Brush Acquisition Thread

[eezee]

I just got in this Simpson Sovereign Trafalgar T2.

It performed very well indeed, however, it's just a bit stiff compared to a Muhle STF I have. Maybe the T3 would have been less stiff? Not sure. Anyway, an excellent brush and a nice addition to the rotation!!

 

[GR5233]

I just got in this Simpson Sovereign Trafalgar T2.

It performed very well indeed, however, it's just a bit stiff compared to a Muhle STF I have. Maybe the T3 would have been less stiff? Not sure. Anyway, an excellent brush and a nice addition to the rotation!!
View attachment 1966868
View attachment 1966869

Some synthetics need a breaking in period to loosen up. The Simpson Chubby and Trafalgar series are both notorious for that

 

[m949]

New brush received for Christmas. Trigodon - Fortitudinem a Leonis. Lovely and incredibly soft synthetic fibers with a knot size of 23mm and loft of 58mm. Lathers up a storm and will be perfect for face lathering. The handle is quite heavy but lies very nicely in hand. This is probably my softest brush so far and a very good one.

 

[helicopter]

I picked up a Cherry SOC in boar for $35. I have one of these in Finest Badger, so I know the handle, and I still haven't tried Semogue boar.

 

[emwolf]

I picked up a Cherry SOC in boar for $35. I have one of these in Finest Badger, so I know the handle, and I still haven't tried Semogue boar.

View attachment 1967970

Not a big boar user, but I've got a few in the den and this is one of my favorite boar brushes ever.

 

[Mr. Shavington]

I just got this two-band badger from Smart-Helix in Ukraine. Handle is made from white oak. It’s also nice to buy something when you know the purchase will make a difference for the manufacturer and his family in the toughest of circumstances.

 

[Flanders]

It’s also nice to buy something when you know the purchase will make a difference for the manufacturer and his family in the toughest of circumstances.

It also helps that it looks like it has a nice comfy knot, if a bit low for you. Unique piece.

 

[Pat Puma]

Trout and Derby handle with a Declaration B3. This thing looks like a pool cue.

View attachment 1965917

And with a little bloom on it after the first use.

 

[Mustard Seed]

Simpson Eagle 3 Best Badger

 

[ChiefBroom]

This is in reference to my new Oumo brush handle in ebonite.


View attachment 1964020


There's been some discussion here and elsewhere about ebonite. See the thread above, which is partially quoted below.





This was their response...


View attachment 1964017


I'm not sure what to make of it.

I've asked a follow up question of Oumo...



View attachment 1964025


Anything else I should ask them?

Happy shaves,

Jim

See Dark Holler Design Works preview - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/dark-holler-design-works-preview.420972/ for what I'm pretty sure is the first post and related discussion anywhere regarding the use of Ebonite in making shaving brush handles. There is also relevant information on our website. I think it might be out of bounds for me to include external links here, so I'll do that in our Vendor space (Regarding Ebonite - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/regarding-ebonite.662134/#post-12952898). FWIW, we've made hundreds of shaving brushes with Ebonite handles over the past 10 years. I'd guess that's well more than the production of all other makers combined. I still have many of the handles we turned in 2014 and 2015. We keep them in a cabinet out of light, and they they look like they did when they were new.

In the early days we did several experiments testing Ebonite in machining, storage, and use. We also had discussions with our main producer in Germany. The first Ebonite we sourced came from Japan; however, we learned quickly that the Ebonite made in Germany is significantly superior to any other we found. It's also more expensive.

I've used Ebonite-handles brushes extensively and never noticed any issue resulting from exposure to water other than very hot water. Exposure to light over definitely alters surface characteristics. We've achieved good results restoring some handles for customers who didn't take the care we do in maintaining ours. There's some know-how involved in that.

 

[DownSouthShaver]

just got a new, inexpensive Omega boar because I only have an inexpensive badger brush (which I really enjoy), and wanted to see what a boar was like. I must admit that I thought it would be scratchy, but it is quite soft. Great addition to the den for under 20 bucks. Good to know that this hobby doesn't have to break the bank!!

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

See Dark Holler Design Works preview - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/dark-holler-design-works-preview.420972/ for what I'm pretty sure is the first post and related discussion anywhere regarding the use of Ebonite in making shaving brush handles. There is also relevant information on our website. I think it might be out of bounds for me to include external links here, so I'll do that in our Vendor space (Regarding Ebonite - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/regarding-ebonite.662134/#post-12952898). FWIW, we've made hundreds of shaving brushes with Ebonite handles over the past 10 years. I'd guess that's well more than the production of all other makers combined. I still have many of the handles we turned in 2014 and 2015. We keep them in a cabinet out of light, and they they look like they did when they were new.

In the early days we did several experiments testing Ebonite in machining, storage, and use. We also had discussions with our main producer in Germany. The first Ebonite we sourced came from Japan; however, we learned quickly that the Ebonite made in Germany is significantly superior to any other we found. It's also more expensive.

I've used Ebonite-handles brushes extensively and never noticed any issue resulting from exposure to water other than very hot water. Exposure to light over definitely alters surface characteristics. We've achieved good results restoring some handles for customers who didn't take the care we do in maintaining ours. There's some know-how involved in that.

Thank you so much for all that great experience based information.

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[Rudy Vey]

See Dark Holler Design Works preview - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/dark-holler-design-works-preview.420972/ for what I'm pretty sure is the first post and related discussion anywhere regarding the use of Ebonite in making shaving brush handles. There is also relevant information on our website. I think it might be out of bounds for me to include external links here, so I'll do that in our Vendor space (Regarding Ebonite - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/regarding-ebonite.662134/#post-12952898). FWIW, we've made hundreds of shaving brushes with Ebonite handles over the past 10 years. I'd guess that's well more than the production of all other makers combined. I still have many of the handles we turned in 2014 and 2015. We keep them in a cabinet out of light, and they they look like they did when they were new.

In the early days we did several experiments testing Ebonite in machining, storage, and use. We also had discussions with our main producer in Germany. The first Ebonite we sourced came from Japan; however, we learned quickly that the Ebonite made in Germany is significantly superior to any other we found. It's also more expensive.

I've used Ebonite-handles brushes extensively and never noticed any issue resulting from exposure to water other than very hot water. Exposure to light over definitely alters surface characteristics. We've achieved good results restoring some handles for customers who didn't take the care we do in maintaining ours. There's some know-how involved in that.

Agree on the Schoenberger Ebonite Manufaktur, I have used their Ebonite for pens for over 20 years. This material polished up very nicely to a high sheen/gloss, but with use it gets a bit dull over time. The one pen here shows how it looks when just taken off the lathe after polishing and assembling the pen - the sheen is very good shown on the cap area where the nib section mirrors.

This one here was my personal pen for years and I have used it very frequently until Covid hit. After this time, I was mainly working from home and retired end of '21. Still quite shiny, though. The two pens here shown are in principle the same material, just a bit different in color (blue vs. green).

The German ebonite engraves very well! I have used also Japanese ebonite for brushes, but never got this sheen/gloss and it does not engrave well at all.

 

[ChiefBroom]

The Japanese Ebonite we had was much more sensitive to heat in machining, the sulfur odor it produced was overwhelming, and as you observed did not polish to the mirror finish we can achieve with German Ebonite. We had one customer who complained about the smell it emitted when exposed to hot water while shaving. That has never been a problem for me with German Ebonite. In our experience Japanese Ebonite is also prone to faster surface oxidation from exposure to light.

I have several meters of stuff left (we stopped using it in 2014), but I think I might finally have found a fitting application.

 

[Rudy Vey]

The Japanese Ebonite we had was much more sensitive to heat in machining, the sulfur odor it produced was overwhelming, and as you observed did not polish to the mirror finish we can achieve with German Ebonite. We had one customer who complained about the smell it emitted when exposed to hot water while shaving. That has never been a problem for me with German Ebonite. In our experience Japanese Ebonite is also prone to faster surface oxidation from exposure to light.

I have several meters of stuff left (we stopped using it in 2014), but I think I might finally have found a fitting application.

Same experience here with the Japanese stuff. I made only one brush handle from it. German ebonite is just the best.

 

[Chan Eil Whiskers]

Mine is Japanese ebonite.

I didn't realize the German ebonite was better. I did realize handles made of the German ebonite were almost twice as expensive. I like my ebonite handle. I like it a lot. That doesn't mean I shouldn't have sprung for the German.

I particularly like the German on the left, and maybe the one on the right. These are from the Oumo website. (I'm not 100% sure this is German ebonite as I've not confirmed it with Oumo, but I'm 99.9% sure.)

Happy shaves,

Jim

 

[ChiefBroom]

Is this a brush acquisition thread or a schilling for Oumo thread?

What a brush signifies matters more to me than how it looks or who else it impresses.

I have no use for Oumo brushes.

 

[helicopter]

Is this a brush acquisition thread or a schilling for Oumo thread?

What a brush signifies matters more to me than how it looks or who else it impresses.

I have no use for Oumo brushes.

What should a brush signify? How does it do that?

To me, it can be an original artistic expression, or an original design, but there is also just craftsmanship. A good knot should feel nice, look nice, and be made from minimally processed natural hair. There are a bunch of trade-offs and I have different expectations at different price points.

I am genuinely curious what you mean, though. I don't have anything from oumo and don't ever plan to buy their handles. I do want to try their unsullied knot, but I generally prefer smaller brushes.

 

[ChiefBroom]

What should a brush signify? How does it do that?

To me, it can be an original artistic expression, or an original design, but there is also just craftsmanship. A good knot should feel nice, look nice, and be made from minimally processed natural hair. There are a bunch of trade-offs and I have different expectations at different price points.

I am genuinely curious what you mean, though. I don't have anything from oumo and don't ever plan to buy their handles. I do want to try their unsullied knot, but I generally prefer smaller brushes.

I'll be happy to answer your question. It's a good one, and I'm glad you asked. But it might be best for you to post it to a new thread. This one seems to me to have dropped a wheel in the ditch topic-wise. As a Vendor, I have more latitude to reply in response to a topic than to initiate one. I could do that in the Paladin Shaving vendor space, but hardly anyone goes there. I'm not into howling at the moon.

 

[helicopter]

I'll be happy to answer your question. It's a good one, and I'm glad you asked. But it might be best for you to post it to a new thread. This one seems to me to have dropped a wheel in the ditch topic-wise. As a Vendor, I have more latitude to reply in response to a topic than to initiate one. I could do that in the Paladin Shaving vendor space, but hardly anyone goes there. I'm not into howling at the moon.

Good idea. Best not to derail this thread.

Thread 'What does a brush signify?' What does a brush signify? - https://www.badgerandblade.com/forum/threads/what-does-a-brush-signify.662169/