Custom brush in Badger/Titanium/Maple

**HollyGates** · 05-01-2012, 09:59 AM

Just finished my first custom brush. I've made myself a strop and shaving soap, so I thought a brush would be a good thing to do next. The home made straight is in the works but its going to take a while!

The knot is 22mm Super Badger from The Golden Nib. Handle is maple finished with oil and wax, secured to an aluminum disk with a stainless M4 flat head cap screw. These are pressed and glued into a piece of titanium tubing which I lasered a little design into. The knot is set in epoxy.

Haven't actually used it yet since I just put the wax on the handle this morning, but I'm excited to give it a try. Up to now I've been using a horsehair brush a guy from B&B PIF'd me. It works well and its all I know, but I want to experience the luxury and efficient lathering which badger brushes are purported to offer.

I made a little transport case for it out of bigger Ti tubing.

There is a construction journal and more pics at my blog, if you are interested in more details.

Click image for larger version.

Name: IMG_6104.jpg
Views: 229
Size: 36.3 KB
ID: 240184

Click image for larger version.

Name: IMG_6095.jpg
Views: 230
Size: 38.7 KB
ID: 240185

Click image for larger version.

Name: IMG_6088-1.jpg
Views: 229
Size: 35.3 KB
ID: 240186

**global_dev** · 05-01-2012, 10:10 AM

very, cool... enjoyed the write-up as well

**Hammertime1** · 05-01-2012, 10:51 AM

very nice!!!!! I have two Knots in need of handles. I'm set up for making strops, scales and razors but no turning equipment right now. I am waiting on a deal but don't expect it to happen for months as slow as the guy is on selling me his vintage metal lathe, every accessory, and tool etc needed to be up and operational without even a need to buy anything else for it. once in a life tide deal with amount of accessories so I know better off waiting. really want to get the handles turned too.
I love the case you made. very nicely done!!!!!!!!!

**seizure** · 05-01-2012, 02:03 PM

I want that case...

Awesome work!

**Pkrankow** · 05-01-2012, 02:22 PM

Excellent knot in a beautiful handle. Be prepared to find it different, not necessarily better, than the horse hair. I think you will really enjoy this brush.

Phil

**hig789** · 05-01-2012, 02:28 PM

Wow now that is very nice.

**FL shaver** · 05-01-2012, 07:04 PM

Fantastic design!

**GDCarrington** · 05-01-2012, 08:10 PM

Interesting design. Excellent look!

**byscott** · 05-01-2012, 09:23 PM

Titanium ... I am fully impressed. I draw the line at 316 stainless, and don't really even have the patience for that.

Great work!

**HollyGates** · 05-02-2012, 09:03 AM

Thanks for the compliments everyone! I used this brush last night for the first time. Keep in mind I've only been wet shaving for a month, and have only ever used my one PIFd secondhand horsehair brush. The badger was much different. For one it was so soft on my face, which was very nice. It also made good lather faster in the bowl and the handle was comfortable to use. On the other hand it seemed to blow up like a big badger balloon, full of lather. So much so that I felt like most of the usual amount of lather I make ended up in the brush instead of the bowl. Brushing it on my face didn't seem to really make it come out of the lather balloon. I kind of scraped it off on the side of the bowl, then picked it up with the top of the brush again and applied it to my face. I think I'll have to start using a bit more cream and water though, to make enough lather to saturate the brush and leave enough in the bowl. Probably just a matter of getting used to the behavior of it vs. the horsehair.

@byscott - working with the titanium wasn't difficult, all I did was cut it to length and sand/buff it. I don't think stainless would have been much different. I purposely didn't try to make a design which required me to machine the tubing much since I thought that might be a pain with the Ti. The tubing itself was also pretty cheap. The only reason I used it instead of stainless is mostly because it seemed cool. The carrying tube would be significantly heavier in stainless too. Laser marking would actually be better on stainless and I wouldn't need to use the Cermark spray.