Quote Originally Posted by SingingSteel View Post

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.