Thread: cost of making your own brush (confused)

hello all, I am new here and I've read some, but i haven't seen anything that clears this up to my satisfaction.

recently I have gotten into using a DE razor and already I have found myself wanting to move on to a straight razor.
when I got my DE I went and got a cheap soap/brush/bowl kit to get me started. I know they are cheap and now that I have
realized my interest in this art and know that i wish to really persue it, I will be replacing items as funds allow and as I learn
what Im going to want out of these items.

all that said, here is what I am looking at right now. I very quickly decided that i do not like a stiff brush. I don't like the feel of scratching on my face. after reading some I have come to understand that nicer badger hair tends to be softer. which happens to be where the price goes up, in some cases a lot. I also found that making my own brush (I browsed TGN) can be much much cheaper. even if i choose to go with the most expensive knot.

so the actual question is this: is making my own brush really that much cheaper, or is there some aspect of what I'm looking at(ie product quality, assembly difficulty) that i just don't understand that makes paying more for a premade one worth the money

First things first - welcome to SRP!

How good are you at making stuff? Making brush handles usually involves working with wood, stone, acrylic, or other synthetic materials (although many others can be used too) that will have to be taken from a raw form to a finished handle. If you are confident in your abilities, they aren't that complicated to make. There is also the option of buying a pre-made handle and attaching the knot of your choice.

There are several considerations here. You touched on one: the type of knot. Different types of hair have different properties, so you're correct in that choosing one over another will have an effect on the stiffness of the brush.

But that isn't all. You will also have to decide how deeply to set the knot into the handle. If you set the knot so that the epoxy (or whatever) at the base is flush with the end of the handle, it will be floppier and less stiff than if you drilled out the handle and set the know deeper. So if you do decide to make your own, once you have your knot, and *before* permanently fixing the knot to the handle, so some testing. You can stuck the knot in place with hot melt glue or something else temporary. And then use elastic bands around the knot to simulate having it set at different depths. Once you find the level you like, measure the distance from the base to the highest rubber band, and that's about how deep you want to drill your hole.

Doing a basic brush is quite easy if you have the skills. Creating a *really* nice one is what sets the pros apart from us amateurs.

Sorry - got sidetracked on process and pretty much ignored your question.

Yes, it *can* be much cheaper to make your own. But that all depends on what knot you get, what materials you use, how you value your time, and what you're comparing it to.

wow, I crossed my fingers that I would get a good response, and you gave me far more than I could have hoped.
my biggest concern is that my face wants something that is rather expensive, and it seems making my own could really help with that
I hadnt really even put any thought to actually CREATING a handle, but I am good with my hands and I cant say I would never try.
for right now I think my plan will be to buy a premade handle and (after lots more research) knot and try my hand at that.
I like the hot glue trial run, I will definately do that too.
I am really interested in some kind of wood, maybe at some point i could try carving my own

Well there's the cost of "making" your own brush, and the cost of "assembling" your own brush. To make one you need a lathe, the tools, grinder, jigs etc and that's a large chunk of change. To assemble one you just need a knot, a handle, and some epoxy. Money can be saved versus say a top of the line commercial brand name. Several members make them custom at very reasonable prices. For example, I purchased a block of wood and a knot, then had it made and assembled to my specifications.

I think if you look at what it costs in terms of time and materials and then look at what the guys here that do custom work charge for brushes, it may push you in that direction. I have a couple of very nice custom brushes that I feel are as good as it gets. As far as the costs go, it's cheaper than making my own.

The Golden Nib has both handles and knots, as does whippeddog.com. I can't comment on the knots that Larry at whippeddog sells, but I have used two handles from him and have no complaints. The general consensus seems to be though that the golden nib is likely the most reliable source for knots - assuming you're located in North America.

So I'd say give it a shot. Make sure you pick up some good epoxy too. There's no sense putting garbage between your knot and handle.

If and when you decide to make a handle from scratch, the one tool I'd say is essential is a good forstner bit in the appropriate size for the knot you want to mount, and a drill press *really* helps. Prodigy is quite right that the bills for tools can add up, but it is also possible to make a handle on the cheap. I carved this one from soapstone using wood carving tools, sandpaper, and micromesh.

Dang....I never knew it mattered much.....I spent too much!

Buy your first good badger brush and when you get more experienced...make your own.

Making a brush is great and all, I am doing so myself. But I also own a nice lathe and tools and everything. To play Devils Advocate here, since you mentioned you want the better quality badger brush for it softness, have you considered going with a synthetic? You get softness that is only matched by the absolute best badger brushes, and still many times get a great mix of backbone to be able to load a brush easily and scrub at you face with while still being soft and comfortable. There are many great synthetics out there now and at much more reasonable prices than even buying just a good badger knot.