Poll: New Knot or re-glue my Crabtree & Evelyn Brush

[biminyrd]

I have a crabtree and evelyn best badger brush that I bought 5 years ago, the knot came out about 2 years ago, and I've just been using my other brushes. My original thought was to replace the knot with a new knot from Golden Nib, but then I considered just glueing it back in and using it as it was meant to be in it's original form or just selling it or giving it to a friend. I like the size and shape of the handle but the knot is not very dense as it is. I have another vintage everyready butterscotch handle to restore and will make an order for another knot soon and could easily get 2.

Anyway, what would you do?

 

[FL shaver]

That is my first real brush (after Surrey and VDH boars), so I'll be nostalgic and say that the old knot ought to be epoxied back in with a little epoxy on the bottom of the plug. I know it isn't the best knot around, but your knot still looks to have a lot of life left in it! I saw an eBay auction last night for one and it was up to $20. I will say that a TGN finest would look and perform great in that handle. I still use mine once a week or so and it is about 5 or 6 years old.

Could you post a quick shot of the interior of the handle?

 

[tjg5181]

My FIRST brush was of course the VDH Boar that comes with the keep shave kit sold at Walmart. One night upon trying to rinse it out, I squeezed the head, and the knot SNAPPED out, not a clean cut either! Being the only brush I had at that time, I freaked. I quickly dried out the handle and the knot, and used Gorilla Glue (form of crazy glue) and aligned the pieces back together, Come morning, My brush was back to 100%. I have not had any issues with it again since! Very happy

 

[global_dev]

Get a new knot.

 

[biminyrd]

thanks for the input so far. the poll results are almost split.
anyone else care to expand on the pro's & con's.
is there a resale value for these? didn't they stop making them?
here's a shot of the interior of the handle.

 

[Kostas1]

I'd go with the TGN Finest. Definitely more dense than the EJ/C&E BBB and better backbone and softer tips IMHO. But this is coming from someone with 4 TGN Finest knots in the stable, so I might be biased.

 

[biminyrd]

I just used it to shave this morning and I still like it. It's not a bad brush, yes its lacking a bit of backbone and slightly floppy, but still makes and holds some good lather. I also like the finest badger from tgn, I'll probably just glue this back in and order a finest for my vintage restore, though I did give my dad one of these a few years back and he doesn't use it. I can't believe that these now cost twice as much. thanks for the comments so far.

 

[inspiringK]

Sounds like you still enjoy the knot and want the handle - just glue em back together!

 

[FL shaver]

Thanks for the additional shot. I'm still looking for the adhesive that held it!

 

[biminyrd]

lol,
I'm not sure there was much to begin with.

Thanks for the additional shot. I'm still looking for the adhesive that held it!

 

[FL shaver]

I just used it to shave this morning and I still like it. It's not a bad brush, yes its lacking a bit of backbone and slightly floppy, but still makes and holds some good lather. I also like the finest badger from tgn, I'll probably just glue this back in and order a finest for my vintage restore, though I did give my dad one of these a few years back and he doesn't use it. I can't believe that these now cost twice as much. thanks for the comments so far.

$65 before shipping now.
http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/eng/...hes-kits/ivory_best_badger_shave_brush?130291

 

[brothers]

When the knot popped out of my Kent BK4 I mixed up a very small couple of drops of epoxy and reglued it. If you like using this brush, it'll be easy and cheap to reglue it. If you really like the handle and have been curious about upgrading with something from TGN, it'll be relatively inexpensive to get the knot you like and glue it in instead. It might be a stroke of good luck that the original knot just popped out. That makes it very easy to replace.