Thread: Knot Sources Pros Cons

Originally Posted by BobH

I refuse to buy a Thater brush for that very reason, it seems to be on his list.

Bob

Bob, don't forget to add Ralf Aust, Revisor, Meißner Tremonia, Green Mountain Soap, Castle Forbes, Baume.be, Straight Razor Designs strops, Scrupleworks strops and coticules to your Boycott List.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Bob, don't forget to add Ralf Aust, Revisor, Meißner Tremonia, Green Mountain Soap, Castle Forbes, Baume.be, Straight Razor Designs strops, Scrupleworks strops and coticules to your Boycott List.

To late on some of those as I already had them, namely a Revisor razor and one CF shave cream. I can easily do without any of those products that you have listed. I am also sure just as it is no hardship for me that it is also no hardship for any of the makers either. That is not the point though. Simply put, ich hat mein nase voll .

Bob

Atta Boy, Bob!

Originally Posted by BobH

I refuse to buy a Thater brush for that very reason, it seems to be on his list.

Bob

It would be a shame to not try a Thater if you get the chance Bob. I have a 26mm fan in 2 band finest and it's a really nice brush. All this recent talk of knots has sparked my interest in the high end market - Rooney, Morris & Forndran, Simpson, Thater etc.etc. - but there does seem to be a lack of clarity as to who owns what names and just whose knots get into other names of brushes.

Over at The Shaving Room there was a recent limited edition Shavemac brush with options of bulb or fan shape - most people went for the fan and are raving about how good it is. Unfortunately, I went with the bulb and find the overall knot is just too small for my liking - either that, or the old YMMV think has worked against me this time.

Originally Posted by UKRob

It would be a shame to not try a Thater if you get the chance Bob. I have a 26mm fan in 2 band finest and it's a really nice brush. All this recent talk of knots has sparked my interest in the high end market - Rooney, Morris & Forndran, Simpson, Thater etc.etc. - but there does seem to be a lack of clarity as to who owns what names and just whose knots get into other names of brushes.

Over at The Shaving Room there was a recent limited edition Shavemac brush with options of bulb or fan shape - most people went for the fan and are raving about how good it is. Unfortunately, I went with the bulb and find the overall knot is just too small for my liking - either that, or the old YMMV think has worked against me this time.

No shame really as there are quite a few nice brushes to be had besides Thater and that is not to be misconstrued as a knock on Thater either. I do have a Simpsons Manchurian Jubilee brush that I just love for a badger brush. It;s a smaller knot about 22mm and is a fan shape. I think that with a fan shaped knot you can get away with a brush 1 size smaller than you normally like in a bulb shape. So yes, personal preference has a great deal to with what size, shape and badger grade you like. Truly a YMMV thing.

Bob

Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Attachment 215809

Here's a Thater knot. From what I can see, it's not hand tied. It's base is held together by an epoxy plug. A second type of epoxy is surrounding it, which means it is inserted into the handle at a different time. I believe Simpson doe this step all at one time.

And an epoxy plug rules out hand tying exactly how? I have no knowledge of or experience with making brush knots, but hand selecting hairs, hand forming them (without cutting), tying them in a knot, then adding epoxy and removing the hand-tied string seems like a viable way of making a brush that has both an epoxy plug while being hand-tied.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Here is a Shavemac knot that I am having installed in a custom handle soon. Notice the differently looking plug, those are indeed made in house knots of high quality if one is willing to pay the price.Attachment 215811Attachment 215812

Great looking knot. Still, a plug is a plug. But that is here nor there, as judging the entire knot-making process that preceded the final product by only seeing the finished product (and only one) is conjecture at best. Which, I think, was one of the main issues Robin took with HarryWally's post concerning the Thäter knot. This conjecture brought into question Thäter's manufacturing process based on one final product specimen; a process that Thäter pride themselves in as being high quality and done by hand.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I have no knowledge of or experience with making brush knots, but hand selecting hairs, hand forming them (without cutting), tying them in a knot,

I'm intrigued by the statements that brushes can be shaped without cutting - note I said intrigued not disputing.

Take a look at my avatar - it's a Thater fan and my most used brush. You will notice that the length of the black is constant but the white part of each hair varies - how is that possible if no cutting is involved?

Originally Posted by UKRob

I'm intrigued by the statements that brushes can be shaped without cutting - note I said intrigued not disputing.

Take a look at my avatar - it's a Thater fan and my most used brush. You will notice that the length of the black is constant but the white part of each hair varies - how is that possible if no cutting is involved?

Easily: when looking at a brush, you are looking at the outermost layer of hair. The hair towards the centre of the knot is set higher.

I was talking about the trimming of the tips, by the way.

Originally Posted by Pithor

Easily: when looking at a brush, you are looking at the outermost layer of hair. The hair towards the centre of the knot is set higher.

I was talking about the trimming of the tips, by the way.

I had considered that - but certainly based on how Simpsons tie their knots, it's not possible. Take a look at their video and you will see that the hairs are stacked evenly, then tied. In order for a fan (or bulb) shape to be formed without trimming, the hairs would have to be stacked upside down in a former, then cut off evenly at the base.

When I get a chance tonight I'll take a look and see if the white part on each hair is the same length, or whether the inner hair has the longest white part then diminishes towards the outer edge. If that's the case then I would say the hairs have been trimmed into shape.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

mainaman,

Is the Shavemac knot divided into small bundles of hair, then set in the plug?
It's a great looking knot, by the way. Thanks for sharing the pic.

The hairs look evenly distributed in the plug, I don't see bundles of hair.