It's coming along quite nicely. You will notice the mold lines in the 1st set of pics, but look at the 2nd set....where did they go?

**brucered** · 06-09-2012, 08:18 PM

I didn't care for the mold lines in the handle but found out they were easily sanded and buffed out.

Looks much cleaner, sleeker with no mold lines.

**NexlevMM** · 06-09-2012, 08:18 PM

I had no idea those could come apart. looks great smoothed out!

**brucered** · 06-09-2012, 08:21 PM

Originally Posted by NexlevMM

I had no idea those could come apart. looks great smoothed out!

i wasn't planning on taking them apart, but when penmanship was twisting the knot to see if it was loose, we heard a "crack" and lone behold, they separated. a little epoxy/gorilla glue will put them back together nicely.

it actually made/makes it much easier to work with when sanding/buffing it so the colours don't mix/blend and for getting inside to clean out the gunk etc.

**Sledgehammer39** · 06-11-2012, 04:44 AM

Looks good so far!

**MeanGene** · 06-11-2012, 04:57 AM

Nice work. It seems like every C40 handle I've ever seen has been in very good shape. Can't wait to see your finished product.

**Haggises** · 06-11-2012, 05:01 AM

You're doing what I'm hoping to do in the very near future.
Looking forward to seeing how you do it!

**Big_OC** · 06-11-2012, 02:23 PM

I have one of those handles as well along with three others I'm re-knotting. Just placed my order with TGN. Now the wait....

**brucered** · 06-11-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Haggises

You're doing what I'm hoping to do in the very near future.
Looking forward to seeing how you do it!

it seems to be a fairly easy restore so far, we'll see when i go to set the knot (no shelf), so i'll probably do the cork/epoxy trick to give it a shelf.

i got a hold of some plastic polish today and shined it all up.

**brucered** · 07-17-2012, 03:13 PM

well after waiting for a knot, i started a 2nd restore which i had all ready then broke the handle.

in the meantime i had ordered an Omega with a boar knot, did not like the handle, so had an idea from another thread.

out came the chizel and hammer, out came the knot and lone behold......my new Omega/C-40 ready for epoxy, no shelf even needed it rests on the lip (which i flattened out a bit).

I can't believe i got it to work. the knot was widened and it fits like a glove.

if i like the knot, i'll be doing more like this. for $15 shipped, i have an omega boar knot (silver color which i liked) in a restored handle that i can take some pride in....WOOP WOOP.

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**edgerunner** · 07-17-2012, 03:41 PM

Wow!!! That's so retro! I love it Bruce! It looks like this knot and handle were made to pair. Nice job, enjoy using it.

**Mike_P** · 07-17-2012, 03:51 PM

That looks awesome! Great idea!

**Haggises** · 07-22-2012, 05:50 AM

could I ask what you used for the sanding and buffing please?

**mistervee123** · 07-22-2012, 05:59 PM

Add me to the list of the curious. I too would like to know your secrets for the sanding and buffing!

**sprite** · 07-22-2012, 07:37 PM

Nice!!!!!

**rebos** · 07-23-2012, 10:20 AM

Great job. The brush looks great and I bet it's a joy to use. Now for some action shots.

**DavidB** · 07-23-2012, 10:32 AM

Outstanding job! I agree with rebos: let's see some action shots.

By the way, what's the diameter of the Omega knot?

Dave

**brucered** · 07-31-2012, 11:29 AM

sanding was done with LeeValley sanding pads (wet) and then polished with acrylic polished borrowed from a buddy.

i weighed a similar turned handled brush (thater stout 2) which was roughly the same sized (height, handle etc) and added washers on the scale with the C40 to bring the weight up.

i put in some clear kitchen/bath silicone in the bottom of the red portion, then a washer, then more silicone and another washer, up to the top of the red.

my thought was, this process will evenly distribute the added weight i'm putting in, so it's not all in the end of the handle and bottom heavy.

there are 2 more washers just placed in the white top portion, with more silicone as stabilizer and filler (test fit to make sure there is room for top/bottom to fit).

it feels much better with some balanced weight throughout the handle, same weight as my Semogue LE 2 (I guess the added silicone brought up the overall weight), very well balanced. i see a lot of people adding weight to the bottom (pennies, washers), but found on my 1st restore i did this with, it is wobbly and bottom heavy.

it was 1st omega knot in quite some time, i have a couple Semogues I love, but wanted to try and omega (but didn't like my original handle).

a few uses confirms what others said about Omega...great knots. the knot feels similar to my 1305 Semogue. not as dense and full as my SOC and LE2, but a nice change of pace.

i am very happy with this one, and wouldn't hesistate to tranpslant another Omega knot or Semogue if i find the right handle for them.

** the 2 most imporant things i did with this restore and feel it made a world of difference was: sanded out the mold lines and distibuted the added weight ** the sanded out mold lines was purely for looks (to give it a more turned and polished look) and and the weight distrubution was to mimmick a turned handle weight.