Laboratoire Villefranche Brushes

Discussion in 'The Brush' started by AlfredoT, Jul 3, 2019.

  1. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Generally speaking, the ones who have time to waste tend to spend it with those who have not: and this explains my presence here!

    When I could not renovate old furniture any more I had to find myself something to do.
    Hence, I consulted the Oracle and the answer was: Brushes!

    And I started making some for myself and some friends.
    Later made some for a friend who is a soap maker here in Italy, but the trend, evidently, evolved toward something more elaborate I could not make.

    After a couple of years I took the remaining ones to make myself a few brushes, so, most of the handles are yet to be finished.

    The name of the 'maker' is due to a joke as I live in a Godforgotten hole in the flat in a slightly bigger Godforgotten hole South of Milan: Villafranca.
    So the name has been Frenchified into Villefranche!
    And 'Laboratoires' was, therefore, due!

    And here we go, with my awful pictures!

    The Cucciolo.

    Cucciolo is the Italian for Dopey, the smallest of the Seven Dwarfs and this tall brush, obviously, deserved to be named so.
    It has a 30 mm Silvertip knot mounted on a 130 mm briar root (walnut) handle.

    [​IMG]

    Here the brush caught while resting...

    [​IMG]

    The Cucciolino

    Which means 'Little Cucciolo' and is, actually, of more conventional dimensions.
    It has a 24 mm Silvertip knot mounted on a Padouk handle.

    [​IMG]


    Next comes...

    The Fridge

    Named after pro football player of many years ago. But I have seen the nickname has been recycled for other skinny athletes.
    The one I remember was a short 6 ft black guy: when an opponent smashed with his helmet into his stomach... he barely moved!
    Quite impressive...
    And I am celebrating him!

    It has a 24 mm Silvertip knot mounted on a Tigrano handle.
    But, as soon as i'll be through with it, it will be crowned with a Finest 2 band knot!

    [​IMG]


    Going into space...

    The LEM

    I do know it does not look like the original, but it recalled me the shape of something space related...
    I do not remember now the name of the wood, but, the least i write in English, le less mistakes I do!
    Do... 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Lather!

    [​IMG]


    Next is a cousin of the Cucciolino, but I named it...

    The Marilyn

    Guess why!

    [​IMG]

    Wish I remembered the name of this wood...

    For sole relaxing time, I made

    The Tee

    The name, to my eyes, came spontaneously!

    This is my personal one

    [​IMG]

    And this in two different woods.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Should anyone be thirsty, I can provide

    The Amphora

    But can't grant for the wine...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    But... tempus fugit, and we better measure it:

    Le Sablier (The Hourglass)

    [​IMG]

    The next is one I often use and dedicated to Ayrton Senna

    The Senna

    Too hard explaining why it got this name: jus a pun in Italian!

    [​IMG]

    And another one in green: made on commission for someone who wanted to enclose a little badge in it and never claimed it!

    [​IMG]


    And, bless you, here comes

    The Bishop

    inspired by a chess piece

    [​IMG]

    Have to go now, but I'll come back. And it's not a promise, but a threat!
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2019
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  2. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    Beautiful Work ! I like the variety of shapes and different types of wood.
     
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  3. poppi

    poppi Well-Known Member

    Those look great!
     
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  4. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    @AlfredoT I just heard about a volcano eruption in Stromboli! I checked my maps, and glad to hear you are 1300km, more on mainland Europe, not close by.

    Tapatalk Spam Tag
     
  5. Preacher

    Preacher Well-Known Member

    I really like the one named for William Perry (the Fridge), but I'm also a fan of the chubby shape.
     
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  6. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Thank you, RyX! :)

    Thank you: I did not know it... It's quite a bit down South...

    :)
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2019
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  7. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Thank you, Preacher!

    I googled for him and... he's not the one I referred to: 'your' Fridge was 2 years old when I clapped at 'mine'.
    However... he really IS a Fridge! ;)
     
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  8. Primotenore

    Primotenore missed opera tunity

    Article Team
    Very nice, Sergio. Your posts are just as interesting as your brushes. :happy088:
     
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  9. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Too nice of you... :signs001:
     
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  10. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    You thought I'd give up?
    You're wrong!

    To toast, her is

    The Goblet

    Small and undergoing finishing, as I write

    [​IMG]

    I do not remember the kind of wood I have used...
    But i tried to give it a rough look.


    And to make life sweeter...

    The Honeypot

    in briar root (walnut) mounting the same Silvertip knot.

    [​IMG]

    The next brush is personal and named it after a girl who likes snakes as much as i do.
    If you do too... enjoy this!



    Too bad the director shows too little of the snake...
    It's weird, but any time it happens to see this I feel a compulsory need for a glassless tequila shot...
    And, useless to ask me... yes: I do hate Tarantino!

    The Salma Hayek


    [​IMG]

    I know it reminds of a chess piece, but I cannot carve Salma's shape into wood: I am not Antonio Canova!

    Ze nechst brush iz teticated to anoter skinny guy...

    The Schawarzy

    [​IMG]

    Hope he won't join the Tyson an bully around!
    Handle is in Amaranto (because of the color): however I think it might be just the Italian name...

    And to close for today...

    The Torch


    You may think to Mr. Eiffel and the Statue of Liberty on the 4th od July or just the Olympic games...

    [​IMG]

    With handle in Tigrano wood.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2020
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  11. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    The Honeypot is my favorite of them all, so far.

    Where are you sourcing the knots?
     
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  12. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Because it's so sweet? :D

    I used to take them from a company in China, which specializes in natural hair, also horse hair.
    It seems they do not make any, any more...
     
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  13. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Some of the handles on the Hangman's Tree, during finishing...

    [​IMG]
     
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  14. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    A couple of days ago, I mounted a Finest knot on the Fridge, because it was about time to have another Finest!

    [​IMG]

    Had to deal with knot depth as I like a strong backbone, but this knot is quite dense and have to carry out tests...
    I am puzzled, but test results will clarify everything in my mind.

    This is the alternative depth I have imagined:

    [​IMG]
     
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  15. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    Do you subscribe to the "Set height at no more than twice the diameter" idea?

    I started trying badger brushes on the low end of the price range. Many are very floppy and hard to use. That is basing my idea of a good brush from the qualities of a stiffer boar knot.
     
  16. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    Parlbleu! :eek:

    I am not such an expert and never thought about it.
    And did not know, as well, there was such a rule!

    So did I!
    And, coherently, there i remained! :D

    Like my Vulfix!
    It had no back boned so I nicknamed it 'The politician'!

    I could not say why I do not love boars...
    But... getting back to the "Set height at no more than twice the diameter" rule, I might not!
    I should measure my brushes: something I never did!
    But i will!

    In The Tee, for instance, I imagine it to be lower than the double of the diameter!
    I will check!
    Maybe not tomorrow or Sunday, but I will! A promise! ;)
     
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  17. RyX

    RyX DoH!

    How did you know I was talking Vulfix? Those were a couple of my better quality (?) brand name badgers early on. A 2235e & a 660s I picked up in trades. Note the skinny diameter & tall hairs.
    Vulfix 2235e & 660s.gif Nice shapes and quality handles, but the diameter to height ratio make them both only suitable for painting on creams. I have to grab and hold the bristles if I want to load soap from a hard puck.

    Because I started my Shave Journey using a new Omega boar brush it set in my mind that is how a brush should feel. I have been a carpenter spending much time working outdoors and getting dirty. A scrubby brush feels right to me. Not so much a "rule" as a way to guide purchases, buying dense or short lofted badgers has increased my enjoyment for them.
     
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  18. Keithmax

    Keithmax Breeds Pet Rocks

    That is some impressive work. Thank you for sharing the pictures and explanations.
     
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  19. AlfredoT

    AlfredoT Well-Known Member

    I did not actually know it, but, in my humble experience, I never found a floppier brush than my 660S!
    A real politician! :D
    I traded it for something I do not remember: I used it three times just to give it a chance, but uselessly!
    But my 660S handle had a Persian Jar like shape, something that does not improve its horrible performance...

    Alas, sometimes a brand name will not guarantee an up to it quality!
    Re. Vulfix, I did not like the Rose scented shave cream as much as I did not appreciate the brush: too 'chemical' a smell...

    I have not a relevant experience with that brand, but, reading around I see many users appreciate them.
    I loved a Zenith boar and a Semogue one, but, all in all, I have to accept I am more badger type, probably due to what I call bristles homogeneity: boars I tried tend to separate into smaller tufts.

    Definitely! I hate that too!

    Exactly and the knot opens wide on face while lathering!

    The non-work I wanted!
    If you do something you like for a living... you won't work a single hour in your life! ;)

    And the scrub feel is great even if you do not have to remove dust and dirt collected outdoors
    I understood what you meant, but my English is far too limited to express my thoughts.

    Ever tried Maseto's Finests?



    Oh... You'll make me blush!

    No, thank you!
     
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