Thread: Knot Sources Pros Cons

Originally Posted by UKRob

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.

What size was the knot Rob?
I prefer bulb shaped knots as well but I noticed that the same size knot from different makers can feel and look smaller or bigger for the particular size. For example I had a 4125/2 Thater , a 26mm bulb, that looked and felt like a 24mm. I also currently have a 26mm Shavemac bulb that looks a lot bigger and is similar to the 28mm knots I have fron TGN when in use. I have a 28mm Thater silver tip, but I find that the 4125/4 , a 30mm bulb, is my most preferred size from that maker. Overall for me for bulb shaped knots 28mm is the minimum size I would go for.
I have very limited experience with fan shaped knots but a 26mm seems to be a good size for me.

Here a pic of the Shavemac and the TGN knots together for comparison purposes.

Originally Posted by mainaman

What size was the knot Rob?
I prefer bulb shaped knots as well but I noticed that the same size knot from different makers can feel and look smaller or bigger for the particular size. For example I had a 4125/2 Thater , a 26mm bulb, that looked and felt like a 24mm. I also currently have a 26mm Shavemac bulb that looks a lot bigger and is similar to the 28mm knots I have fron TGN when in use. I have a 28mm Thater silver tip, but I find that the 4125/4 , a 30mm bulb, is my most preferred size from that maker. Overall for me for bulb shaped knots 28mm is the minimum size I would go for.
I have very limited experience with fan shaped knots but a 26mm seems to be a good size for me.

Here a pic of the Shavemac and the TGN knots together for comparison purposes.

It's 24mm, set at 48mm - and truly bulb shaped, which means that the hair at the outer edge is quite short. I think it's a combination of the shape and short loft which makes this knot feel small to me. I do have mostly 26mm and that's fine - but comparing shapes, the Shavemac is much rounder than anything else I have.

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?

Yes, intrigued and not disputing that myself. Is it possible that instead of settling the hair in the forming tube on a flat surface that they are settled on a curved surface? Then hand tied to keep the shape before being glued after which the hand ties can be removed. All you would be left with is a flat bottomed glue plug.

That then begs the question of how flat top knots are arrived at.

Bob

Watch the videos in the order they are posted ..... top one first .......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vH3zx1a9R4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZziZnOCBdLQ

Originally Posted by Pithor

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.

I do not get why are you bringing Robin and his argument in my post? I am talking about Shavemac here, not a word about Thater that I can see. The fact that the plug looks different than any other plug we have seen means something whether you want to accept it or not.

Originally Posted by mainaman

I do not get why are you bringing Robin and his argument in my post? I am talking about Shavemac here, not a word about Thater that I can see. The fact that the plug looks different than any other plug we have seen means something whether you want to accept it or not.

You mentioned that the Shavemac knot has a 'differently looking plug', which I assumed meant "different from the Thäter knot in question", hence referring to the manufacturing process of both makers. If you didn't mean to refer to Thäter, I made a false assumption that led to me saying something irrelevant, that's all. I didn't mean to rip it out of context, as I thought it was in context. My bad.

Originally Posted by mainaman

The fact that the plug looks different than any other plug we have seen means something whether you want to accept it or not.

Sure, it may mean something. I have no idea what, though. I cannot tell much about the preceding manufacturing process by looking at the plug, except that, at some point, they used grey plug material. How that says anything about the quality of the knot compared to knots with different plugs is beyond me.

Shavemac have a great track record, and I trust that they are truthful about their product. I find those two things a much clearer way of determining manufacturing process and quality than by looking at the plug on one knot.

I knew what you meant, Pithor!

If you guys watch the two videos I posted @ post # 74 you'll see how Simpson, and probably all the rest of them, shape the knot, bulb or fan, and how they tie it. Appears any trimming is done at the bottom, none at the top.

OK - between them Jimmy's and Pithors links explain a lot. Even though I've looked at the Simpsons clip a few times I only realised just what was going on this time - the bulb is produced in the former when being tapped down and the trimming that you see taking place after tying with string, is evening up the base. I always had that upside down.

Originally Posted by Pithor

You mentioned that the Shavemac knot has a 'differently looking plug', which I assumed meant "different from the Thäter knot in question", hence referring to the manufacturing process of both makers. If you didn't mean to refer to Thäter, I made a false assumption that led to me saying something irrelevant, that's all. I didn't mean to rip it out of context, as I thought it was in context. My bad.

You are correct that your assumption was wrong, I did not compare to Thater. I meant that the the plug looks different, it is gray as opposed to the typical beige variation and the shape is different.

We have no information on what a Thater knot looks like straight from the bench therefore no claims can be made about their process, we can only take their word for it. Their products are high quality therefore I have no reason to doubt what they say.

Sure, it may mean something. I have no idea what, though.

It means that they are not made in China or we would see other vendors carry similar knots.

I cannot tell much about the preceding manufacturing process by looking at the plug, except that, at some point, they used grey plug material.

You do not know that unless you have any proof otherwise. For all we know they use gray epoxy all the time since we have no other example that this is not the case. All I said is that the plug looks different and that is a fact.

How that says anything about the quality of the knot compared to knots with different plugs is beyond me.

It means that they are not made in China or we would see other vendors carry similar knots. No one is comparing knot qualities by the looks of the plug, get real please. I said it is a quality knot not that it is better than other knots just because the plug looks different. I have a Shavemac brush so I speak from experience, not just from the pretty looks of a knot.

Shavemac have a great track record, and I trust that they are truthful about their product. I find those two things a much clearer way of determining manufacturing process and quality than by looking at the plug on one knot.

Truthful or not, their brushes are extremely good value for the money IMHO.