Thread: What's more important?

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have had brushes that were not up to my standard even after speaking with the maker and making sure the knot is set low enough to have good backbone. What was good backbone for the maker was a mop for me, however I could only go by the maker's word on the knot since it was a knot they offered as being their select knot for the its properties and performance.
To me the best bet right now is to have knots transplanted in better handles. It is more expensive but at least I know what I am getting.

That's the thing. You can design a handle and it should (better) be exactly the way you designed it since drawings and pics would be going back and forth but the knot you just never know because as they say what is stiff to you may be soft to someone else and you probably can't specify the source of the knot or would you do that too as part of the design process. That way you have better control of the finished product. However wouldn't that be like telling the maker where you want him to source the raw materials for the handle?

Would it be too out of line to ask the maker to send you all the raw materials, handle and knot for inspection before the thing is made for your approval?

Do you think you should have to reknot a brand new custom brush because you don't like the knot?

I love floopy knots.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I love floopy knots.

I had a Kent BK2 and I was happy with it and it performed well as a face latherer , I then brought a Manchurian Duke 3, since using the Duke the Kent feels like a wet fish, I couldnt stand how floppy it was so gave it away.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I have had brushes that were not up to my standard even after speaking with the maker and making sure the knot is set low enough to have good backbone. What was good backbone for the maker was a mop for me, however I could only go by the maker's word on the knot since it was a knot they offered as being their select knot for the its properties and performance.
To me the best bet right now is to have knots transplanted in better handles. It is more expensive but at least I know what I am getting.

Yup, for sure that is another way to do it. OTH I have had to go through a number of brushes from different makers to find the type of badger knot I preferred. That let me know the approximate loft to size ratio for that particular grade badger. So far so good with badgers I have custom ordered. Much the same with synthetic knots. The first good one from a maker I got was a bit too floppy for me and I had the knot reset lower in a custom brush for a good result. The other synthetics I had custom done, knots from different makers, were all set similarly according to size of knot and all came out well.

I don't think it is at all out of place to ask a private custom brush maker if they can source a particular knot that you like. If they can't then you don't have to order and take a chance. I think that is particularly important with badger knots and not so important with synthetics.

Bob

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

That's the thing. You can design a handle and it should (better) be exactly the way you designed it since drawings and pics would be going back and forth but the knot you just never know because as they say what is stiff to you may be soft to someone else and you probably can't specify the source of the knot or would you do that too as part of the design process. That way you have better control of the finished product. However wouldn't that be like telling the maker where you want him to source the raw materials for the handle?

Would it be too out of line to ask the maker to send you all the raw materials, handle and knot for inspection before the thing is made for your approval?

Do you think you should have to reknot a brand new custom brush because you don't like the knot?

From my experience so far that would be the best course of action. One could then play with the loft and see what works best assuming the knot is to the liking of the customer.

The solution to those who are very fussy about just the right backbone the Shavemac "Moss Brush" might have been the answer. Reminds me of having a "try gun stock" to get the proper fit for a shotgun to a particular user. Once you get it fitting properly the dimensions are taken and a custom stock is made.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...-version2.html

Bob

as a beginner brush maker i read this with great interest. would it be possible for a maker to leave the hole extra deep and then include spacers so that the user could play with the height and then glue the knot in themselves? i've also thought of mounting the knot with magnets to make removal (if necessary) easier.

Getting the loft right is only part of the problem. The other part is having the right type/grade of badger knot to give the right feel when lathering as in very soft tips and no scritch/scratch or with scritch/scratch or shades in between. The interpretation of those qualities varies person to person using the same knot. Sometimes you get a swing and a miss and other times you get a home run.

Bob

Most knots are not stuffed very well and that is a big factor for the backbone. Not many make well constructed knots IMHO.

I have just come back from a meet that Skipnord made me a brush handle and I bought another from him. Very good lesson and very good work.

I will mount my own knots.

I read a thread like this and it keeps me from trying to sell my own.

If I did I would sell the handle and the knot with a little glue and say set it where you want it. Don't blame me.

The custom buyers are dreamers and can't do it themselves.