custom shavemac design..what do you think?

[xivex]

So after seeing all these wonderful custom Shavemacs I decided I need one!

I've been talking with Bernd at Shavemac about a custom brush. We've decided to create a custom badger brush with the following specs:

- 24mm knot D01 hair (most of my existing brushes are 22-23mm knots, so I'd like to try something a hair bigger)
- 50mm loft (I want a dense thick backbone'y brush..what do you think about this loft?)
- handle shape 173 (like Ambrose's custom)
- extreme fan shaped flat top hair (most of my brushes are bulbs or fan'ish bulbs, so I really wanted to try the extreme flat top like Ambrose had)
- genuine horn handle

Handle 173 for reference:
1_image_500[1].jpg

What do you all think? I will use this brush mostly for face lathering soaps, but would also like it be able to be used with Creams and to be bowl lathered.

Any comments or suggestions? I haven't pulled the trigger yet as we are waiting for the photo of the 173 shaped handles in genuine horn to be emailed so I can pick which handle I want (Bernd said probably Tuesday they will arrive). I'm totally stoked! Can't wait!

In the mean time, here's some of the genuine horn handles he has in stock at the moment...mine will be similar in appearance, but shaped in the 173 shape handle (ambrose's handle). The 173 handle looks so ergonomic and distinct, I really dig it!

horn_samples.jpg

[jwhiskercut]

Man those genuine horn handles made me


I'm not an expert, but if you set it with a slightly lower loft, would it give you more 'backbone'? Either way, sounds and looks like a great setup. The handle you chose is nice. Different is always cool!

[kooshman7]

I have the same handle and I liked the looks and still do. I still haven't found the best grip for me with the brush. On pure looks I love the brush!

I also love the extreme flat top knot as I have one as well. If you love face lathering you get to feel the entire brush working on your face. Other brushes you can feel a lot too, but when pressed to the face the hairs all have contact, not just most.

Mine is a 23mm knot /45mm loft and even at such a short loft the brush has a monster bloom when dried. It act's much bigger than its size indicates as the shape of the brush lets it splay outwards quite easily. My brush is D01 hair. I know ambrose chose the 2-band D01 and even with a stiffer hair and a slightly lower loft size it still blooms quite a bit. Not sure which hair grade you're going to select, but at 50mm it's going to be larger in use than it appears. Just one thing I've observed with this type of knot.

You got a fine start to choosing one though! The handle looks like it's going to be very very nice!

[Gruder]

+1 on shorter loft. Can't wait to see the handle you choose!

[huntmol]

I'd say if you're going for a flat brush shape you should lower the loft down to 44mm.

Looks like it's going to be a beauty though, be sure to post pictures when it arrives!

[xivex]

+1 on shorter loft. Can't wait to see the handle you choose!

Thanks for the responses guys. Bernd was telling me to keep it at 50mm loft with the 24mm knot else it will be too hard and scritchy. I thought it might need to be smaller too....I'll talk to him and see what we can come up with. What about 48mm brush loft?

Thanks,

X

[huntmol]

46mm. I won't go any higher!

[xivex]

46mm. I won't go any higher!

Well my CH1 is 23mm/47mm so I'm thinking I'd like something a bit taller in loft. However, with the fan shape maybe it does need to be shorter as the CH1 is bulb shaped and has more backbone due to the bulb I believe, so with the fan, maybe shorter loft is needed?

[Ignatius]

Thanks for the responses guys. Bernd was telling me to keep it at 50mm loft with the 24mm knot else it will be too hard and scritchy. I thought it might need to be smaller too....I'll talk to him and see what we can come up with. What about 48mm brush loft?

Thanks,

X

I'd listen to Bernd. Not a fan of the super short brushes.

[huntmol]

Well my CH1 is 23mm/47mm so I'm thinking I'd like something a bit taller in loft. However, with the fan shape maybe it does need to be shorter as the CH1 is bulb shaped and has more backbone due to the bulb I believe, so with the fan, maybe shorter loft is needed?

Bingo. With a fan (and even more so with a flat) brush shape, the brush will feel much larger on the face, and bloom more. So a bulb-shaped brush with a 50mm loft will feel about the same size as a fan-shaped brush with a 46mm loft.

I'd listen to Bernd. Not a fan of the super short brushes.

That's a valid point - not everyone loves short lofted brushes, as they can have less flow-through than brushes with taller lofts.
However, my personal preference is a brush with a lot of backbone, so my perfect brush is a fan shaped brush with a 44m loft. I recently sold my beloved 21mm knot/50mm loft D01 Shavemac because it felt floppy to me.

[ambrose]

oh very nice

a horn handle in that style oh you sick man you, I want one too

Keep us posted, I agree with a shorter loft, mines a 22 extra dense 42 height beastly!!