Thread: brush shedding; how long?

Originally Posted by Gasman

Ive stored all my brushes bristle up. Dont have any issues.

This is not a discussion on how to store a brush with bristles up or down, start a new thread on that issue & see the debate develop.
I simply told him what I would do with that brush.

ive found that AOS badgers are not that good a knot, so quality control is going to be loose there. if its still shedding it will probably shed as long as you have it. ive got good quality knots that haven't shed a hair. Tc

by the way John I got me several packages and different lengths, of gear ties those things are handier than sliced bread!, I have found many uses

Yes TC, I shape them into straight razor & brush holders on the road

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Five months and it still sheds?

We can come up with all kinds of excuses but the one staring you in the face is the answer. It's a shedder meaning it will always do it if it's been consistent this long. I'd talk to the retailer about it.

As long as it doesn't get worse it will probably still serve well for years.

As to the why's who ever made the knot probably didn't do a great job.

That's kinda what I was feeling, but thought I would check the collective wisdom. Having not had a natural hair brush before, though, I wasn't sure how common shedding is; I just know that I have heard reference to it as a common experience in new brushes, even high quality ones (although to a lesser extent than in their lesser-quality brethren, I'm sure). I guess I also wasn't quite sure how long a brush is considered "new" in this hobby where vintage equipment is common.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

ive found that AOS badgers are not that good a knot, so quality control is going to be loose there. if its still shedding it will probably shed as long as you have it. ive got good quality knots that haven't shed a hair. Tc

by the way John I got me several packages and different lengths, of gear ties those things are handier than sliced bread!, I have found many uses

That's good to know. I'm going to give it a good cleaning and conditioning, and see if that helps, but if not, It sounds like exchanging it may be a good way to go. I work right by the AoS store I bought it from, so it's easy for me to pop in and see if they will work with me on that.

Just a quick follow-up, the cleaning and conditioning did not seem to slow the shedding. So, yesterday I brought it into the store, and they exchanged it with no hassle whatsoever, even though I couldn't find my original receipt. The whole thing Took about 5 minutes. I haven't used the new brush yet, but at the very least I was very happy with the customer service.

Good to hear. Hope the new one works better.

FWIW I have a Simpson Colonel and an Omega boar brush. Both are 2 or 3 years old and both shed 2-4 hairs or more each time I use them. I have sent the Colonel back to England for replacements twice already (Simpson too has great customer service) and have been careful not to mash the bristles, and I even use the Simpson-recommended side-to-side brush strokes instead of circular ones, but hasn't helped.

Originally Posted by FoliageFace

Just a quick follow-up, the cleaning and conditioning did not seem to slow the shedding. So, yesterday I brought it into the store, and they exchanged it with no hassle whatsoever, even though I couldn't find my original receipt. The whole thing Took about 5 minutes. I haven't used the new brush yet, but at the very least I was very happy with the customer service.

Good to hear and, hopefully, this one works out for you.

I bought a Kent BK8 from Costco online, lost 6 or 7 hairs every time I used it.
I contacted Kent via their website and without hesitation they sent me a new brush! with a prepaid return label to send the first brush back.
The second one has not lost a hair... customer service at it's best.

I have brushes made from badger hair, horse hair, boar bristle and synthetic; more than a dozen total. The only one I have that has ever shed more than a dozen hairs total is a inexpensive pure badger by VDH. It loses a dozen hairs every time I use it. I suspect it will continue to do so until there are no hairs left.