Who really needs a watch that is water resistant 1,000 feet? Who really needs a car that can go over 240 miles per hour? Who really needs a boot that can withstand both fire and water? Who needs such durable items, built to withstand and achieve such amazing feats?
Answer: The fine members of Badger & Blade as we need a brush that is no shedshiester, isnt going to crack down the handle, can withstand a few accidental drops, good performance with all types of products, a little bit of rough handling, a vigorous method shave every now and again, being boiled in water for say oh . 30 minutes then plunged in cold water, being blasted with a 5,301 degree F MAPP gas torch, being frozen for several hours (wet so as to allow the knot to radically expand within the handle as the water turns to ice), and of course .. run over by a 3 ton 2007 GMC Yukon Denali.
Gentlemen lets get ready to ruuuuuummmmmmbllllleee!
Test set #1 - Basic bristle/knot rigidity. A good brush should be able to take a good thrashing so in this set of tests, firstly - I firmly grab the bristle and twist it (both clockwise and counter-clockwise and pull on it as hard as I can so as to dislodge the knot from the handle, then I mash the hell out of it into the palm of my hand a few hundred times, then step on it with all of my weight to really squash the $%^$% out of the bristles.
Test Set #2 - Drop test. Every once in a blue moon, not matter how careful you are... you are going to drop your brush. Well.... not only do I drop it a few dozen times on concrete, I also throw it down (as you would spike a football) half a dozen times into the concrete...
But Joel! - What if you step on the brush multiple times, and really grind your foot into it - with shoes on when you happen to be shaving over concrete? Well fellas... I got ya covered...
Test set #3 - The Boil. Take brush... boil it for 30 minutes, then run cold water on it (so as to induce a crack in the handle or loosen the knot) Lastly grab hold of the hair and pull/twist the hell out of it - to attempt to rip the knot out....
Test Set #4 - The freeze. Take wet brush - insert in freezer - water expands when it turns to ice = best way to pop the knot outta a brush and show weakness. Once out of the freezer - if the knot isn't popped out, pull like hell and see if you can rip it out....
The SOB is frozen solid - notice NO splaying when it is sitting on its bristles on hard granite?
Test Set #5 - So this brush is taking all of these beatings in stride... time to step it up a notch...
3 Ton 2007 GMC Yukon Denali XL (Notice the speck under the back right tire?)
Nick and I pulled like all bloody hell - and not even a hair popped out....
Ahh - what the hell... this calls for a shave....
Test Set #6 - 5,301 degrees of love for several minutes
The Money Shot....
Hmmm.... looks too sexy not to use... just needs to be washed a little...
Still works/feels great...
All things considered... the damn thing still looks mighty damn good...
So there you have it....a good looking brush you KNOW can take an absurdly stupid amount of abuse, and still function beautifully - a brush you can comfortably method shave with, scrub the hell out of your face with, and all in all just beat the dickens out of... because you KNOW it can take much, MUCH worse with barely a hiccup. Sure - we know you don't live in Antarctica, and we know you aren't going to use your brush and leave it outside in the snow, and sure we know you don't plan on having your brush run over by the wifes kiddy wagon... but isn't it nice to know all of that - and a HELL of a lot more COULD happen and your beloved B&B brush(es) will still be truckin' along?
Any other brand of brush would have bowed out after the first few sets of tests.... where as with the B&B brush.... you KNOW you are getting quality and durability that even with unreasonable use... with outlive your grandkids.
Gentlemen.... enjoy!
Answer: The fine members of Badger & Blade as we need a brush that is no shedshiester, isnt going to crack down the handle, can withstand a few accidental drops, good performance with all types of products, a little bit of rough handling, a vigorous method shave every now and again, being boiled in water for say oh . 30 minutes then plunged in cold water, being blasted with a 5,301 degree F MAPP gas torch, being frozen for several hours (wet so as to allow the knot to radically expand within the handle as the water turns to ice), and of course .. run over by a 3 ton 2007 GMC Yukon Denali.
Gentlemen lets get ready to ruuuuuummmmmmbllllleee!
Test set #1 - Basic bristle/knot rigidity. A good brush should be able to take a good thrashing so in this set of tests, firstly - I firmly grab the bristle and twist it (both clockwise and counter-clockwise and pull on it as hard as I can so as to dislodge the knot from the handle, then I mash the hell out of it into the palm of my hand a few hundred times, then step on it with all of my weight to really squash the $%^$% out of the bristles.
Test Set #2 - Drop test. Every once in a blue moon, not matter how careful you are... you are going to drop your brush. Well.... not only do I drop it a few dozen times on concrete, I also throw it down (as you would spike a football) half a dozen times into the concrete...
But Joel! - What if you step on the brush multiple times, and really grind your foot into it - with shoes on when you happen to be shaving over concrete? Well fellas... I got ya covered...
Test set #3 - The Boil. Take brush... boil it for 30 minutes, then run cold water on it (so as to induce a crack in the handle or loosen the knot) Lastly grab hold of the hair and pull/twist the hell out of it - to attempt to rip the knot out....
Test Set #4 - The freeze. Take wet brush - insert in freezer - water expands when it turns to ice = best way to pop the knot outta a brush and show weakness. Once out of the freezer - if the knot isn't popped out, pull like hell and see if you can rip it out....
The SOB is frozen solid - notice NO splaying when it is sitting on its bristles on hard granite?
Test Set #5 - So this brush is taking all of these beatings in stride... time to step it up a notch...
3 Ton 2007 GMC Yukon Denali XL (Notice the speck under the back right tire?)
Nick and I pulled like all bloody hell - and not even a hair popped out....
Ahh - what the hell... this calls for a shave....
Test Set #6 - 5,301 degrees of love for several minutes
The Money Shot....
Hmmm.... looks too sexy not to use... just needs to be washed a little...
Still works/feels great...
All things considered... the damn thing still looks mighty damn good...
So there you have it....a good looking brush you KNOW can take an absurdly stupid amount of abuse, and still function beautifully - a brush you can comfortably method shave with, scrub the hell out of your face with, and all in all just beat the dickens out of... because you KNOW it can take much, MUCH worse with barely a hiccup. Sure - we know you don't live in Antarctica, and we know you aren't going to use your brush and leave it outside in the snow, and sure we know you don't plan on having your brush run over by the wifes kiddy wagon... but isn't it nice to know all of that - and a HELL of a lot more COULD happen and your beloved B&B brush(es) will still be truckin' along?
Any other brand of brush would have bowed out after the first few sets of tests.... where as with the B&B brush.... you KNOW you are getting quality and durability that even with unreasonable use... with outlive your grandkids.
Gentlemen.... enjoy!
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