Custom handle design project

[ChiefBroom]

I have a silly number of brushes, and it would be hard to pick a favorite. But among those I reach for most is an M&F L7 with a faux jade handle and 24mm x 50mm Blonde Badger knot. I especially like the handle. At 58mm in height, it's a little more ergonomic for me (see images 4-6 below) than my Simpson Butterscotch M7, which measures 62mm and has a slightly chunkier feel. The range of comfortable grips it offers work great for both bowl and face lathering.

I've decided to ask Lee Sabini to make a custom brush (or two) for me and thought it would be fun to take a crack at designing my ideal handle. This will probably surprise some of you, but I can be a little obsessive at times. So the process was more involved (my wife would probably substitute "ridiculous") than I'd anticipated, but a lot of fun.

I started out by playing around with pics of various brushes in Photoshop. When I'd worked up something close to what I think I want (see image 1 below), I carried it into Illustrator. Images 2 and 3 below show results so far. Both the 2D drawing and the 3D rendering are scaled 1:1 to a handle height of 60mm and knot dimensions of 24mm x 50mm. I think 60mm (proportionally scaled) may be ideal for me in terms of ergonomics.

Thoughts?

 

[oscar11]

Nice looking design. In a way a little reminiscent of an Emperor style handle.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Nice looking design. In a way a little reminiscent of an Emperor style handle.

Thanks. And you have a good eye. It is indeed. I have a pre-Vulvix Emperor 2 in 2-band that I also love. But it's more slender. I've describe it as willowy, but I'm not sure that's really apt. In any case, both M7 and the L7 have a more substantial feel in my hand. The L7 falls betweem my Emperor 2 and M&. I'd say the design I drew is falls between the M7 and L7 below the waist, epecially since the 60mm is proportionally scaled in the direction of the M7. The top is more like that of a Duke or 50 series Simpson.

I started out by looking at other brushes, but then stopped looking at them entirely except for the sake of avoiding looking too much like anything else.

My first design principle was form follows function. Second was to honor tradition. That made it pretty hard not to evoke elements of classic styles. But I did try not to copy.

 

[Absolute Mustard]

I think that is the sexiest handle design that has ever been created

Nice Ai work

 

[ChiefBroom]

I think that is the sexiest handle design that has ever been created

Nice Ai work

Thanks

I am highly challenged in Ai.

 

[coolbus18]

Although my hand is smaller than yours, I do dig the design of the handle. I'd use this handle to make a brush myself, looks like it will handle(pun intended) a nice 26mm in silvertip. Can't wait(like all of us) to see it. Enjoy!

 

[ChiefBroom]

Although my hand is smaller than yours, I do dig the design of the handle. I'd use this handle to make a brush myself, looks like it will handle(pun intended) a nice 26mm in silvertip. Can't wait(like all of us) to see it. Enjoy!

Thanks. FWIW, my hand isn't big. I'm about 5' 10" and weigh around 150 lbs. Glove size is M or S/M, although I don't think that has much meaning.

 

[rahgnar.s]

I think I'm going to put this into solidworks and try to make a solid model of this, seems like it would be a fun project

 

[oldtrout]

Very nice. Quit your day job!

I can't think of anyone I'd rather see get into brush making.

 

[deruitem]

I like it I like it a lot

 

[Face&Head]

Fantastic idea Ken! If Lee agrees I'll sign up for one. One thing I do like about the M7 is the shelf that is created at the top of the handle (Tulip as well) that seems to keep the lather in place. It's beneficial when I'm using a straight as I tend to make a looser lather.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Fantastic idea Ken! If Lee agrees I'll sign up for one. One thing I do like about the M7 is the shelf that is created at the top of the handle (Tulip as well) that seems to keep the lather in place. It's beneficial when I'm using a straight as I tend to make a looser lather.

Thanks.

Me too. But I have one. And I'd kinda like to go for a more Dukish look above the waist on this one.

 

[oscar11]

Chief, roughly to your specs, I just did it from memory. No measurements taken.

picture hosting

photo sharing

 

[brucered]

Nice looking design Ken. I'm happy with my L7 and have been using it the past week and loving it's shape (and knot of course)...plus I can't buy anything right now or I'd probably sign up for one too, if Lee agrees to make.

I have another one to throw in to the mix of L7/M7 handle styles. it's a Rubberset I picked up off eBay way back, restored and repainted and find it's a very comfortable shape, ultra curvy too. it's very light, as it's wood, but may make a good custom acrylic design. on this one the black part screws on to the yellow (it's 2 pce) but when I restored it got glued back together to hold.

Pretty sure Lee will be open to making a handle to your specs, I had a similar request last year and he turned a few based on my pics/emails. I ended up with a different M&F, but it was very cool to see my thoughts go into a brush and have him turn something with his spin on it.

it's almost a cross between the Kent BK8 and 7 style

 

[ChiefBroom]

Chief, roughly to your specs, I just did it from memory. No measurements taken.

And how cool it that!?

FWIW, the dimension shown in Ai for the drawing in the OP are 60mm h x 36.9 w. I made it so that the three widest sections (top, middle, bottom) have the same dimension, so the handle should lay on its side and roll without wobbling. No particular reason for doing it that way. Just what I did.

Thanks!

 

[ChiefBroom]

Nice looking design Ken. I'm happy with my L7 and have been using it the past week and loving it's shape (and knot of course)...plus I can't buy anything right now or I'd probably sign up for one too!

I have another one to throw in to the mix of L7/M7 handle styles. it's a Rubberset I picked up off eBay way back, restored and repainted and find it's a very comfortable shape, ultra curvy too. it's very light, as it's wood, but may make a good custom acrylic design. on this one the black part screws on to the yellow (it's 2 pce) but when I restored it got glued back together to hold.

it's almost a cross between the Kent BK8 and 7 style

Very cool. I love it. Much better balanced to my eye than a Kent. They all look too top-heavy to me.

 

[Big Jim]

I think I'm going to put this into solidworks and try to make a solid model of this, seems like it would be a fun project

In my dreams I imagine having access to CAD software and a CNC lathe so I could design and create any handle shape I might desire.

Ken, keep us posted on this project. I really want to see how it turns out.

 

[theretroshave]

Gorgeous design Ken! It reminds me of the a stubby version of the tall barber handled brushes. I love it!

 

[ChiefBroom]

See the Gauging Group Buy Interest thread. I started thinking about this handle design for myself back between the holidays and later got the notion to explore potential for a B&B-sanctioned M&F Group Buy shortly after being invited to serve as a Stew. With approval to proceed finally in hand (thanks to support from David/djh, Bob/beginish, and the rest of the B&B Mod Team!), I wanted gather some reaction to the design independently before offering it up for use in the Group Buy.

Thanks for all of the responses. I've got what I needed. We're going to run with it.

Be sure to post into the thread linked above with expressions of interest.

 

[ltjaw]

Reminds me a bit of the pre-Vulfix Emperor 3 I used to have. The old E3 handle was a little wider than the current stock, and more ergonomic IMO. One of my favorite handles. Here you can see how it measures up to the Polo 10.