Cheap Chinese Ebay Brushes?

[Protocol]

I saw this on the Bay and was wondering if anyone jumped on the grenade to tell us if they were worthwhile yet:

http://shop.ebay.com/kebi2009/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340

 

[Verbal Kint]

i got one about 6 months ago. i didn't get it from this guy but it was pretty much the same deal from china. mine was about $10. i'm happy with it. it's my only badger brush and was a big step up from the VDH boar from Walmart.

 

[pal]

I have never used one of these brushes but, considering most Badger hair for shaving brushes comes from China anyway. It only stands to reason that there will be a chinese brush as well. Silvertip Badger brush for about 10-15 dollars is worth a try, especially when you consider the $125.00 I paid for a silvertip Shavemac.

 

[rbaloha]

Never tried this particular brush but from another ebay vendor with a similar brush.

Overall quite pleased. The brush feels nice, sheds little hairs and dries quickly. A slight problem is the brush does not as much lather as a more expensive brush.

For the price these brushes are good performers.

 

[Protocol]

How big are they though? I already have a EJ 21mm and figure that's probably a decent small/mid brush.

 

[blantyre]

No experience with these brushes but from the pic they look decent enough - probably a small knot and not very dense but it's badger for a buck (+$11 S&H) so that can't be bad at all.

 

[SUMMERSRL]

I got one a couple of weeks ago ($0.99 plus $10 shipping!). Very cheap brush. It is significantly "thinner" than my EJ. And, has lost a few hairs with each use. I plan to put it in my travel bag and use it on those rare occasions that I'm away from home.

 

[Mink]

There are very similar advertisements that all read the same. They range in price from $.99 to $12. Are the more expensive ones any better? Even at the upper range in price, they're still running a quarter of the price or less. We pay more for the knots alone.

 

[Jack-in-the-Green]

There are very similar advertisements that all read the same. They range in price from $.99 to $12. Are the more expensive ones any better? Even at the upper range in price, they're still running a quarter of the price or less. We pay more for the knots alone.

Most of them make up for sale price by jacking up the shipping. I suspect they are just trying to find their marketing strategy by experimenting with different price points/shipping costs.

 

[thunderball]

Some info here:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=85498&highlight=chinese+ebay+brush

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21457&highlight=chinese+ebay+brushes

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

Take a good boar (like Semogue, Jaguar or Omega) instead. If you want something special take the Semogue 2009 LE.

 

[Topgumby]

Take a good boar (like Semogue, Jaguar or Omega) instead. If you want something special take the Semogue 2009 SE.

Get both. I have a Delong "black badger" and like it a lot. Doesn't shed, not too floppy and completely serviceable. Santa is bringing me an Omega 49. Two cheap brushes, and if the Omega is all it's reported to be, they'll be two perfectly good brushes.

 

[ironbrewer]

yes, I think Chinese badger shaving brush is also good quality as European maker, because the badger hair is original from China.

Are you in the Badger hair business in China??

 

[mmack66]

Most of them make up for sale price by jacking up the shipping. I suspect they are just trying to find their marketing strategy by experimenting with different price points/shipping costs.

It is more likely that they are trying to avoid paying eBay fees.

 

[XxMerlinxX]

I've purchased one of these recently, and hopefully, it'll be on my doorstep within a day or two. Once it arrives, I'll take pictures and evaluate it as best I can.

 

[johnmrson]

I've just ordered one from Hong Kong to try.

It's my first badger brush so I'm really interested to see what it's like. For US$10 plus postage it's not to much of a risk.

 

[cooncatbob]

American craftsmen can't even buy knots for that price.
What are you going to do when the Chinese undercut your lively hood?
I can't compete with the Chinese on price, that's not the market I'm targeting, I want the high end buyer with money to spend not someone looking for the lowest possible price.
I was in the modular cabinet business and the Chinese have gotten into that.
The importer brings over a container full of disassembled cabinets then hire some minimum wage flunkies to assemble them and then sells them for less then American manufacturers can even buy the materials for.

 

[dreadpirate]

I've just ordered one from Hong Kong to try.

It's my first badger brush so I'm really interested to see what it's like. For US$10 plus postage it's not to much of a risk.

Which end of the badger did that hair come from?

 

[Rufust445]

Mine was $9.99 for a badger from Hong Kong with free shipping.

Makes the best lather I've ever seen, but I'm not sure for how long, as it hasn't stopped shedding in the two weeks I've used it.

My other brushes have been a Surrey (VDH) boar from my father's stash, and a low line Omega Syntex. The Syntex has been in my travel kit the last few days, and with Body Shop cream, has been making lather nearly as good as the badger brush.

I'll use it until I can't, then experiment with knots from Golden Nib on old Ever-Ready and Peerless handles I have.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

If you want a nice cheap brush, why not take a Jaguar 236 boar for 3,99 usd plus shipping from Amazon? Handmade, silky soft.