Thread: Brad Sears Shaveworks brush

That brush handle is beautiful!

Originally Posted by shadowman12

I sent an e-mail to Lee because it's my first knot from him and I doubt if it is wise to cut the black hairs in the knot.

I have found the darker/stiffer fibers in nearly all badger (and boar) knots, no matter what the price. Natural fiber knots are produced from thousands of hairs, so it is not at all unusual to find a dozen or so of the dark hairs. The knot makers do not attempt to go through and pick them out. In fact, some brushmakers might even add stiffer fibers to increase back bone of the brush.

Because my face does not like these stiffer hairs, I clip the tips off every dark hair I see, even in expensive brushes. As long as you do not attempt to pull the entire hair out, you will not damage the knot. By cutting of only about 1/4" off the tip of the dark hairs, you can improve the face feel of the brush without affecting the backbone or lathering capacity of the brush. There is no risk of damaging the brush.

Originally Posted by RayClem

I have found the darker/stiffer fibers in nearly all badger (and boar) knots, no matter what the price. Natural fiber knots are produced from thousands of hairs, so it is not at all unusual to find a dozen or so of the dark hairs. The knot makers do not attempt to go through and pick them out. In fact, some brushmakers might even add stiffer fibers to increase back bone of the brush.

Because my face does not like these stiffer hairs, I clip the tips off every dark hair I see, even in expensive brushes. As long as you do not attempt to pull the entire hair out, you will not damage the knot. By cutting of only about 1/4" off the tip of the dark hairs, you can improve the face feel of the brush without affecting the backbone or lathering capacity of the brush. There is no risk of damaging the brush.

I must admit, after a couple of more shaves the knot feels much nicer and already a bit less scrubby, which I'm very pleased with. Don't need to cut any any of the scrubby hairs, knot is starting to feel just right as for now.

By the way, have you ever tried Declaration Grooming knots, they don't have that all. Probably because Scott has quite an intensive qc process before he sens out his knots.

I do have one knot that has absolutely no scrub or scritch. It is the Magard Super High density two band badger.

Originally Posted by RayClem

I do have one knot that has absolutely no scrub or scritch. It is the Magard Super High density two band badger.

Declarations are the same in my opinion or even better, and hand-tied by Scott Stewart from Declaration Grooming. I have experienced 5 knots from him from different batches and no scrub or scritch at all. His has 4/5 weeks lead time for his knotting service, so he is very bizzy and populair in the shaving community.