What am I missing about Wald?

[Mr. Shavington]

Well being perfectly honest, the question was what do you get for $549.00 Euro’s. Maybe I should have asked for simple explanation of what it is that is so special about Wald Shave Brushes to justify this price. Should not be difficult to articulate simple laymen’s reply, lay people can understand.

Do not know, have not seen, in person or on U-Tube a person constructing a shaving Knot, so I do not know that is involved in the process, and how long it takes.

The Wald Brush Handles are functional art, that hold hairs. Never even in my life have I seen & toughed a Shave Brush with retail of above $30.00.

In my profession I use 35mm Cameras & Lenses, I bought the Pro Models, Best Camera Body's & Lenses, as I understand they would work long time, be dependable, and have resale value if in good condition. I beat equipment hard, some time in horrible weather.

Buddy was Stock Photographer, he did not need the Pro level stuff, as he worked close to his vehicle, used low end cameras that did not take much abuse, if one broke it got trashed, and he always had a few spare in boxes ready to go. My buddy here beat his equipment hard, or work in fires, storms, super cold weather, out at sea. So his price point stuff work good for him.

Ok. I see your question is serious, so….

The serious answer (as best I can gve it) is that this is a highly skilled and perfectionist craftsman making something that is the highest possible quality, through an extremely manually intensive process that cannot be done to the same standard by machines. And there is a lot of R&D work involved which is specific to each hair batch and can only be defrayed over a small number of brushes.

He selects the hairs individually so they are uniform and the quality he wants, he assembles and ties the knot by hand so that it has the exact density, loft, diameter and shape to give the ideal desired characteristics, determined by his lengthy testing for this particular batch of hair, and to ensure each hair is correctly oriented (you will see no black hairs in the canopy of a Wald brush, unlike some other expensive brushmakers). He produces the acrylics used for the handle, makes and cures it (in stages, I assume), and polishes it to perfection. We have no idea how many complete handles he rejects for imperfections in the acrylic mixture, etc., or what proportion of the pricey hair stock he rejects, but his brushes are always perfect. And we don’t know how many test brushes he has made, with how many different batches of hair, and how many knot configurations, before he is happy to put the brush out for sale. All of this will start again from scratch when the batch of hair runs out and he starts developing the next one (S2). I don’t know how many brushes he produces for a batch of hair, but it won’t be more than fifty, I think. Doesn’t he say in his email that this particular S1 batch is something he has been developing for a year?

Now, is this something you really want to have, or not? If it is then this is inevitably going to be the price. if it isn’t then the price won’t be worth it to you, but that doesn’t mean the price isn’t fair. There isn’t a cheaper option that is the same - an equally skilled guy working to the same standards and charging much less - but there are certainly many far less expensive brushes and they all make lather very well.

So that’s what the €549 buys you. Most shavers wouldn’t care about any of it, but it’s there for those who do, and there are many more buyers than he can make brushes for.

 

[DesertIguana]

Well I just found a U-Tube from German Brush Company, think it called DiVinci.

Lady was building Knots from Badger Hair, she was working last stage of process.

Knot Assembly, she is an artist, sure been doing for years.

Very interesting profession. Not something I would ever want to do as my life work.

But looks like a thought way to make a living. Glade this lady is making Knotts.

The Brushes they make are functional art. Beautiful.

 

[Alp Akman]

Well I just found a U-Tube from German Brush Company, think it called DiVinci.

Lady was building Knots from Badger Hair, she was working last stage of process.

Knot Assembly, she is an artist, sure been doing for years.

Very interesting profession. Not something I would ever want to do as my life work.

But looks like a thought way to make a living. Glade this lady is making Knotts.

The Brushes they make are functional art. Beautiful.

I used DaVinci badger many years ago. The brush had very low backbone and splaying too much that was to be useful only with creams. I hated and sold eventually.

 

[BradWorld]

I can’t speak towards the badgers, but I have a Wald synthetic, and it is not as expensive as the badger Wald, but still more than 10x what a regular synth costs. And I can’t tell you if it’s worth the cost to you. But I can tell you that brush is like no other. There is a fine hair unlike other synths. And it is super dense. And it has a face feel unlike any brush I’ve ever had. It lathers like a beast. It’s special. I can only assume the badger Wald is special too.

 

[DesertIguana]

I can’t speak towards the badgers, but I have a Wald synthetic, and it is not as expensive as the badger Wald, but still more than 10x what a regular synth costs. And I can’t tell you if it’s worth the cost to you. But I can tell you that brush is like no other. There is a fine hair unlike other synths. And it is super dense. And it has a face feel unlike any brush I’ve ever had. It lathers like a beast. It’s special. I can only assume the badger Wald is special too.

Go info.

 

[brucered]

I can’t speak towards the badgers, but I have a Wald synthetic, and it is not as expensive as the badger Wald, but still more than 10x what a regular synth costs. And I can’t tell you if it’s worth the cost to you. But I can tell you that brush is like no other. There is a fine hair unlike other synths. And it is super dense. And it has a face feel unlike any brush I’ve ever had. It lathers like a beast. It’s special. I can only assume the badger Wald is special too.

Is there any evidence of a glue bump on the Wald synthetic brushes, above the knot opening?

I have only handled a few synthetic brushes and some of the bumps are enormous, which is a huge turn off for me in a $30 brush, let alone one that is over $100.

 

[rsp1202]

There you go. Sold out within 30 seconds, if that.

I'll pick it up in person, driving my McLaren Speedtail, but just realized I've run out of gas money.

I have learned to admire from afar. They are beautiful brushes.

 

[BradWorld]

Is there any evidence of a glue bump on the Wald synthetic brushes, above the knot opening?

I have only handled a few synthetic brushes and some of the bumps are enormous, which is a huge turn off for me in a $30 brush, let alone one that is over $100.

Just checked mine. It has zero perceived glue bump above the handle.

Despite how much I like this Wald A1, I am in a period of downsizing. The wife and I live a nomadic lifestyle, and I have too many brushes at the moment. So I don't want to hear claims I'm a hypocrite if I post this on the BST. It really is an amazing brush. But I can't keep them all.

 

[BurnFree]

Despite how much I like this Wald A1, I am in a period of downsizing.... It really is an amazing brush. But I can't keep them all.

Which one(s) made the cut for you?

It seems like everyone who has purchased a Wald at least appreciates the craftsmanship of the brush. Some love the unique feel, some don't, and there usually is not much middle ground.

 

[thombrogan]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but might I ask why not?

Never considered it until you mentioned it. I would just see the listed prices for whichever bells and whistles I imagine would make strumming my garbage compositions more pleasant to my fingers and it was always so much further from the $249 device that’s capable of more than I could ever do.

If this works, Abasi Concepts will have an artistic masterpiece to be underutilized in cacophonous glory

 

[thombrogan]

@DesertIguana ,

You can read about the process Wald goes through for their badger knots by clicking this link.

He has a description of his synthetic brush knots in this link.

 

[BradWorld]

Which one(s) made the cut for you?

Well, I have a couple of synthetics that are very sentimental to me. I had a couple of brushes commissioned with Leo Frilot, a New Orleans brush maker I met in person at a shaving event in New Jersey a while ago. They were to commemorate my son earning his eagle scout. I ordered a couple of boy scout coins and sent them to Leo. He made me some red, white and blue acrylic handles and put in the Timberwolf knots. He embedded the BSA coins in the bottom. Gave one to my son, and I kept the other. I will never get rid of that one. Wonderful brush.

I also have the 2022 Contributors Brush that Rudy Vey made with a Muhle STF 25 mm knot that is amazing. So I will keep those two Synthetics.

And I am huge fan of Paladin Badgers. I had a bunch. I think I have one more to sell. Then I will keep a 26 mm. And the 28 mm 2023 Contributors brush by Paladin, which is a one of a kind.

So unfortunately, even though the Wald A1 is an amazing performer, I am afraid I must pass it along to someone else. I can always buy another down the road.

 

[Barbarian80]

I don't have any Wald brushes. IMO not a wise purchase for me although I'm sure the brushes are nothing short of incredible. Don't forget the hobby side of wet shaving where it really makes no difference what the cost is as people will always try to get their hands on what is mostly unobtainium for most people. He could charge double and will still sell out.

 

[Lightcs1776]

Bugatti

A Bugatti goes for 4.6 million???? Wow! I admit, I’ve never heard of it, but then my most expensive vehicle is a Honda CRV with all the bells and whistles, which I purchased for my wife.

 

[Shargan8]

There you go. Sold out within 30 seconds, if that.

Indeed, and that’s for both the S1 and J4 offerings.

 

[m949]

Jannick is a craftsman, artist, and perfectionist. His goal is to make the best shaving brushes. His process is very meticulous and uncompromising. The prices reflect all that. I'm sure that if Jannick could make the brushes cheaper and in larger quantities he would do so, but his process is so time consuming that the pricing is fair.

I admit, I can't afford a Wald brush myself, but I admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail and I am grateful for all the wonderful posts here with Wald brushes showcasing Jannick's art.

A while ago I watched a German TV program about various crafts. There was this one episode about Cornelius Maenz (a freehand pipe maker), where the whole process of making a pipe was shown. I know that this has little to do with shaving brushes, but bear with me I'm trying to establish an analogy.

It was beautiful to watch and amazing to see the dedication of such a craftsman to his art. If something goes wrong during his process, he would start again very much like Jannick would. "Cornelius' pipes are extremely precise. He tolerates neither crooked drilling or the smallest deviation in the position of the draft hole in the shank and alignment to the centre of the bowl." [from: Pipedia]

He needs about a week to make one pipe. Now, a C. Maenz pipe will cost anywhere between USD 1000 to USD 3000, if you can find it.

Is the Maenz pipe worth it when a USD 200-300 pipe will do? I don't know, I'm not a pipe smoker (yet). But I can appreciate the effort, work, and dedication that goes into creating such a pipe, as much as I can appreciate all of that that goes into making a Wald shaving brush.

 

[Tomo]

I’m not crazy about the design of the Wald brushes. The Varlets are nice but they are in the same price range. That’s simply too much money for a brush for me. Everyone has their price/quality threshold. Luckily mine is a few notches lower. I’m sure they are fine brushes and I could get one tomorrow but it wouldn’t feel right to me. Too extravagant. I wouldn’t enjoy it.