Has anyone successfully cut a fan shape out of a bulb shape brush? I'm curious if this is possible with maybe a sharp paper cutter? I just don't want to ruin a good brush.. If anyone has succeeded please let me know..
cutting bulb to fan ?
- Thread starter WPD111
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My understanding of this would be that by trimming then you'd be going from natural tip ( assuming that's what it is at the moment 
) to a trimmed tip and you'd probably end up with a scritchier brush.
) to a trimmed tip and you'd probably end up with a scritchier brush.DON'T DO IT MAN. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T DO IT!!!
Actually, I have thought about doing this myself
The reason I didn't is because much of the quality of face feel is contained in the tips of the hair. For example, if you cut the tips down to make a particular shape you have effectively removed the tapered end of the hair which is what makes a brush soft on the face. You would be left with a thicker end on the remaining hair which would certainly provide a more scratchy experience with that flat, squared off, cut end. Just my thoughts.
Actually, I have thought about doing this myself
The reason I didn't is because much of the quality of face feel is contained in the tips of the hair. For example, if you cut the tips down to make a particular shape you have effectively removed the tapered end of the hair which is what makes a brush soft on the face. You would be left with a thicker end on the remaining hair which would certainly provide a more scratchy experience with that flat, squared off, cut end. Just my thoughts.
What he said!!
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That's exactly why I posted the question.. I figured it would make it more scritchy, that's why I didn't do it.. Thanks everyone
Think the B&B Shaving Brush forum has just breathed a collective sigh of relief
If it were a Tweezerman I'd say go for it. If it were something like a Rooney, I think you would be torn to shreads by the fury of a thousand badgers.
Please STOP!!! Just mail the poor brush to me where it'll receive some tender loving care... 
On a more serious note...I believe the soft tips of silvertips are from untrimmed hair...whereas the lower, scritchier grades are often trimmed to shape...
On a more serious note...I believe the soft tips of silvertips are from untrimmed hair...whereas the lower, scritchier grades are often trimmed to shape...
As others have said, trimming is bad. Hand packed knots often have the odd hair that is a few mm longer than his buddies. I don't even trim those. Untrimmed is best.
A barber could do this without too much trouble.
Of course, then you'll need to find a new barber because you wouldn't want to do business with a guy that would reshape a shaving brush.
Of course, then you'll need to find a new barber because you wouldn't want to do business with a guy that would reshape a shaving brush.
Definitely don't do it, it will drastically change the feel of the brush - for the worse, in my opinion.
Sometimes I wonder if the Tweezerman brushes are trimmed. They feel really scratchy.
(don't get me wrong, I really like this brush for $12) just saying.
(don't get me wrong, I really like this brush for $12) just saying.
Lower-grade brushes are already trimmed, but finer brushes ought to be an untrimmed tip which is formed by fitting the hair into a bowl-shaped mold and then tying it off (by hand or machine). The tips are a HUGE player in terms of face feel (there are other factors), so if this is something of a finer grade of badger, you'll be killing it. If it's just Pure badger, or Black badger, I'm not sure you'd be doing anything negative other than removing any break-in you'd accomplished.
I wouldn't do it, even on a Pure. You probably won't get desirable results, and you'll be left with a disappointing brush anyway. Consider also that, just speaking frankly, you're not a brush craftsman with experience in shaping brushes. Is it worth the risk of messing up?
I wouldn't do it, even on a Pure. You probably won't get desirable results, and you'll be left with a disappointing brush anyway. Consider also that, just speaking frankly, you're not a brush craftsman with experience in shaping brushes. Is it worth the risk of messing up?
My understanding of this would be that by trimming then you'd be going from natural tip ( assuming that's what it is at the moment
A very big +1!
Thats what you get with a cheaper pure badger brush. It is trimmed to shape and therefore making it a scratchy, prickly, jaggy son of a ...........!
I say go for it!
Sure, it will be scritchier, maybe even scratchier, but is that the end of the world. It will soften with time. Case in point: my wife finds my mustache prickly--which is worse than scritchy--after it is freshly trimmed, but a couple of days later, it's softened considerably.
However, I'd suggest using a sharp pair of scissors rather than a paper cutter. The latter would be a more difficult tool for shaping the fan and, if it's anything like the paper cutter at my office, not terribly sharp.
Sure, it will be scritchier, maybe even scratchier, but is that the end of the world. It will soften with time. Case in point: my wife finds my mustache prickly--which is worse than scritchy--after it is freshly trimmed, but a couple of days later, it's softened considerably.
However, I'd suggest using a sharp pair of scissors rather than a paper cutter. The latter would be a more difficult tool for shaping the fan and, if it's anything like the paper cutter at my office, not terribly sharp.
To disabuse you of some of the misinformation you have been treated to, the shape of a shaving brush is not brought about by cutting the tips.. Yes there are those pieces of crap that are machine cut, but not any brush of any merit. Shaping is usually done by the age old technique using a shaping box. The end of the hair that was previously rooted in the dear departed is the part that gets trimmed and that is done sparingly by virtue of the laborious sorting and grading by length and origin.
Despite the apparent alacrity of the present generation to covet short lofts, these were looked down upon in the past as the longer, gentler. more luxurious and costly tapers were the choice of gentlemen. Actually, the dandies and fops were the only gents willing to pay the brush maker for the choicer grades. The more cylnidrical hairs, usually found around the badger's anus and other nether regions, tend to have the scritch because of the tip being untapered. They also do not hold water as well. Next time you are contemplating cutting off tips, just think about that
Despite the apparent alacrity of the present generation to covet short lofts, these were looked down upon in the past as the longer, gentler. more luxurious and costly tapers were the choice of gentlemen. Actually, the dandies and fops were the only gents willing to pay the brush maker for the choicer grades. The more cylnidrical hairs, usually found around the badger's anus and other nether regions, tend to have the scritch because of the tip being untapered. They also do not hold water as well. Next time you are contemplating cutting off tips, just think about that
So that's why my old brush didn't feel as good as my new ones. Badger pubes!The more cylnidrical hairs, usually found around the badger's anus and other nether regions, tend to have the scritch because of the tip being untapered. They also do not hold water as well. Next time you are contemplating cutting off tips, just think about that
So that's why my old brush didn't feel as good as my new ones. Badger pubes!
Well, after all... You are down under!
