Thread: gilden nip knots question

I recently turned my old walmart boars brush into a silvertip using one these knots, I like it feels pretty good and lathers well. But I'm curious as to how these compare to other high end brushes as far as softness etc. which ones are about the same, which are softer and which are stiffer?

I was wondering the same thing. Also he has more expensive silvertip knots for double the price. Is there a really big difference between the standard goldennib silvertip and the more expensive one (UK silvertip)?

Hope I'm not robbing your thread but I am also very curious!

I have recently restored some old handles with the Golden Nib knots and have been well pleased. I have a few factory models and for comparison the quality is just as good. The picture shows my group from an 18mm Seville Row on the right and the rest from 20mm to 28mm Golden Nib knots in antique and improvised handles. The quality is just as good and is just as soft. The stiffness comes with how deep you set your knot in the handle. The SR has whiter tips but that could be from bleaching them out at the factory. There is no difference in softness. I have had an issue with shedding with the 26mm but the others are ok.

bj

The 28mm silver tip is really soft and nice, it did not shed much. Then smaller one is a 20mm vulfix and the 28mm is a custom I built with a golden nib knot.

They now have hand made knots from the UK in stock, too. I will be getting one next week.

Originally Posted by sparq

They now have hand made knots from the UK in stock, too. I will be getting one next week.

Please post a review!

There's not much info on this forum but over on B&B I've read a few comments that speculate that the UK variety are made by Vulfix as they have the same feel, a rather long loft, and are a little floppy backbone wise.

I like a brush that is soft but yet stiff enough it doesn't turn into a mop after a couple passes...and I've been waffling between the UK or one of the cheaper but "extra hair" knots.

Maybe when you order you could ask who makes the UK version.

When I got mine he said that he was going to start carrying knots from vulfix very soon but they would be more expensive. So I would guess that the more expensive ones are vulfix. As for a review I don't feel comfortable doing that because this is the only silvertip I've ever used (though I am eyeballing a stephens woodworking one) as such I would have no basis to know how good it feels compared to other silvertips.

Originally Posted by AusTexShaver

Please post a review!

There's not much info on this forum but over on B&B I've read a few comments that speculate that the UK variety are made by Vulfix as they have the same feel, a rather long loft, and are a little floppy backbone wise.

I like a brush that is soft but yet stiff enough it doesn't turn into a mop after a couple passes...and I've been waffling between the UK or one of the cheaper but "extra hair" knots.

Maybe when you order you could ask who makes the UK version.

Will do. I had a 26mm sivertip from GN but I sent it back - it was shedding way too much hair (all the extra hair ended either on my face or in my soap). I mounted it shallow in the handle and it was a bit like a mop. See Jockey's shaving videos, he has the 28mm silvertip.

I feel I should comment on my 24mm GN knot (silvertip). It was shedding a lot at first, now after having lathered with it 3 times and a good shampoo it still continues to shed. I'm talking 10-20 hairs min per lather.

Also the stench is quite impressive. It smells awful and shows no sign of wearing off. I will continue the lathering/dry/lather/dry...... process a few more times until I send it back.

I hope it does not get to that point. Otherwise, a vintage brush that it is set in will go to waste. I doubt that I will be able to get the knot out. I will expect to be reimbursed for the brush handle as well as the knot should that be the case.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated! I am quite agitated because I really like the handle on the brush!

I have a 28mm knot (details below) and I have compared it with other brushes for quality at our biannual get togethers here in DFW.

The GoldenNib 28mm silvertip is:
about the same as a Simpson's Chubby of similar size and grade
not quite as soft as John Crowley's Vestavia line (which are hand selected)
slightly denser and more loft than a Vulfix of similar size and grade
more or less on par with a Shavemac of similar size and grade

in other words, pretty top notch.

I have not had the chance to compare firsthand to other brushes. below are some (I hope) helpful links into the brushmaking procedure, which should be amusing if not informative.
part 1:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...m-brushes.html
part 2:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...-many-pix.html
part 3:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...es-pt-3-a.html