getting my stuff on ebay?

so i am wondering if everthing from china on ebay is totally crap? I have been looking at some silver tip badger brushes for way less than any other place, also have seen a ton of leather strops for like 16 bucks. are these items going to be good enough for a beginner? i have read through the library, i know you can spend a crazy amount of money on a strop and brush, but i guess what i am asking is.. do i have to? if i buy a leather strop on ebay is it not going to do the job? is a 20 dollar chinese plastic handle silver tip badger brush not going to lather as good as a 300 dollar jade handle brush with silver badger tip bristles?
i dont want to spend more than i have to but i want to get something that is going to work.

This might answer some of your questions about Chinese made shaving brushes http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...g-brushes.html .

Bob

My guess is the hair is on par with most other brushes. Pretty much all badger hair is from China anyway. probably the biggest differences are in the construction and knotting and workmanship. Maybe an outfit like Simpson or Rooney select the hair better but the overall fit and finish is where the monetary difference is.

When I started I got a cheap badger brush from eBay. The hair was very floppy, to the point of being nearly unusable.
On a budget, for badger, look at something like a Tweezerman. Less than $20, and perfectly functional.

Also look at one of these: New EverReady Brush
I got one a couple of years ago, it has become my favorite brush. After some use the tips become really soft and it has a lot of backbone. I have six more now, in case they stop making them.
I don't know what the bristles are made from, but once broken in they are fabulous.

I use a 6 dollar brush I got from CVS. I've used it for over a year, and have seen no reason to replace it with any other version. I also use a 36 dollar American made strop from a vendor who does sell on Ebay. He sells replacement parts if you end up ruining something. I got a cheaper strop initially, and then an antique strop, and finally settled on this one. It's really the best I've used, and I wish I'd have bought it to start with. SO I guess what I'm saying is, that you don't have to go whole hog on your stuff, but you also don't want to scrape the bottom of the barrel either. I don't suggest getting "beginner" items. Because "beginner" items are more often than not, just items that will never really go bad, but will get replaced with more expensive stuff later. Meaning you've bought the same stuff twice. I say go "middle of the road" on your purchases. Someday, I'll find a badger hair brush somewhere and maybe it'll make me think I should have bought one sooner. But...I doubt it....unless it's six bucks.

I've got two of Frank's Shaving badger brushes - one best and one silvertip - and they work well for me YMMV.
I also have one of his two sided strops that I use for travelling and it's fine too.

Another voice here suggesting there's no need to spend a lot money up front, not on anything. The reason is that your tastes will develop over time. Large brushes, small brushes, loads of backbone, soft brushes, delicate soft tips, stiff scrubby tips, well you get the idea. There is lots of variation out there and you won't know what you like until you try a few items on the cheap.

just ordered a silver tip badger brush from whippeddog.com so far the experience has been great, larry is really good to work with.