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

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 Raven312

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.

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!

I have a couple of Frank Shaving brushes, they came pretty quickly, and I like them a lot.

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 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

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...