How to remove the knot from a shaving brush - Steam Method 

Steaming can be risky as even resin handles can crack or cloud. If you don't care about the knot coming out and you're just looking to save the handle for re-use than I recommend cutting the knot down as close to the handle as safely possible then drilling small holes into the glue bump. Try and get as far down as you can without breaking into the handle. Then pour in isopropyl alcohol filling all the way to the top. Use the highest % you can find. Preferably 99%. Leave it for 24hrs topping up if need be. The isopropyl alcohol will dissolve and break down even the toughest of epoxies. Then it's just a matter of removing the remnants and cleaning up the mess. This is of course if you don't care about the knot.

So I recently scored a vintage '46-'47 Aristocrat w/clamshell, a Surrey shave mug, plus they threw in an old plastic handle Surrey brush for free. Anyway, it just so happens I've been wanting to purchase an old brush handle and install a fresh knot. So I just finished using your method to remove the old knot and it worked like a champ. I will be using silicone to install the new knot, per your instructions. I've learned a bit and enjoyed the process. Thank you for the videos.

Thank you for this video and being very detailed about the do's and don'ts. I have a few Brushguy handles that I absolutely love but hate how deep he set the knots. They have coins as well so I'll include your clothes pin trick in order to protect it. I'll try this steam method first with a test brush that I don't care for

Worked perfectly for me, thanks so much!!

Worked like a champ! Thank you, David

Perfect instuction video. I took into account what you said in the beggining about the wooden pieces below the brush and it worked like a charm. I had an old boar DuX brush that was looking really bad. I'm hoping to re-paint and re-knot it at some point!

Hey buddy, just wanted to say thanks, I was at my witts end trying to get a knot out of a handle, I found this video today and it worked, that sucker was out in 15 minutes, so a big thankyou from me to you 😁👍👍

İt worked perfect on mine. Thanks for sharig man.

Superb tutorial. I used a fairly similar method a few months ago to remove a badly shedding Semogue 620 knot out ( always loved the look of that handle, so I wanted to keep her). I must admit, I was pretty disappointed when the knot was out. The knot was listed as 22mm, but it was a 17mm base glue ball, with an aluminum funnel shaped neck, that fanned out the knot to a 22mm base knot girth. No wonder that the brush was a lather disappearing act 🙂

The water dripped down from the lid of the pot and melted my restored ever-ready handle. Maybe I don’t it wrong but let me tell you there’s no room for errors in this, you can actually destroy your handle.

Great video, thanks.

Oh that's good info. I actually found a $20 stainless steel steamer at Wally world and my welding gloves.lol man those Yaqi brushes have a ton of glue, at least one that I steamed out did. I like clothespin wood insulating idea, I'll try something like that next time . I'll save this video thanks bud!

Awesome tutorial! 👍 Thank you.

Wish I saw this vid before trying to smash the resin handle. These things are made like tanks, will be trying your method.

Great video, might have to give it a try with my Semogue Brush. Any recommendation on a place to purchase quality Knoys?

Does this procedure could be used even on shaving brush with painted wood handle? Without crack the painting on the handle? Is it possible speed up the process putting the shaving brush with the knot already wet?

Was the original knot set in the handle with epoxy or with silicone? I would imagine that the original (tuxedo) knot was in there with epoxy. I have one that I want to remove. Your demonstration was encouraging in that it appeared to be a matter of time and patience before the knot came out. Thank you.

Thank you very much. I enjoyed your video so much I Subscribed to you're channel. A good friend via IG sent me your link. What do you suggest I use to clean/buff up the knothole? I don't have any fundamental tools. So guess I'm asking for suggestions with sandpaper or something like that. ~ JB

Love your channel. Looking to purchase the RR gamechanger or the Karve CB. If you only could have one which would you choose??

Hi I just did remove a knot on my Mühle Handle it’s was silvertip fibre wasn’t my favourite to be honest it’s was 19mm now Question is can I put 20mm in 19mm hole or I have to get 18 as oumo have only 18/20mm knots in smaller versions... Thank you Alan H

I plan on trying this. What silicon did you use? Please provide a link if possible. Also, can I do this with a wood handle? Thanks!

I’m doing mine now I’m just gonna do it for 20 minutes and then try, If that doesn’t work I’ll start doing the increments then

Great video but stop smacking your mouth thats so distracting man please!

try B 7000 best glue Switchback 400 i repotted my brush with T3 Trafalgar 29mm knots hugs Larry Merry Christmas