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

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!

Look into Franks shaving brushes guys rave about them here and I believe there very well priced .

Dunno what to tell you about handles. What I would say about the knot is that a short loft (height of the bristles from the top of the handle to the top of the bristles) and the diameter of the knot at the base, (where the knot/handle juncture is) will have an impact on how the brush performs and feels on your face.

In general a two band will be scrubbier than a standard knot. A short loft will also be scrubbier, if it is scrubby at all, but I have found taller lofts that are scrubby amongst higher grades. Backbone is also a consideration. Again 'in general' a taller loft may be 'floppy' but not necessarily.

Thicker diameter can add to backbone but it also, IME, can make it more difficult for the knot to release lather, and use more soap. I think 23mm is a nice compromise, though I have a couple 26mm knots that are real good. Just IMHO.

If you order the knot from Mr Chen, be prepared to wait at least a month. He is not the fastest shipper, nor is he a very good communicator. Obviously, this comes from experience... I cannot tell you if the product is worth the wait, as I have not received my knots from him yet.

Tweezerman brush is very good for $10-15.
Really lathers very well and nice and scratchy stiff.

it's hard to give general advice on brushes because there are no standards so what one maker calls a finest or super or 2 band or Manchurian may bear little resemblance to what another calls it. The best bet is either sample some yourself if you have a retailer nearby or go by what the members say based on their experience.

Yeah, I've heard it's one month shipping from the misty mountains of Hubei. Dealing with Chinese badger (farmers/breeders/trappers?) is all about cutting out middlemen and cost, which means you also cut out English language skills and customer service.

Originally Posted by Raven312

If you order the knot from Mr Chen, be prepared to wait at least a month. He is not the fastest shipper, nor is he a very good communicator. Obviously, this comes from experience... I cannot tell you if the product is worth the wait, as I have not received my knots from him yet.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

Yeah, I've heard it's one month shipping from the misty mountains of Hubei. Dealing with Chinese badger (farmers/breeders/trappers?) is all about cutting out middlemen and cost, which means you also cut out English language skills and customer service.

He seems to speak English well enough; he just doesn't keep his word. His feedback was marginal compared to others I looked at but knowing that I wouldn't lose the money made me adventurous. I'm hanging in there because I have several brushes and this order is for a couple of restores. I'm hoping it turns out to be a nice product.

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 CaliforniaCajun

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.

Yeah, this is the approach which seems increasingly attractive and feasible. The wait from Chen is long, and his business practices get mixed reviews, and the price isn't so much less than TGN. Thisisclog reports TGN knots seem at least a bit superior. I'm also leaning a bit more toward backbone, for which the double band finest seems superior to the silvertips, from what I read. That was also the appeal of the manchurian.

I like the idea of a vintage handle, but also find myself increasingly motivated by my exchange with PixelFixed, and his exhortation to go do it myself. I'll put out the word and see if perhaps any neighbors or friends have lathes.

Escaping from price control was part of what started me down this road, and being able to do ever more myself is part of the appeal of SR shaving. Don't need cartridges anymore. Nor any disposable razor blades. I suspect within a year, I'll be honing my own. And, of course, honing others', and teaching them, just as I now teach others about wet-shaving, out of love. So why not make my own handles, and not have to buy those anymore, either? Cangooner's got that right, too.

Anyone have any recommendations on which of the knots on TGN's finest page to go with?

Thanks!