07-02-2012, 04:45 PM
Well, I have had a PC Woodcraft Horse Hair 24 mm Knot for some time now and I just have not had time to put it in a handle until Oscar11 asked if anyone had tried this. So I decided to get this into a handle. The knot is set at 53 mm and had been washed in M.A.C. Cleaner and given a through lather break in along my forearms the evening before using.
The handle was one that I stained to resemble a aged distressed wood. The handle was bored down so that the knot would be shortened. I applied three layers of Minwax Polycrylic inside and out for water protection. A set of hex nuts on a small bolt was placed into the remaining center bore hole to provide some slight ballast. I used E6000 waterproof glue rather than epoxy on this particular handle and knot combination.
Here is the finished product.
![[Image: 7476055566_4445ea3b19_b.jpg]](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7476055566_4445ea3b19_b.jpg)
One of the unusual things is that the knot is not symmetrical. Even my Vie Long has a sense of symmetry when you look at the hairs. This one has some spots that seem to be rough cut on the sides. I may have picked the right handle to complement this look.
Now to the testing. I moved another item out of testing sequence to get to this one sooner. The lather was made using C.O. Bigelow and the brush is very soft for a horse hair brush. It is much softer than the Vie Long 13061 I have. It approached a Best Badger in softness. However, it is an extremely floppy brush. It is the most floppy brush that I have ever experienced, even with the loft set at 53 mm (barely 53 mm at that). I was able to get through a 3 1/2 pass shave plus a head shave with a dab of cream about the size of a dime. It applied cream gently but without much backbone. I guess that this hair was heavily treated to make it softer. That would also cause a severe reduction in backbone.
In conclusion, it is a soft brush for a horse, but if you are expecting the stiffness and quality of other brands of horse knots, then you will need to look elsewhere.
The handle was one that I stained to resemble a aged distressed wood. The handle was bored down so that the knot would be shortened. I applied three layers of Minwax Polycrylic inside and out for water protection. A set of hex nuts on a small bolt was placed into the remaining center bore hole to provide some slight ballast. I used E6000 waterproof glue rather than epoxy on this particular handle and knot combination.
Here is the finished product.
One of the unusual things is that the knot is not symmetrical. Even my Vie Long has a sense of symmetry when you look at the hairs. This one has some spots that seem to be rough cut on the sides. I may have picked the right handle to complement this look.
Now to the testing. I moved another item out of testing sequence to get to this one sooner. The lather was made using C.O. Bigelow and the brush is very soft for a horse hair brush. It is much softer than the Vie Long 13061 I have. It approached a Best Badger in softness. However, it is an extremely floppy brush. It is the most floppy brush that I have ever experienced, even with the loft set at 53 mm (barely 53 mm at that). I was able to get through a 3 1/2 pass shave plus a head shave with a dab of cream about the size of a dime. It applied cream gently but without much backbone. I guess that this hair was heavily treated to make it softer. That would also cause a severe reduction in backbone.
In conclusion, it is a soft brush for a horse, but if you are expecting the stiffness and quality of other brands of horse knots, then you will need to look elsewhere.
07-02-2012, 05:32 PM
(07-02-2012, 05:19 PM)wlmcad Wrote: Great review, and that is a beautiful brush. I have two questions:
- Is the handle a vintage handle or new?
- Is there another vendor that carries Horse Hair Knots?
It is a new handle. I worked to create that distressed aged look through the finishing process.
I don't know if there is another vendor that carries horse hair knots that would sell to the public. This was the only one I found.
07-04-2012, 07:23 AM
(07-04-2012, 04:40 AM)vpayne Wrote: I had this knot. Very frustrating trying to use it. I can't imagine anyone enjoying it because it is so floppy. It is like pushing a wet string uphill.
Vic
Well, the one that I am using is floppy but not as floppy as pushing a wet string uphill.
This brush is good for bowl lathering and face painting. It is not a face lathering brush.
Evidently someone else really enjoys his.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread....h-new-mane
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