Restore vs. In-Store?

[tob1303]

I'm sure this debate has occurred before...but I'll ask again.

I've been restoring lately...taking old clunkers, klenzo's, ever-readys, made-rites and putting a beautiful new knot of my choice in them. My question is - this costs me about 10 dollars for each handle (shipping mostly) and 15-40 bucks for the knot - so...why do we (and I do/will) pay so much for the Simpsons/Rooneys/Plisson/Kents of the world? Honest question, I don't know the answer at all? Are we paying for a better handle? Is the knot better somehow (than say TGN or Blanks)? Is it because they set the knot in some different way? Or is it simply for that sticker on the front? Perhaps it's an assurance of all of these. I don't know....someone educate me so I can make better choices.

 

[Pumpkin]

I'm currently in the middle of a couple of restores/reknotting.
I've chosen this route so that I get a brush that's as nice as a "big name" brand but without paying their kind of money...as I don't have THAT kind of disposable income.
Plus, I'll have the satisfaction of using a tool that I've put the work into!

 

[natchez]

I have not restored any, but have bought a restored Ever-Ready on the B/S/T and could not be happier. Keep restoring- it is a wonderful way to recycle older items and frankly having bought a couple of beautiful handmade higher-end brushes they may be marginally better, but IMHO are not nearly as much fun to use with my vintage razors on a daily basis.

There is just something very right about a vintage razor paired with an older rejuvenated brush. But, then again, I really appreciated vintage things and use a bunch of them regularly, including old cast iron skillets, tube radios, and some neat old Coleman camp lanterns, heaters and stoves. I still use a Zippo lighter, if that gives you a clue as to my personality

 

[red71veloce]

Not sure how much better the "uber quality" brushes are than a restored with TGN knot vintage brush. I have never used a Plisson or Simpson etc. I will say this though, I find the variety of shapes/colors/materials of the vintage brushes vastly more interesting than current production brushes. The first brush I bought when getting reacquainted with wet shaving was a decent Vulfix BB with a nice turned resin handle......boring! I have since restored several brushes and have more to do. I love them....much more enjoyable for me to use and not just because I restored them. I have one or two NOS brushes I have used without replacing the knot and they too are just a joy to use.

Old brushes rule!

Tracy

 

[AFG]

I recently reknotted an Omega boar brush with a two band GN finest with extra hair. It seem to be a very good knot although I have only used it a couple of times. Time will tell how well it measure up to the more expensive two band brushes I own. And while it has "extra hair" it does not have the density of Simpson, Rooney or Plisson. But I also have less than $50 invested in this brush and am quite pleased with it. The major name brushes have some beautifully turned handles which also add to the price. If you obtain a nice handle and choose a good knot from GN you can end up with a nice brush at a very reasonable cost.

 

[Go West Young Man]

The cost of materials going into a product has little bearing on the price one charges for it, that's how commerce works.

 

[fidjit]

Much is the pity I don't think there's a definitive answer here ....YMMV

I have 3 restored brushes which I absolutely love.

At the moment I am so sorely tempted to buy a Rooney Alibaba Size 1 because I have some "spare" cash hanging around.

The Rooney pretty much fits the specs of my restores in terms of loft and knot size.

Trouble is I dont' want to spend 3+ times the cost of my restored brushes to find that I prefer my restore brushes better.

I'm trying to see how a Rooney is 3 times better ( in terms of performance v price ) than my restores.............