Thread: Badger virgin seeks to get badgerized -- need advice on handles

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

How do you know you wouldn't lose money? He could always deliver garbage, if he delivered at all. Can't wait to learn more about what you got, why, and how it turns out. Thanks!

Alibaba is trying to gain a reputation here and is like Ebay/Paypal in some respects - mainly, they don't pay the merchant until the buyer lets them know they received what they asked for, as described. And of course, the number one rule of gambling is never gamble that which you are afraid to lose...

Any badger,Pig,Horsehair will make lather,just like any striaght can be made to shave and 99% of shaving soaps be they a $2 a stick or $40 a puck will work.You Buy cheap machine made Knots,you get what you pay for.
Is an Ivory 1800 euro Plisson brush better than a $12 tweezerman? they both work.Is a yugo better than a shelby? they both will get you from point A to Point B.
Do you want a one of a kind brush handle or a mass produced handle,they both do the same (they hold a knot)
That being said,the O.P posted a link to a handle I made for a former SRP member gratis sans shipping to Canada,I did not provide the knot, I did not set the knot.
Heres the hard part,no one that turns custom handles,has a huge investment in wood products,machinery,Vacuum stabilization products and several hrs of work in the finished handle will do it for 15 bux,is just not going to happen.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

Six months into wet-shaving, I'm having an absolute ball. Ok, so my original motivation -- to free myself from McShaving slavery, find delight in shaving, while controlling costs -- is a mixed success in the budget department. Nonetheless, I soldier on -- with my eagle eye market research/shopping skills and entrepreneurial flair, I endeavor to explore and enjoy some of the near-best stuff out there for prices I can actually live within.

I've essentially got one good brush: an Omega boar knot on a B&B handle -- quite a delight. (Ok, I've also got a BestShave $2.50 horsehair, but that's going to become a gift for a teen newbie.) I'm still a badger virgin, and the itch is growing.

I'm on a very tight budget, starting up a new enterprise, so will probably have at best just one boar, badger, and hopefully horse brush for the next year or so, so I want the best badgery brush experience I can get for up to ~$30.

Leading candidates thus far:

• Whipped Dog $26 Silvertip,
• The Golden Nib two-band finest badger knot (but which?) on a super-affordable yet nice handle yet to be identified. Suggestions?
• The most alluring vision, I must confess: I discovered yesterday what I call a Chubby Manchurian -- a fat (30mm/80mm) knot from Mr. Chen on AliExpress (for all of $19 shipped) on a chubby-alike handle, yielding a 55mm loft and a tight yet beauteous blossom and what seems an excellent combo of backbone and softness and all good badgery things.

I'd love to find the least expensive handle that would fit that knot or someone who'd make one like that pictured, a chubby-homage. Here's the hard part: my handle budget is around $15. Suggestions are very welcome!

The Golden Nib knot is the option I have direct experience with and I have never been disappointed. If they have an affordable handle, there's your fastest answer. I use Devcon glue to attach my knots.

Larry at Whipped Dog is very reputable, but I prefer finest badger to silvertip. Last time I looked, he had silvertip and black badger, and I find black badger more scritchy than finest.

What I have done for my last few brush purchases is purchase an attractive old brush from ebay with the intention of drilling out the knot and replacing it with a Golden Nib knot. The economics depend on how cheap you can get the handle. Look closely at the ebay handle to make sure it is in pristine condition and not cracked or defaced. Another option is a Burma Shave brush which used to cost $5-$10. The knot I had shed hair but you can drill it out and get a good one.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Heres the hard part,no one that turns custom handles,has a huge investment in wood products,machinery,Vacuum stabilization products and several hrs of work in the finished handle will do it for 15 bux,is just not going to happen.

PixelFixed is right. IF anyone were to do it, they'd be a hobbyist. Otherwise, I'm looking for an off the shelf or used/vintage handle.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

He's quite right about that. IF anyone were to do it, they'd be a hobbyist. Otherwise, I'm looking for an off the shelf or vintage handle.

Your seeking a hobbyist to do a job for you, for nothing,or at the price point of $15,go to home depot,buy a pce of 1.25 inch dowel,bore the hole the proper size,mix the proper adhiesives,Insert Knot,you are done and have exactaly what your pricepoint is,enjoy the new brush.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you...

I'm not a holy roller, but I've grown to believe that based on my own experience... particularly experience in the wet-shaving world.

See those three razors in my avatar image: one I bought at a flea market for a song. While I might like to buy a new $100 razor, I can't afford that now, as I'm investing most of my resources into my new company, and am living fairly lean. But, $15 I could comfortably afford. So, I asked what to do with it -- and someone simply offered to hone it, out of his joy of honing. He gave me a loaner razor, while he was working on that one, and then said: keep it, I've got more than enough, and, oh, bye the way, try out this other one I'll loan you. Those three razors I'm learning SR with, are pretty much just because I'd inquired, seeking the most inexpensive way to learn and share the joy.

Someone PIF'd me some gear a few months back, just because he liked my questions about it. I enjoyed it, and am PIFing it back to the community. I couldn't really justify the expense to buy it, and wouldn't have experienced it out without his kindness.

No one needs to do traditional wet-shaving. We could all just shave with Gillette Mach Whatevers, lather with goo, and not use brushes -- like most of the rest of the world. Like I did until six months ago. Six months ago I had no interest in nor desire to use a shaving brush, and had you asked me, would have laughed, and thought it a joke. Now, due to the kindness of strangers, I'm trying to figure out how to buy a second brush, and spend up to $30 on it. And, I give my business to community minded artisans and businesses, as well. I like to help those who help, too. And, while I may wonder about Mr. Chen, and may ultimately buy from him, chances are I'll end up buying from TGN, or from Whipped Dog, from whom I got my strop kit, and who provides great advice and guidance free, just for asking. Certainly if not this time, then again soon.

I find much of this scene, and the market which grows out of this interest and passion, exists because of community spirit and passion. It barely existed, from what I gather, for decades. Once people are jazzed and engaged, and have the money, then they buy more and more kit as they can. If it weren't for kind and generous community spirited members and hobbyists simply giving of themselves, PIFing and helping out newbies and those who may not be able to afford, there'd be much, much less of a market for the artisans. I have no problem paying for stuff as I can. I mean, I've spent at least a hundred bucks, on things like artisanal soaps (because that's a low cost to entry) -- money those soap makers would not have made unless someone had PIF'd me some razors, given me free guidance about everything I've learned in wet-shaving, PIF'd me some quality handmade soaps, which got me jazzed about that.

I'm constantly helping out those who ask for it -- anyone who asks me for help gets what I can give. And, I'm lovin that too. Even the begger in the street should help if another begger asks, is what I've learned. If more of us did it, there'd be fewer beggers in the street.

This entire scene exists to a very large degree because of passion and charitable community minded behavior, and I say to that: amen, I'm glad to have found it and be part of it.

Thanks again, everyone, for providing that spirit and community, here on SRP!

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

I'm on a very tight budget, starting up a new enterprise, so will probably have at best just one boar, badger, and hopefully horse brush for the next year or so, so I want the best badgery brush experience I can get for up to ~$30.

While everyone's definition of a budget differs, planning on three different types of brushes within a year of starting down this road is an interesting approach to saving money. Just sayin'...

That having been said, here are my $.02 for what it's worth...

My first brush was a no-name best badger that worked just fine for a couple of years (and still does of course) until I decided to check out a silvertip. I got a 24mm silvertip in a resin handle from whippeddog, and couldn't have been happier. Since then I have also bought a few knots from Larry to put in handles I turned/carved. They too have been great.

I also ordered some knots from Mr. Chen via Ali Baba after a former member here posted a positive review. I can echo the comments others have made here: be prepared a) to wait and b) not to receive the knot. In the case of b), no harm was done apart from the wait as my purchase was fully refunded when the order was not fulfilled within a certain time. I have since placed another order. The new order was placed on May 12, I was notified on Thursday (June 13) that the order had shipped and of course have not yet received it.

As TBS said, recommending brushes is a tricky thing to do. What I think is terrific might not work for you, and vice-versa. I can however say that if you want to try a silvertip, for price alone it's tough to beat whippeddog's brushes, and I have been very happy with mine. But please be aware that his silvertip will be different from TGN's silvertip which will be different from Muhle's silvertip, etc., and so on.

And Pixelfixed's advice is excellent. If you're at all handy, make your own handle. There are few things more satisfying (for me at least) than shaving with a blade I restored that was stropped on a strop I made, after lathering with a brush whose handle I have carved/turned.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you...

I'm not a holy roller, but I've grown to believe that based on my own experience... particularly experience in the wet-shaving world.

See those three razors in my avatar image: one I bought at a flea market for a song. While I might like to buy a new $100 razor, I can't afford that now, as I'm investing most of my resources into my new company, and am living fairly lean. But, $15 I could comfortably afford. So, I asked what to do with it -- and someone simply offered to hone it, out of his joy of honing. He gave me a loaner razor, while he was working on that one, and then said: keep it, I've got more than enough, and, oh, bye the way, try out this other one I'll loan you. Those three razors I'm learning SR with, are pretty much just because I'd inquired, seeking the most inexpensive way to learn and share the joy.

Someone PIF'd me some gear a few months back, just because he liked my questions about it. I enjoyed it, and am PIFing it back to the community. I couldn't really justify the expense to buy it, and wouldn't have experienced it out without his kindness.

No one needs to do traditional wet-shaving. We could all just shave with Gillette Mach Whatevers, lather with goo, and not use brushes -- like most of the rest of the world. Like I did until six months ago. Six months ago I had no interest in nor desire to use a shaving brush, and had you asked me, would have laughed, and thought it a joke. Now, due to the kindness of strangers, I'm trying to figure out how to buy a second brush, and spend up to $30 on it. And, I give my business to community minded artisans and businesses, as well. I like to help those who help, too. And, while I may wonder about Mr. Chen, and may ultimately buy from him, chances are I'll end up buying from TGN, or from Whipped Dog, from whom I got my strop kit, and who provides great advice and guidance free, just for asking. Certainly if not this time, then again soon.

I find much of this scene, and the market which grows out of this interest and passion, exists because of community spirit and passion. It barely existed, from what I gather, for decades. Once people are jazzed and engaged, and have the money, then they buy more and more kit as they can. If it weren't for kind and generous community spirited members and hobbyists simply giving of themselves, PIFing and helping out newbies and those who may not be able to afford, there'd be much, much less of a market for the artisans. I have no problem paying for stuff as I can. I mean, I've spent at least a hundred bucks, on things like artisanal soaps (because that's a low cost to entry) -- money those soap makers would not have made unless someone had PIF'd me some razors. I'm constantly helping out those who ask for it -- anyone who asks me for help gets what I can give. Even the begger in the street should help if another begger asks, is what I've learned. If more of us did it, there'd be fewer beggers in the street.

This entire scene exists to a very large degree because of passion and charitable community minded behavior, and I say to that: amen, I'm glad to have found it and be part of it.

Thanks again, everyone, for providing that spirit and community, here on SRP!

very eloquant Mr Rosenburg.wish well in your search.

I as well have ordered knots from Mr. Chen, and the waiting is accurate. I came close to canceling the order, but he shipped it 2 days before the order expired. And shipping took awhile, too. As far as quality, I am in the middle of testing one of his knots against its TGN counterpart. As of now I am leaning towards the TGN knot.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

very eloquant Mr Rosenburg.wish well in your search.

Thanks for your kindness, Bill. Much appreciated.