Thread: What's more important?

You would hope that by the time someone orders a custom brush that they have used enough brushes to know exactly what they want in a knot and a handle. Also that they have communicated that to the brush maker in very specific terms and it is understood by the brush maker.

If I order a custom brush specifying a low lofted 2 band badger knot having soft tips and good backbone and received a very floppy knot instead there would be words spoken and the problem rectified. So far that has not been necessary, thankfully. Same would be true if that knot was to my liking but the handle was not as I had ordered.

Bob

Business end. I have parted with many a beautiful handle because the top side was not to my liking. Brushes are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you'll get until it's loaded with lather. I have all but given up trusting a hair type is stiffer, or softer, that low loft is going to give a brush more backbone. I just buy it, hope it's right for me and sell it if it's not.

I can't deal with a brush that has a funky handle. I truly love the "Barber Style" handles and those similar to the L7 design. Don't like "Chubby" handles at all....

For me, absolutely the business end. I like a good backbone and a fair amount of scritch. I don't want to feel like I'm lathering up with a wet cotton ball!

Pete <:-}

To me the knot is what matters. The reason I am very hesitant to buy custom brushes is because most knots are not at all to par with my preferences.
Recently I have been sending stock brushes with knots I like out to have the knot extracted and replanted in a custom handle.

It's all about the business end. Get knot changed problem solved.

Originally Posted by BobH

You would hope that by the time someone orders a custom brush that they have used enough brushes to know exactly what they want in a knot and a handle. Also that they have communicated that to the brush maker in very specific terms and it is understood by the brush maker.

If I order a custom brush specifying a low lofted 2 band badger knot having soft tips and good backbone and received a very floppy knot instead there would be words spoken and the problem rectified. So far that has not been necessary, thankfully. Same would be true if that knot was to my liking but the handle was not as I had ordered.

Bob

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.

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.