I guess I am lucky because the 2 badger brushes I have owned (Tweezerman and Simpsons Duke 3) have had that badger smell when new, but lost the odor pretty quickly after one or two regular uses. At least it doesn't smell like RazoRock XXX. I'd take the smell of dead badger over the cheesy cologne smell of that cream any day!
I Smell Dead Badger
- Thread starter Azarius
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #22
Hey Ted,
If the brush doesn't lose the smell after this round of Bigelow, I am going to try the Vinegar and Water soak. I try to avoid vinegar as it produces a gag reflex in me, but I can always have my wife add it to the mug for soaking.
The only way I can describe this smell is like bad taxidermy. If you have ever been to a hunters home that has had bad taxidermy work, you will know the smell.
My guess is that these brushes use very cheaply made Chinese badger knots, so who knows if the fur was tanned properly. My guess that was why it leeched so much of the brown liquid, was too many tannins where used to preserve the fur.
We will see how it goes. Just a little shocked that it smelled so bad. I had just checked on it, and right now all I can smell is the Bigelow.
i like the smell, it still lingers at times, my horsehais really had some dyes, but they look and smell like a soapy animal, beautiful
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
The VDH badger brushes are made from only the hair from the badger's butt crack. This is a superior hair, better than the rump hair used in most black badger brushes, into which nature has designed many attributes desireable in a shave brush. Unfortunately, due to the location, foreign matter can be a problem. Thus, the smell. Badgers are known for having a foul disposition, and part of that attitude comes from smelling their poo which is unfortunately very rank. Claws, as well as the lack of opposable thumbs, makes badger hygeine a bit dicey. So, your brush will probably take a bit of work before it no longer smells like the part of the badger from whence it came. Good luck, and happy shaves.
I know the smell and I've smelled it in brushes, but I don't know if tannins are used for making fur products like a shaving brush since the skin isn't used.
Luckily, none of my synthetic brushes have had any odor whatsoever. Must've been because of the animals they came from. I did, however, catch sub-cutaneous anthrax from one. ;-)
Steve
Steve
Not to belabor the point, your original quote finished with "...washed out and allowed to soak..." which you omitted when questioning Reader Comprehension.
Secondly, the Vintage knot you poured kettle water over may have had some kind of ceramic/Plaster of Paris securing the Hair. This was my experience when restoring a Vintage Brush and drilling out the original knot. The Epoxies used today may not be as resistant to high temperatures, and I'd think lower quality epoxies are the norm in inexpensive Modern Brushes. Just my opinion.
If you are soaking it in your shaving mug, just a dash of vinegar will do --- maybe a teaspoon?
I've had a brush like that from Lee before. At first lather, the water ran brown and it definitely had a funk to it. The only M&F I have had that with, but it went away quickly. My dad got an AOS kit from my mom, just for fun, and his brush was HORRIBLE. Bad enough that I am certain he hasn't used it again. I tried to leave one of mine with him, but I think he was so put off by the experience and smell that he won't try again. Shame.
I've had a brush like that from Lee before. At first lather, the water ran brown and it definitely had a funk to it. The only M&F I have had that with, but it went away quickly. My dad got an AOS kit from my mom, just for fun, and his brush was HORRIBLE. Bad enough that I am certain he hasn't used it again. I tried to leave one of mine with him, but I think he was so put off by the experience and smell that he won't try again. Shame.
My AoS was was the opposite....I have the silvertip and it was perfect right out of the box.
So bro..did the smell go away after another treatment of Bigelow????
I'd take it back to Target ... get your Money Back!
This happens with some brushes. My Parker best badger was super funky, and was dirty as could be, brown water while rinsing it out and all. A recent brush I built using a TGN knot wasn't too funky, but did turn water a bit yellow while cleaning (nothing harsh..just standard tap water and shave soap..no soaking). Some brushes are just dirty/funky when you get them.
- Thread starter
- #32
Well after another night of allowing "the magic to happen", it smells about 95% better than it did yesterday. When I rinsed it out tonight here was no strong smell or brown hershey squirt looking water...so those are both good signs.
Just worked up another lather and allowing it to set again overnight, maybe tomorrow I will be brave enough to try it.
Hey James...that is good to know, note to self, do not purchase Parker brushes. I have been looking at both TGN knots, and ones shipped direct from China to re-knot two of my old brushes. I must admit, ths whole experince has turned my stomach. I may just list PIF them and get a nice Omega Boar, or Synthetic Brush.
I had a brush that really smelled bad, and honestly I wondered if it wasn't the glue and not the animal. When I put it under water the brush had bubbles eminating from the handle, suggesting to me that the attachment of the hair to the handle was the problem. I was also thinking a possibility was dye on the badger hair, trying to make it look like a higher end brush than it really was.
Is it always the hair? With a couple of exceptions there was no offensive odor from the start on brushes purchased.
Is this true or sarcasm, I can't tell? Are we really rubbing badger *** hair all over our faces? This just seems absurd.
PS. note my title under my name!
- Thread starter
- #35
You know John, you are probably correct in your assumption about the glue and dyes. My company used to import guitar cases from China before we got into the software business, and I recall we had more than one shipment where the OEM company had switched glue and dye, and the cases smelled bad.
Hey Dusty...it was sarcasm, kind of funny actually.
Return it
Dan, don't skimp. Go with the TGN knots. They are almost odor-free and only need a shampooing/lathering or two to get going. It's good that you're thinking of re-knotting your old brushes. As much as I dislike the ER 100 handle I just re-knotted, I'm liking my TGN knot in it more and more daily. Good luck!
The Vulfix Pure Badger I just got from italianbarber.com had a very nice, clean, fresh pelt smell to it. I just washed it with my DW's shampoo and conditioner (don't tell), and it was perfect. And I only paid $23 for that one. I've just got it in the mail today so it's not even broken in good yet. Still worlds apart from the VDH boar.
- Thread starter
- #40
The VDH was useable today and surprisingly it held more than three passes of lather.
Here is the first brush that I want to re-knot
Here is the first brush that I want to re-knot
