Is assembling your own brush a good idea?

[Andron]

Was that crack always in that handle or did it just crack?

The horn had cracks. I filled the crack with mortar and sanded it.

 

[Frank Shaves]

Assembling your own brush is a great idea if you have the tools, the skills and you know what you want. Otherwise, I would buy stock brushes until you can tick all of the above.

Just setting the knot requires skill and experience. If you set the knot too shallow, the brush will feel floppy. Too deep, too stiff. When you buy a brush from a reputable maker, you are paying for way more than the raw materials.