TI pure badger brush a real disappointment

Printable View

11-09-2012, 06:55 PM
tezza

TI pure badger brush a real disappointment

Wow, I just received a pure badger TI brush in the mail and, MAN, it's like lathering up with porcupine quills! I know the 'pure badger' is at the bottom of the quality totem pole but I figured how bad could a TI brush costing sixty bucks, be? Gotta be decent, at least, no? Boy, was I wrong - what a surprise. Let me say first, that the brush does lather like a BEAST - but what's the point if it actually hurts to apply that copious lather to your face? I have a two dollar boar brush that feels like silk compared to this brush. At the end of the day, I was seduced by the cool looking logo on the base of the brush. Worth sixty bucks? I think not, particularly if I now need to spend again for another brush! Live and learn... Maybe I can get my TI handle re-knotted - any suggestion, anyone?
11-09-2012, 07:05 PM
maddafinga

Re: TI pure badger brush a real disappointment

Give it a couple of weeks to break in maybe?
11-09-2012, 07:12 PM
mainaman

I never liked the pure badger as well, the bristles are too stiff for me.
11-09-2012, 07:19 PM
alb1981

Ya pure badger can be pretty tough. I would take it to a puck of williams and treat it like one of my boars to see if that may break it in a bit. Lather rinse repeat...
11-09-2012, 07:21 PM
Jimbo

The way I see it you have two options: (1) Chalk it up to experience and move on; (2) Work with it and see if you cannot get something out of it.

Given you paid the money, and given that it sounds as though you have not spent a lot of time with the brush yet (having just got it), perhaps a bit more time with it may be worthwhile. You never know.

Reknotting could be an option, but I'd check out the cost first - it may be cheaper to just get a new one and keep this one for shaving the cat with or something.

Good luck.

James.
11-09-2012, 07:34 PM
DaveW

I'd just get a different brush. I never liked the tweezerman for the same reason. shaving half-awake in the morning is not the time I want to get a big bunch of pricking in the face.
11-09-2012, 07:46 PM
Hirlau

Well if it's not working out & you have a boar brush that feels like silk; then clean the badger up , let it dry and send it to str8razor (Moderator in charge of the contests & giveaways). Pass it along through him, somebody might like it. Good luck will come your way.

Forget about the sixty bucks. Move on to the next step in your shaving journey.
11-09-2012, 07:48 PM
Hirlau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

.......................keep this one for shaving the cat with or something.

Good luck.

James.

It would make a nice key board duster. :shrug:
11-09-2012, 07:49 PM
JimmyHAD

See I love brushes that have scritch. When it is too rough for everyone else it is just right for me. :chapeau
11-09-2012, 07:52 PM
Hirlau

Old Iron Workers lather with steel wool. :beer2:
11-09-2012, 07:57 PM
unit

There are some great suggestions here.

Personally, I like a scratchy brush for soaps. That said, there are some vendors here that do some fantastic custom work with various grades of badger knots (among others). I would recommend checking some out as they cost less than you paid.
11-09-2012, 08:19 PM
tezza

Yes, a keyboard duster, that's about right! I've tried soaking it in conditioner, and brushing the tips vigorously on a sheet of sandpaper. Will give it a few weeks of use to see what happens. Thanks everybody!!
11-09-2012, 09:55 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by tezza

and brushing the tips vigorously on a sheet of sandpaper.

Never heard of that before. I would suggest just using it to lather to break it in. I would think you might damage the bristles on sandpaper. :gl:
11-09-2012, 11:09 PM
Suile

Never thought i would be addicted to shopping for brushes.
but once i got my first silver tip badger brush.
It makes the whole shaving my face so darn enjoyable.
Got more on the way.
11-10-2012, 04:29 AM
tezza

@ JimmyHad - I was thinking the sandpaper damage would be an improvement... LOL! But it's a good idea, just using it to lather to see how it breaks in - it certainly does THAT well. Thanks!
11-10-2012, 04:35 AM
Hirlau

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suile

Never thought i would be addicted to shopping for brushes.
but once i got my first silver tip badger brush.
It makes the whole shaving my face so darn enjoyable.
Got more on the way.

I have my fill, for the moment, of razors & hones. I have a Coti on the way. That will keep me out of H.A.D. for a while, but the taste for brushes has hit my tongue. Just ordered a beautiful custom brush, show you when it gets here in a few days. I think brushes will be my downfall this coming year.
11-10-2012, 10:29 PM
thebigspendur

$60 for a pure badger? That's highway robbery. You could have gotten a small silvertip for that price or a great best badger. You paid for the TI name and I doubt they even made it. Maybe it's a Plisson if it's from France.

Since you don't like it see if they will take it back.
11-11-2012, 12:06 AM
Suile

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

$60 for a pure badger? That's highway robbery. You could have gotten a small silvertip for that price or a great best badger. You paid for the TI name and I doubt they even made it. Maybe it's a Plisson if it's from France.

Since you don't like it see if they will take it back.

The thing i ben wondering about the brushes is their a difference bewteen the silver tips made in china and not made in china. cause i ben reading 99.99 percent of the badger hair is coming from china.
The silver tip badger brush i bought from the retailer in canada for 64 bucks don't say where it's made just their store name on the box. well worth buying it's so enjoyable soaping up my face with it. It's a much softer brush then my vintage ever ready ones.
not sure what hair those are.
11-11-2012, 07:55 AM
tezza

Yes, I saw some nice silvertips at Fendrihan. Could have gone that way but had to have the little guy with rolled-up sleeves, sledge hammer and anvil... And yup, paid through the nose for him! Got to chalk this one up. The vendor is in France, it's just not worth the nuisance of the language barrier, the time difference, and customs, and weeks waiting, and all that. I DO like that little guy, though - I'll keep the brush as a glorious reminder NOT to get carried away again. LOL...
11-11-2012, 11:17 PM
sinnfein

I agree with giving it time to break in. I have a pure badger and i love it, it is stiffer than my other brushes but still nice
11-12-2012, 04:36 PM
thebigspendur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suile

The thing i ben wondering about the brushes is their a difference bewteen the silver tips made in china and not made in china. cause i ben reading 99.99 percent of the badger hair is coming from china.
The silver tip badger brush i bought from the retailer in canada for 64 bucks don't say where it's made just their store name on the box. well worth buying it's so enjoyable soaping up my face with it. It's a much softer brush then my vintage ever ready ones.
not sure what hair those are.

There is no standardized system for grading badger hair. So, it's a matter of the person who grades the hair. I would imagine the larger outfits meaning places like Vulfix and Rooney buy the top of the line material and do a better job grading it. Generic makers get what they can and slap the thing together because price is their main concern.

Back when true 2 band was available only a few places sold brushes with it. Independent makers couldn't get the stuff it was so limited.
11-17-2012, 06:17 PM
TyGuy1111

my fav brush is super hard, came outa china for 3$ shipping included and is made outa "boar" lol or some other mystery animal!!!! work like a charm.
11-19-2012, 03:00 PM
Pyrateknight

I think maybe use it a bit to see if it softens a bit. I have a TI Super Badger and its a dream. If it doesn't get better I am sure you could find someone that would adopt it for the right price.... :angel:
11-26-2012, 12:02 AM
tezza

Update on TI disappointment brush:

I've used it every day for the last few weeks and it's only become marginally softer. I've soaked it, soaped it, and scrubbed with it - and it's still prickly and irritating to use. Then, last night I found a post describing different recommended lofts, pros and cons, for different types of knots, and low and behold... enlightenment! The lower the knot is set, the stiffer and pokier the brush becomes. Now, this is not news but it hadn't occurred to me the knot might be set too low and it made perfect sense so I checked the brush against the manufacturer's specs and yup, it's 6 to 7 millimeters lower than it should be. I know shaving brushes aren't assembled to strict engineering tolerances but I think that's a lot off the mark and would explain why the the brush is so stiff (add to that machined tips, and it's a pretty uncomfortable combo that's never going to soften) so I'm going send it back to the vendor in France and see if I can get an exchange for a correctly set one - hopefully THAT one will feel softer! Will keep you posted, thanks!
11-26-2012, 01:06 AM
BobH

Wow, that 6 to 7 mm difference from the manufacturers spec is huge and I am guessing would make it feel like a whole different brush. Hope you get the exchange and are happy with the new brush.

Bob
11-26-2012, 07:13 AM
adamkavanagh

I know it's being said alot, but I think it needs to break in. My first real badger felt very harsh and smelled REALLY bad, but after less than a week I started to really like it and the smell was gone.