Or, how I made a pretty good brush into a really, really good brush! I picked up this vintage Dubl Duck #4 about a year and a half ago. This style of handle is my favorite, and I like using it, but the knot was just a little bit too long so it had pretty much been relegated to the role of display. I decided to put it back into the rotation so I thought I'd try shortening the knot a little so I trimmed about an inch off and now it is much easier to load and build lather in a bowl with. Here's a pic I took right after I bought it. Here it is now after a haircut.
Nice flat top. I'm glad you got it working for you, may it generate great lather for many years to come.
I bought this #5 and mug together but I don't know if it is an original set. It's a big brush. adult image hosting
Question. (And I really not know the answer before I'm asking it). When they make the knot, do they set it with the tips(the real Ends of the hair) of the hair pointing upwards? Is there a difference between using the 'real' ends to lather and shave with, or do the brush maker just grabs a hank of hair; square it; and glue it in place??
Good question. I've wondered about that too. Although you'll only get a definitive answer from a brush maker, I have no doubt that the hair is set in a brush exactly how it comes off the animal. How else would a Silvertip badger have all the silvertips at the working end rather than a substantial number of them set in glue in the handle. Same goes for two band and three band. There might be some el cheapo boar brushes that are set using a random hank of hair. I've used a few of them and after a while they all seem to soften up nicely which in my experience is something that doesn't happen to that extent with for instance pure badger. So also on that basis I'd say that badger brush makers would want to avoid putting the cut end of hair at the tip of a knot. How this done I'm not sure. I'd suggest that the hair is gathered as it's cut from the hide.
Looks like I've found a new topic to study up on for the summer. May be by fall I 'll understand brushes. Google is good!