How i test my new knots

Here is on of my tricks as i wrote it to another co-shaver

Step one: test the knot as it comes from the parcel, dry ,don't wash him
Keep the base of the knot with your right hand and make some whirl movements in the palm of your left hand
Also try to push the knot some times in the palm to test the backbone.
If the knot is not good or it's backbone isn't adequate the bristles will "break" and you will see a "gap" in the centre like this:

http://i57.tinypic.com/n1z8d2.jpg

If you doubt go to the second step:
Straighten the knot and go to your washbasin
Open the water,medium momentum no need a full flow
Keep the knot in the bottom of the washbasin and make some "washing" movements
The water will "hit" the knot most in the centre
If the knot "breaks" again and you see the same "gap" in the centre in my opinion DON'T glue him in a handle.
I am not a "brush-expert" but after of dozens of new knots that they weren't good after those tests in the end this trick saved me from money and effort.
Many times a pass this test and i glue the knot,i said "no it's an expensive knot,he will work while shaving" but 100% i saw that was my mistake
Waist of money and time to remove the knot and agony to don't destroy the handle.

As I just made my first brush the other day, and have decided to make (too many) more, this is a great tip!

Call me stupid,am not understanding this test,that also looks to be a very cheap Knot.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Call me stupid,am not understanding this test,that also looks to be a very cheap Knot.

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It's the best way to understand many things before you glue the knot to the handle
Not always a cheap knot, i have "step on it" in some FS or even TGN and WD knots
I have tested in about 100 knots and after some failures due to this test i know what's going to happen if i decide to glue the knot.
Do you prefer to proceed and in the first shaving to see bad results ?

Before i invent this test, take a look another 2 examples
I glued the handles and look what i got while shaving:

http://i59.tinypic.com/rm1c2e.jpg

I think your buying cheap knots,All new knots will shed to a point.
When you consider a 24mm Knot has about 10K hairs your going to have some loss,Than it will stop.
Sorry, do not think your testing proceedure is valid,JMO

Did you read anything about shedding ?
Did i wrote that my knots failed because i saw bristles going away ?
Did you see any bristles down in the photos ?
NO.

Check in WD site how much is the cost of a 24mm Black Badger and tell me then if it's cheap.
My test has to do with backbone and the tendency to over bloom
From all of my Black badgers only one knot failed, the others pass it and still i have them in my cabinet.

My Apologies,In the above pic I thought I was seeing broken hairs.
Back bone and overblooming are dependant mostley on the loft setting IME.

Here is another example: I bought a Pure badger knot from FS
Not for first time,no problem so long
I glued the knot and before the first use i did the test
Here are the results,a disaster !

http://i59.tinypic.com/1ta1i9.jpg

Tell me who will continue to test this brush in shaving ?
If i had made the test before i would save money and effort
Without lathe it's a lot of time and sweat to remove the epoxy glued knot.
My test before you glue the knot is a "Saviour".

For you it seems to work.good luck.

My first question would be;
How many knots, after normal use, showed this damage?
What led you to test your knots in this manner?

When I test something or someone, I test it in the environment/conditions that I want to rate it in.
I would not rate a persons ability in water survival, by having him rappel mountains.
I do not know, after 4 years of learning here at SRP, anyone who uses a "dry" badger to lather with. Maybe I missed that thread.

",,,,,,a hair in good condition can absorb more than 30% of its own weight of water. "
PROPERTIES OF HAIR

My point is; that wet hair performs differently than dry hair; should you try your test with a knot that has soaked a minute or two, would you see the same damage? :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

My first question would be;
How many knots, after normal use, showed this damage?
What led you to test your knots in this manner?

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This is a beginning test,when the knots arrives in the parcel can you know HOW it performs ?
I am not a magician.

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When I test something or someone, I test it in the environment/conditions that I want to rate it in.

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What did i said before ?
If you glue the knot then you need effort and money to make the repair
If you have them no problem.

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I do not know, after 4 years of learning here at SRP, anyone who uses a "dry" badger to lather with. Maybe I missed that thread.

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Where did i said i lather the knot ?
I test the knot in my palm for few seconds as is dry
This is not a lather procedure,not a torture,not something unusual just some simple movings
Another example: when you want to buy gloves you don't wear a pair to see if it fits you ?
You just buy without to test them ?
When you buy clothes,motorcycle helmet,boots etc you don't make a simple test ?
You must pay and wear them same day and start walking in the city to discover latter that they don't do for you ?

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should you try your test with a knot that has soaked a minute or two, would you see the same damage? :shrug:

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I have post in the past photos of knots that failed in lathering
That was before i invented my test,what was the gain ?
Nothing at all ! Money spend,weeks waiting for the parcel to come and effort to remove the knot from the handle.

Take a look at this:

http://i62.tinypic.com/214ayvm.jpg

What do you see ? Nice looking new pure badgers as they came from the box
I DIDN'T made the test and i glued the knots
You saw in previous post what happened,failure !
Do you want to see the second too ? Here it is:

http://i59.tinypic.com/p4oyu.jpg

So it's my time to ask you:
When this knot failed in a simple test in your palm would you proceed to glue him and make bowl lather with it ?
There is no backbone at all,is so obvious !!!

Trying to get so called Backbone in a knot that is not in a handle at the proper loft is impossible.
Looking at the two handles above tells me your going to get lofts of 55mm+ maybe more,Little backbone,over blooming.
I realize you are very proud of your testing proceedures,thats a good thing.
Nothing more to say.

If your happy, then I'm happy,,,,,,on to next thread,,,,

This is Whipped Dog Black badger at 24mm
Brand new as it came from the parcel,nice looking isn't it ?

http://i61.tinypic.com/5xmqp.jpg

According to you all i must do is to glue the knot in the handle and begin the procedure for shaving.
Hmmm...let's make the simple test,some swirling moves in the palm and a little bit press (much less than a person do in face lathering)
Oups ! What i get after the test ?

http://i62.tinypic.com/dy1u0x.jpg

So what must i do according to you ?
To glue the knot and after a miracle is going to happen,somehow a nice rich lather will show up and the brush will perform perfectly
Maybe it will be my favourite brush, ha ?

I have see many times what's going to happen if i glue a knot like this
Here is one photo,i have dozens from re-knoting work to see what means effort and money to remove a knot.

http://i57.tinypic.com/r8grig.jpg

Maybe you are rich and you buy expensive brushes so you haven't faced any problems at all
I am not,i learned some things "by the hard way" and i want to show them to others
If someone does not want to be convinced i can not do something about it.