New 30mm super silvertip knot.

[Brooksie967]

Just got this

Forgive the terrible webcam pics... not pulling out my Sony A99 right now

First pic shows the new knot between a 30mm manchurian knot and a 26mm rooney heritage.
Second is the same. The 30mm manchurian has a similar loft to the heritage so it's quite a bit more dense and is my go to for hard soaps.
Third pic is the manchurian knot, fourth is the rooney heritage and fifth is the new super silvertip badger.

 

[Brooksie967]

Terrible colour from the webcam, the heritage tips are whitish/blonde, the manchurian is more yellow than that and the silvertip is well... silver?

 

[ChiefBroom]

Who made the Manchurian and super silvertip knots?

 

[Brooksie967]

A badger farmer in China from what I understand. Not joking.

 

[ChiefBroom]

A badger farmer in China from what I understand. Not joking.

Understood. What I was trying to get at was who labeled them "manchurian" and "super silvertip" as those designations don't have well settled and consistent meaning across manufactures/vendors. And I thought more information along those lines might help to get some discussion going.

 

[Brooksie967]

From what I understand, and this is from the seller, the Manchurian (he has labelled them this) come from the high mountains of China. The "Super" silvertip is silvertip that has been treated in some way.

At the end of the day, for $13 and $15 respectively (that's with shipping from China), I grab the 'manchurian' just as often as my rooney heritage pictured as it performs just as well. Not quite as soft, and a little more backbone, not scirtch but definitely scrubbier than the rooney. The knot with no handle is currently seeking a home although since taking the picture I did, couldn't resist, a test lather with some arko and it just exploded and felt incredible.

 

[ChiefBroom]

From what I understand, and this is from the seller, the Manchurian (he has labelled them this) come from the high mountains of China. The "Super" silvertip is silvertip that has been treated in some way.

At the end of the day, for $13 and $15 respectively (that's with shipping from China), I grab the 'manchurian' just as often as my rooney heritage pictured as it performs just as well. Not quite as soft, and a little more backbone, not scirtch but definitely scrubbier than the rooney. The knot with no handle is currently seeking a home although since taking the picture I did, couldn't resist, a test lather with some arko and it just exploded and felt incredible.

If you're happy, that's all that matters. I wouldn't assume anything based on a knot's being labeled or otherwise described as having been made with "manchurian" badger hair. I think it's virtually meaningless except in the context of a particular maker's/vendor's classification scheme, e.g., Simpson "Manchurian". And even then, at least in my experience, the lines aren't clear-cut and there is substantial variability.

None of this is intended as a comment on the quality of your brushes. It's about the nomenclature and some of the challenges associated with discussion of brushes.

 

[Brooksie967]

Mr. Chief man, no offense has been taken and absolutely understand where you're coming from. I've found a good source that I am happy with for sure! Like mentioned above, for a small fraction of the cost I have something I can compare to a $200 brush that I really enjoy! Neither of them have shed a single hair and work better than I could have ever imagined from the price point and source.

 

[ChiefBroom]

It doesn't get any better than being happy with what you have!

Mr. Chief man, no offense has been taken and absolutely understand where you're coming from. I've found a good source that I am happy with for sure! Like mentioned above, for a small fraction of the cost I have something I can compare to a $200 brush that I really enjoy! Neither of them have shed a single hair and work better than I could have ever imagined from the price point and source.

 

[blzrfn]

It sounds like Chen from aliexpress, I wasn't impressed with the quality of the knots in comparison to every other knot manufacturer I have tried (Ace, Virginia Sheng, TGN, Frank's and Sapphire) but his are the cheapest by far. Enjoy your new knot!

 

[numerounoo]

It sounds like Chen from aliexpress, I wasn't impressed with the quality of the knots in comparison to every other knot manufacturer I have tried (Ace, Virginia Sheng, TGN, Frank's and Sapphire) but his are the cheapest by far. Enjoy your new knot!

OT: How to source Vriginia,Sheng and Sapphire Knots ?
Thanks.

 

[blzrfn]

Numoruno, they are/were all acquired through aliexpress.com or ebay.

 

[Brooksie967]

Mine are from Chen, yes, you are right. I've heard good and bad things about his stuff but honestly, I love mine. Like you can see, I've got a $200 brush right beside them and to me, there isn't a $180 difference between them in performance.

 

[ChiefBroom]

Mine are from Chen, yes, you are right. I've heard good and bad things about his stuff but honestly, I love mine. Like you can see, I've got a $200 brush right beside them and to me, there isn't a $180 difference between them in performance.

There's no doubt in my mind that much (although I wouldn't say all or even most in some cases) of the difference between a $200 brush and a $20 brush is between the ears rather than between the brushes in functional terms. But then that's true about a lot of things. If you're rationally as happy with a $20 brush as you are or would be with a $200 brush, then you'd be a fool to pay the $180 difference. On the other hand, if the same $200 brush makes me giggle and grin -- for whatever reason -- like no $20 brush can, who else but me is qualified to place a value on that difference. It's not a question of right or wrong. It's a matter of individual perspective and subjective experience.

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks.

 

[Brooksie967]

Chief, you're absolutely right!

 

[ChiefBroom]

Chief, you're absolutely right!

Once in a while.

But I should have added this. If a man could choose to be just as happy (fully taking into account giggle 'n grin factors) with a $20 brush as with a $200 brush, he'd be a fool not to adopt such a nature. I believe that blissful state of indifference is sometimes referred to as enlightenment. It's ironic that shaving is probably the closest I come to Zen-like awareness most days, whereas my most un-Zen-like attachments are with my accumulated shaving gear.

What's with that?

 

[GDCarrington]

What's with that?

I think your custom title may yield the answer!

 

[ChiefBroom]

I think your custom title may yield the answer!

Indeed

 

[Brooksie967]

I had a fellow military member who works at the woodshop on base turn me a handle.... he says it'll be done tonight around 9, that means I can epoxy this knot and use it within a day or so

 

[KodiakAttack]

Indeed

Is it you that also has a brush from the mythical land of "Gemrany?"