Thread: What's more important?

I generally only do factory brushes though I have done a few customs because of the handles. I ended up selling all but one because the tips on the customs were too soft and I want scritch. The one I kept I'm thinking of sending to Bern (Shavemac) for a 48x23 with scritchy tips. If anything is like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, it is shaving brushes.

Originally Posted by BobH

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

Exactly right. Someone could ask for a shavemac, silvertip 2 band, fan shape, 26mm knot size, set at 55mm and still not be happy because the feeling on their fizzog didnt feel right. We all know no 2 batches from the same supplier is the same, because unfortunately, no two badgers are the same.

Originally Posted by 32t

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.

I was with you right up to the last line.

Bob

so how is it any different than buying a off the shelf brush? you still don't know how it's going to feel till you try it. you are just getting a better looking handle.

Originally Posted by tintin

so how is it any different than buying a off the shelf brush? you still don't know how it's going to feel till you try it. you are just getting a better looking handle.

Thats the problem, you just dont know until its in your hand and on your face, even then it can take a while to settle in.

Originally Posted by tintin

so how is it any different than buying a off the shelf brush? you still don't know how it's going to feel till you try it. you are just getting a better looking handle.

That is easy, you try off the shelf brushes till you find a knot type/grade that you like at a particular loft setting relative to the knot size. Once you know roughly what knot you like by that method you can specify that knot type and loft setting to the custom brush maker. The other way is to do like mainaman and send the factory brush with the right knot out to have it reset in a custom handle.

Bob

Face latherers, bowl latherers, mug latherers. Soft, medium, and hard soaps. Want it soft on my face. Want is scratchy on my face. Want it a little soft but a little scratchy on my face.

Too many options!

There's no way that I would go into the brush business.

Originally Posted by kelbro

Face latherers, bowl latherers, mug latherers. Soft, medium, and hard soaps. Want it soft on my face. Want is scratchy on my face. Want it a little soft but a little scratchy on my face.

Too many options!

There's no way that I would go into the brush business.

Me neither. As hard as making the brush handle is getting the right knot into it is more difficult. It takes very good communication between a customer who has a good idea of the type of knot and loft setting they want and a custom maker who is knowledgeable about knots and can supply one to fit the need. It is a difficult job considering it is , on the face of it, a simple tool.

Bob

Why not adjust the backbone with an elastic band or some form of ring put at the base of the knot? At least this will give some indication of the loft that you require from that type of hair.

Originally Posted by UKRob

Why not adjust the backbone with an elastic band or some form of ring put at the base of the knot? At least this will give some indication of the loft that you require from that type of hair.

That is exactly what I did with the synthetic knot I thought was too floppy for me. Once I determined the right loft for me I sent the brush off to HarryWally to have it reset in a custom handle. More than happy with the end product.

Bob