Razor heads

This is a great thread starter if you are after information about today's most popular new razors:


Razor heads

David Rogers Lather Bowl

David Rogers is a studio potter based in Milford on the edge of the New Forest. I have some of the Dirtybird shaving scuttles and bowls. But they came from the USA. I wanted a fairly large ridged lather bowl and had a clear idea of a specification. So I contacted Dave and paid a visit to his pottery. Here is the result. For £12 I have a fine piece of pottery and a superb lather bowl that is a joy to use. It copes easily with my larger brushes and enables me to make great lather easily and quickly. One of my better buys.

Here's Dave:

David Rogers

And here's the bowl

Decision made

There will be a New Forest brand shaving brush soon. To begin with, just one brush. The bulb shape shown above. I didn't like the Finest Super idea in the end. These words are used by other makers but they don't denote the same thing. The knot is a high quality two-band. It is firm but with tips as soft as silvertip. It is a cut above most of the others in my collection so I've decided to go with a term I have not seen used elsewhere: "Superior Badger" The only other grade I will add will be a Finest Silvertip. I will consider adding fan shape versions and other sizes after assessing customer feedback - if I get any!

So it will be one brush to start with at a very competitive price. It will be a brush for the enthusiast by an enthusiast!

New Forest Shaving Brush samples

Samples arrived of the first brush I am considering launching under the "New Forest" brand. A finest/super 2 band knot of 22mm and loft of 50mm. They will be tested by me and another shaving forum member in the coming days. One bulb shape and one fan shape. Here are the brushes out of the box (above).

And here they are after a few test runs. I'm delighted with their performance. Over the past few weeks I have tested over 50 brushes during the writing of my shaving brush blog. These sit comfortably among the best high end brushes. A nice balance of density and softness with excellent flow through which will work well with soaps and creams and suit face and bowl latherers. The fan shape is softer and more flexible than the bulb shape so may suit cream users rather more than the bulb shape. I will consider whether or not to obtain samples with extra hair and greater density for the fan shape. Not sure at present. Further testing of both brushes will continue in the coming days. I need to decide whether to go with one or both of the brush shapes.

New Forest Oak Brushes - a first attempt.

My first attempt at hand made brushes. Both are made from some readily available New Forest oak. Although practical and durable, I don't think oak would be a popular choice for a handle so I will use other woods if I make any to offer for sale. On the left is a two-band Finest with extra hair from Golden Nib, the other a Best Badger knot obtained directly from a supplier in China. Production by a local village craftsman in the New Forest. I'm really delighted with the result. Both brushes are excellent all rounders.

I'm now deciding which knots to use for a batch of similar brushes, have identified a source for the supply of wenge which I intend to try out before deciding on next steps.

Expecting more samples of complete brushes from China in the next few days. And another custom made brush in wenge to try out another best badger knot with extra hair.

Will soon have enough experience and information to produce my first very limited range of brushes which I might offer for sale.

New Venture - update

On 20 February I wrote about research into the making of shaving brushes. One manufacturer sent me sample brushes which did not perform as I had hoped. So I respecified a brush to be made with a 22x64 knot to be set at a loft of 52mm. Four brushes arrived - average loft 49mm. Now I know there will always be small variations in brushes compared with advertised specs. But you would think that someone would ensure that a sample was to the correct spec! 3mm loft difference is significant, and the brushes were just a little too stiff/dense. So I requested just two more samples to be made at the 52mm spec I had ordered and paid for. I was told that they would only send more samples if I paid for them and was promised a refund on my first order. I was not happy about that!

I still have one more manufacturer I am dealing with and expect more samples soon.

Give things a chance

It takes time to get the best out of anything. Don't rush to judgement about a new product. This is especially true of shaving brushes. First, many brushes take time to break in before you can assess their long term softness or firmness. And it takes time to learn how best to make lather with them. And finally you will find different ways of lathering on your face before you discover the best way to use your brush.
So next time you buy something - give it a chance to shine!