Very gentlemanly of you Stan, as one would expect. I'm just glad it is being dealt with after a very long wait. I do hope Bernd completes the brush with no issues. Keep me posted
Re. My shavemac 'Finest'. How does Bernd "repair" a shedding brush?
- Thread starter DevonStan
- Start date
DevonStan
Forum GOD!
It really isn't that important in the grand scheme of things and I'm honestly not that concerned any more.
But the replacement brush sheds worse than the one it replaced.
To be honest I haven't emailed Bernd, I'll just box it up and enclose a letter and a couple of photos showing that I do actually own other shavemac brushes and they haven't shed at all, and I'll enclose copy invoices to tie it all together. I shall send it Royal Mail using the cheapest service they offer (£4.10p) and not worry too much even if it did get lost in the post.
It does, however, remind me that I've spent enough money on expensive badger brushes and won't be buying any more, ever. And that my synthetics are all I, personally, really need or want.
Furthermore the last purchase of an expensive stainless razor (a polished Blackbird kit direct from the USA) was a disappointment and it was outed in short shrift and further serve to remind me that I have everything I could ever want and don't now even hanker after a Wolfman. But I have to say I very much value the black, long handled Blackbird that I bought from a fellow member and it will remain with me for the duration, along with the other hardware that I've whittled down in number.
I also can't believe that the humble Weber that I bought, used, for £55 would now go for in excess of £150! Whilst not elegant, it's an excellent tool in my book, but £150 for a second hand one !!
Hope the aforegoing wasn't TOO negative, but, honestly, it's all just rinsing your whiskers down the sink in the end, isn't it?
But the replacement brush sheds worse than the one it replaced.
To be honest I haven't emailed Bernd, I'll just box it up and enclose a letter and a couple of photos showing that I do actually own other shavemac brushes and they haven't shed at all, and I'll enclose copy invoices to tie it all together. I shall send it Royal Mail using the cheapest service they offer (£4.10p) and not worry too much even if it did get lost in the post.
It does, however, remind me that I've spent enough money on expensive badger brushes and won't be buying any more, ever. And that my synthetics are all I, personally, really need or want.
Furthermore the last purchase of an expensive stainless razor (a polished Blackbird kit direct from the USA) was a disappointment and it was outed in short shrift and further serve to remind me that I have everything I could ever want and don't now even hanker after a Wolfman. But I have to say I very much value the black, long handled Blackbird that I bought from a fellow member and it will remain with me for the duration, along with the other hardware that I've whittled down in number.
I also can't believe that the humble Weber that I bought, used, for £55 would now go for in excess of £150! Whilst not elegant, it's an excellent tool in my book, but £150 for a second hand one !!
Hope the aforegoing wasn't TOO negative, but, honestly, it's all just rinsing your whiskers down the sink in the end, isn't it?
Conservator
Forum GOD!
Glad to see a happy ending.
DevonStan
Forum GOD!
Haven't sent the brush off to Bernd yet, therefore still somewhat unresolved ... so wouldn't have said we've achieved a happy ending as we speak ....
DevonStan
Forum GOD!
Brush sent on the 15th August (just under a fortnight ago).
Didn't hear anything so sent a brief, polite, email yesterday checking it has been received.
Reply promptly received today.... Bernd said it was received some days ago. He said the brush "really shed a lot of hairs". No arguments there then.
He has offered to replace it with a Silvertip which he describes as 'more durable'. Certainly no arguments there either.
Nothing more to report at the moment other than to acknowledge the genuine nature of Bernd's after sales service. (I guess he would have responded to me in good time without my sending a brief enquiry/reminder email... but I just started to get a little impatient.
Am entirely confident it will arrive in due course and very much hope it's as good as the two others here, I'm sure it will be.....
Didn't hear anything so sent a brief, polite, email yesterday checking it has been received.
Reply promptly received today.... Bernd said it was received some days ago. He said the brush "really shed a lot of hairs". No arguments there then.
He has offered to replace it with a Silvertip which he describes as 'more durable'. Certainly no arguments there either.
Nothing more to report at the moment other than to acknowledge the genuine nature of Bernd's after sales service. (I guess he would have responded to me in good time without my sending a brief enquiry/reminder email... but I just started to get a little impatient.
Am entirely confident it will arrive in due course and very much hope it's as good as the two others here, I'm sure it will be.....
Shaverrific666
368
Hope it works out well! Have to say I have had four of Bernd's brushes and the knot's have been bulletproof (hope I don't jinx myself) I can only recall ever losing one hair from a Shavemac....his knots are great.
Look forward to seeing the new and improved brush when it arrives!
Look forward to seeing the new and improved brush when it arrives!
Grarea
Forum Plod
I was just wondering what level of losing hairs counts as shedding.
I lose one regularly.
Hard to say if it is every shave or every fourth shave.
It didn't when I first got it, then just recently started doing it, I assumed it was going through a 'stage', is that not normal?
In my experience I have lost two hairs in total across approximately 30 Shavemacs over the course of about 4 years. Obviously a lot depends on how the brush is cared for, loading, drying, building lather etc. But have to admit I don't wrap my brushes in cotton wool.
DevonStan
Forum GOD!
"I was just wondering what level of losing hairs counts as shedding.
I lose one regularly.
Hard to say if it is every shave or every fourth shave.
It didn't when I first got it, then just recently started doing it, I assumed it was going through a 'stage', is that not normal?
Can only speak from personal (in)experience but, of the two brushes which form the topic here, the first was regularly losing 4 - 6 hairs per shave (see above for details) and the replacement was a lot worse and I counted, at the very least, a good twenty or more hairs in the sink after a shave.
If it was one hair per shave then it wouldn't, initially, cause me to return it ... but I think any more than one a regular basis would probably give rise to an email to the supplier.
I lose one regularly.
Hard to say if it is every shave or every fourth shave.
It didn't when I first got it, then just recently started doing it, I assumed it was going through a 'stage', is that not normal?
Can only speak from personal (in)experience but, of the two brushes which form the topic here, the first was regularly losing 4 - 6 hairs per shave (see above for details) and the replacement was a lot worse and I counted, at the very least, a good twenty or more hairs in the sink after a shave.
If it was one hair per shave then it wouldn't, initially, cause me to return it ... but I think any more than one a regular basis would probably give rise to an email to the supplier.
Grarea
Forum Plod
Cheers DS.
Yes, I should maybe take a bit of note how often I lose one.
Yours really were throwing them away weren't they? (Sorry if i missed that bit)
Probably a greater volume than off your face going down the sink.
DevonStan
Forum GOD!
Re. above, I'm afraid they were, especially the replacement. I honestly don't know if by virtue of it being classed as a "Finest" as opposed to, say, a Silvertip, it would be expected to be more susceptible to premature baldness. I [only] have eight brushes in total and none of the others shed anything worthy of note ... and the synthetics definitely don't lose anything, ever.
Shaverrific666
368
Believe me you know a shedder when you get one...I think if you are losing a lot of hairs every shave/every use... the knot could be defective..the odd one now and again is OK.
I have to be honest I probably should soak all my brushes for longer, pre shave. And I do use circular motions and a light scrubbing action to build up lather. When loading I don't mash the brush at all. To my mind this will just place soap at the base as opposed to the upper band/tips.
Another thing I have found, if mashing fan shaped brushes, over a long duration of use, especially if they are not very dense the brush seems to bloom beyond what I find comfortable. In other words backbone becomes too weak. This is perhaps one reason I have gravitated towards bulb knots. You can use more force with less splay and keeping to the bulbs profile.
I know many thoughts exist on splay and whether the knot shape does change or just spread/bloom. I don't believe the knot shape alters with my Shavemac brushes, but with other brushes I have found this to be the case. Bernd hand ties all his DO1 2 band knots which I also believe has a different face feel to his standard 2 band beyond density. Anyway I'm rambling as per usual. In conclusion his brushes are made to be used, even with my relatively heavy handed approach I haven't had any issues. I did find his finest brushes to have more splay than the others.
Another thing I have found, if mashing fan shaped brushes, over a long duration of use, especially if they are not very dense the brush seems to bloom beyond what I find comfortable. In other words backbone becomes too weak. This is perhaps one reason I have gravitated towards bulb knots. You can use more force with less splay and keeping to the bulbs profile.
I know many thoughts exist on splay and whether the knot shape does change or just spread/bloom. I don't believe the knot shape alters with my Shavemac brushes, but with other brushes I have found this to be the case. Bernd hand ties all his DO1 2 band knots which I also believe has a different face feel to his standard 2 band beyond density. Anyway I'm rambling as per usual. In conclusion his brushes are made to be used, even with my relatively heavy handed approach I haven't had any issues. I did find his finest brushes to have more splay than the others.