Thread: hand made brushes

ok guys i have been readong alot about brushes lately as i get into turning. now my question for you all would a hand turned brush with a middle of the road brush knot like from the golden nib be worth lets say like 35 or 40 bucks. would this be ok. im not asking if this is a good price or anything like that, it just seems like alot of the handmade stuff goes for close to 70 to 80 dollars for the bigger brushes. any thoughts on this matter. it seems like alot of folks are looking more for a good proforming brush rather then a true status brush or im i way off on this.

I am far from expert on this subject, but let's just try a little breakdown here to see where we end up.

Middle of the road Golden Nib knot

$17.95 24mm Silvertip
$ 2.16 Shipping (let's say you ordered 6 knots to get the cost down)
$ 1.00 2x2x3 red oak turning blank (cheap, but not ugly) most will use an exotic wood at several times this cost
$ 5.00 CONSERVATIVE est. for supplies-finishes, stabilization,epoxy, sandpaper and other consumables, etc.

$26.11 already in ACTUAL out of pocket costs.

We have not even begun to talk about the MANY HOURS involved in the turning, sanding, finishing (multiple coats, drying time, etc.)

Very few (if any) do this as a career, so the incidental costs per unit are much higher than if this were an assembly line making thousands of these a day, but of course then you would no longer be talking about a hand turned custom one of a kind brush.

If you can find a quality hand-turned brush for $35 - $40 I'd say that the artisan is basically GIVING AWAY his time and know-how.

Just one man's opinion. Feel free to lob the grenades at will! :-)

Tony

Hey buddy I got this one from a member. It's a custom Dan Capshaw 28mm. Here's the point. This brush is so thick it's not floppy at all and feels wonderful. It holds a ton of water and really stirs up the lather. He does charge around $90 to $100 for them new. The handle is Madagascar Ebony wood.
I did question myself if it was worth the money but in this case it surely is. I was like you just looking for a larger brush that performed really well and I found it:-)

ok i guess i really dont mind the time, its normally relaxing for me to do this kind of stuff. but its hard to get it going where you can keep it going becuase of mats. i really love making things but i guess thats me. since i have a good job i really only worry about making a few bucks for my time.

Oh yea me to. There is nothing so relaxing as the shave but making things and doing restorations is right up there.

NIce brush! Maybe ill be looking for one like that too! For now the cash is low

Thanks! He has some really nice ones!