Badger it not?

[TobyC]

1, I enjoy badger, boar and synthetic brushes.
2, I respect for @TobyC for his fierce loyalty to bristle.
3, I eat meat and drive a car with a combustion engine.
4, my belt is made of leather as are parts of my sneakers and shoes.
5, babies and dogs seem to like me.
6, the universe is in relative balance and I do what I can to be in harmony.

Damn, you're a normal, rational thinking human being, how did you end up on a shaving forum?!!!

 

[TobyC]

Not tryng to give lessons or tell anyone what to do or counter to anyone here. This is just some thinking from several points of view:
1. Ecology-wise, synthetic bristles add to plastic pollution after they are thrown away, same for any synthetic handle.
Wood handles add to tree harvesting.
Metal handles add to pollution by mining and metal acquiring processes.
So:
Plastic made out of HEMP would be a good sollution for both bristles and handles.

2. Animal cruelty-wise, horse bristles are the most ethical, since the mane and tail are groomed and trimmed regularly.

Everything else will bother SOMEONE, in some way.

Personally, i have a total of 4 brushes, 2x boar, a synthetic and a badger. I consider adding a 4th or 5th gen. synth to that in the long run, but i simply don't need more than that.

Each to his own, but realistically, the best solution for the biggest part of the problem is pure and simple MODESTY. No more, no less.
Find what works for you and USE IT. Untill it really needs replacement. There is no real need to buy something new just on a whim or because it looks good. Plain and simple.

I use vintage brushes, sometimes with original hair and sometimes with a new boar knot. These brushes already exist so they don't require any new materials other than a new knot, which is a byproduct of the pork industry. So, I'm keeping old stuff out of the landfill through re-use, and not using any natural resources, and causing no pollution. And there seems to be an endless supply of vintage brushes out there that we could all enjoy, there's even NOS stuff if you must have unused brushes.

 

[chazt]

Apologies to the OP in advance for the brief hijack

I use vintage brushes, sometimes with original hair and sometimes with a new boar knot. These brushes already exist so they don't require any new materials other than a new knot, which is a byproduct of the pork industry. So, I'm keeping old stuff out of the landfill through re-use, and not using any natural resources, and causing no pollution. And there seems to be an endless supply of vintage brushes out there that we could all enjoy, there's even NOS stuff if you must have unused brushes.

Good post Toby. Re: your last point; this is a personal quirk of mine - one of many! I’ve never used a previously owned shave brush. While I have no problem with buying and using vintage razors, the thought of using a pre-owned shave brush give me the willies.

 

[Smiffy]

Apologies to the OP in advance for the brief hijack


Good post Toby. Re: your last point; this is a personal quirk of mine - one of many! I’ve never used a previously owned shave brush. While I have no problem with buying and using vintage razors, the thought of using a pre-owned shave brush give me the willies.

All badger brushes are pre owned.

 

[chazt]

All badger brushes are pre owned.

Philosophically speaking?

 

[TobyC]

Apologies to the OP in advance for the brief hijack


Good post Toby. Re: your last point; this is a personal quirk of mine - one of many! I’ve never used a previously owned shave brush. While I have no problem with buying and using vintage razors, the thought of using a pre-owned shave brush give me the willies.

You can still find new in the box vintage brushes, and at least some are very reasonably priced. Just make sure it's actually unused, some used ones come with the original packaging.
Cleaning, or refinishing the handle and putting in a new knot gets you a brand new unused brush for all practical purposes, but I understand your reluctance.

 

[TobyC]

Philosophically speaking?

The badger was the original owner of the hair. And the seller of the brush technically owns the brush before you do. You've been using used crap all along!

 

[chazt]

The badger was the original owner of the hair. And the seller of the brush technically owns the brush before you do. You've been using used crap all along!

Philosophically speaking

 

[Mike Smart]

I Love Badger Brushes
I love Boar Brushes
I Love Horse Hair Brushes
I Love Synthetic Brushes
But
I don’t like animal cruelty whatsoever
If i thought not buying Badger would stop the cruelty i wouldn’t buy another badger ever
But
Until the Chinese stop eating everything that moves
unfortunately there’s no chance of that happening.
As i say i love badger but if it got banned i would happily support it

 

[TobyC]

I Love Badger Brushes
I love Boar Brushes
I Love Horse Hair Brushes
I Love Synthetic Brushes
But
I don’t like animal cruelty whatsoever
If i thought not buying Badger would stop the cruelty i wouldn’t buy another badger ever
But
Until the Chinese stop eating everything that moves
unfortunately there’s no chance of that happening.
As i say i love badger but if it got banned i would happily support it

Save the bats.

 

[Chris]

Save the bats.

Two things leapt out at me from this picture: "Aww, bats are cute!" and "Eew, those nails!".

 

[BlacknTan]

While I can't say I'd call bats cute.. they do do alot of good!

 

[Steve56]

Good post Toby. Re: your last point; this is a personal quirk of mine - one of many! I’ve never used a previously owned shave brush. While I have no problem with buying and using vintage razors, the thought of using a pre-owned shave brush give me the willies.

Well, to each his own I suppose, we all have our quirks and it’s good to remember that that’s what they are, quirks.

A shaving brush gets washed in warm water and soap with every use, just like the tableware at the restaurant that you just ate at, tableware that‘s been in thousands if not tens of thousands of mouths, yet that doesn’t seem to bother us. Mostly because our wives wouldn’t stand for such nonsense, lol.

I’ve owned a lot of used brushes. It’s a great way to see the actual brush that you’re getting, confirm that it does not shed (not possible with a new brush), and most of us are gentlemen who would work with each other if there’s an issue. Not so with many vendors. The biggest problem I’ve had is getting one that’s been used with Tabac, it takes a long time to get that scent out!

 

[Gairdner]

Not tryng to give lessons or tell anyone what to do or counter to anyone here. This is just some thinking from several points of view:
1. Ecology-wise, synthetic bristles add to plastic pollution after they are thrown away, same for any synthetic handle.
Wood handles add to tree harvesting.
Metal handles add to pollution by mining and metal acquiring processes.
So:
Plastic made out of HEMP would be a good sollution for both bristles and handles.

2. Animal cruelty-wise, horse bristles are the most ethical, since the mane and tail are groomed and trimmed regularly.

Everything else will bother SOMEONE, in some way.

Personally, i have a total of 4 brushes, 2x boar, a synthetic and a badger. I consider adding a 4th or 5th gen. synth to that in the long run, but i simply don't need more than that.

Each to his own, but realistically, the best solution for the biggest part of the problem is pure and simple MODESTY. No more, no less.
Find what works for you and USE IT. Untill it really needs replacement. There is no real need to buy something new just on a whim or because it looks good. Plain and simple.

I take great umbridge in your statement that wooden handles add to tree harvesting. What utter tosh! Most of the handles I’ve carved are from rescued, reclaimed and otherwise cast aside bits of wood. Besides, trees can and have been harvested with ecological benefits for centuries. Coppicing, pollarding and thinning of responsibly managed woodland has actually been proven to increase biodiversity.

However, I heartily agree that the felling of exotic species purely for their wood and with no plan to replant or care for their surrounding environment is at best wanton stupidity and at worst a grievous crime.

My very first wooden handle came from a large limb of ash that was pruned in order to allow easier passage of the 2012 Olympic procession - the tree lives yet.

Ash dieback disease is rife throughout this country and has decimated many of Europe’s fraxinus species. Are we to just let ALL of the wood rot? Burnt it all? Or should we put some to good use?

Trees can be farmed for the good of all but governments and companies around the world lack the foresight and planning to start a proper cycle of anything other than fast growing, near-useless spruce planting in this country. The quick buck, the instant return condemns us all.

Find me another handle material that is as sustainable, as easily worked, as practical and as beautiful as wood. There isn’t one and never will be. You may play with your 3D printed corn starch shite but I’ll stick to mother nature’s best and praise her for it. All hail wooden wood off trees!

For me, as a confirmed meat eater, the most ecological shaving brush is one made of wood without the use of electricity in its making, a natural coating and a boar hair knot. I’ve yet to find a horse hair knot than can come halfway close. Except for the knot plug, all of this may at least one day rot back into the environment from whence it came and enrich, not poison it.

Point made? I ruddy well hope so!

 

[Wayne]

I no longer own Badger Brushes and never will again. My shaves are just as good and enjoyable with Synthetic brushes. Each to their own