Cracked Brush - What's that about!

I've been shaving with the same brush since I started with a straight razor; a boar bristle brush I got for a song off trade me (New Zealand equivalent of ebay) that has served me pretty well. Then a few months ago I noticed a whacking great crack down one side that literally appeared over night. Next thing I know there's a second one on the other side just as big! I can only guess as to the age of the brush but for it to suddenly crack like this was a bit surprising. So why after all these years does a brush suddenly decide to leap apart at the seams? I'll admit to not using a brush stand, but I struggle to believe that water in the hairs can split 6mm plastic. Anyone got any ideas?

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Old plastic is like a glass windshield on your car; it only needs a micro crack/flaw to jump it & run the distance.
It was probably more than a few years old & just the act of you placing it base down on a hard surface, could have jumped it.

Sorry about your loss.

Every soldier serves his time. Seems like a good excuse to spend some money now. At least that's my way of thinking. :)

Thanks for your commiserations:) The brush is definitely more than a few years old and there was no real sentimental attachment, I'm just surprised to see it crack so fast. I would've expected it to need to be under tension for that to happen. But I hadn't considered that it might be old and brittle, which makes sense.

All things have a life,that brush is dead.

Well the handle certainly is, but I'm interested to see what happens to the bristles and the knot after the sides come away. Could be a perfect opportunity for a custom brush handle!

Thats a pitifull Knot,but is your knot:)

True, it's not a great knot. But that way there won't be any tears if it all goes belly-up:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SimonG

True, it's not a great knot. But that way there won't be any tears if it all goes belly-up:D

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Already has:)

It's the old straw that broke the camels back. It weakens but functions until one day Zowee.

Simon you have these guys in your back yard I have the Safety Razor and Stand can't speak for the brushes but they look nice, Where to buy Shaving Brushes and Stands in New Zealand and Australia

That's a shame, although now you have the glorious and exciting journey of finding which brush you will purchase next.

Cheers!

I had a similar crack in my brush before 10 years
Was a bristle no name from China
Same style with a "screw-cap" in the bottom.
Don't worth to fix it,time for re-handling work.

I think that handle was just trying to get away from that brush. : )

Do understand that at the time that the brush handle was made that the technology was at its best then. But by today's standards was primitive to say the least!
Today we have scientists with PHD's in plastics and polymers. A far cry ahead of the later technology.
Remember That the atmosphere now has changed tremendously from yester year. We now have ozones created by the appliances in your house. Greenhouse gases. Hydrocarbon emissions from fuels being burned. Acid rain, etc. Our atmosphere now is not near as friendly as it used to be. All these things are harmful to the older plastics, not to mention us too. Just the sun alone could account for degradation of the plastic, "UV rays". All that and we haven't even got into molecular and internal stress and structure and so on.
With all that said I am sorry for your loss but you know that it could have just been its time!!

Ray

Geez, the handle is trashed, the knot is garbage,always has been,why continue to beat this dead horse thread guys??
Throw it in the garbage,get a new brush.

Thanks Walleyeman, now that is a reply! Being a Mechanical Engineer it's the kind of thing that interests me. That the brush was old and crap is a bit of a gimme, but as to why plastics fail like they have here I find intriguing. The UV clause is particularly relevant down this end of the world too, good old ozone hole lets so much through that burn time in summer is about 15 minutes! Incredibly hard on rubber seals, car paint jobs and plastics etc. Coupled with residual stresses from the moulding process sounds like a likely cause to me. Thanks for the insights and keep in touch.
Simon

Hey Simon, I forgot to mention that in every part of the world the regulations on emissions are different also. Vehicles, industrial, so on and so forth. Also I will be starting a new thread in Brushes. Just finished up a few. You might want to look it over.

Ray

Great, will look out for it. Cheers