My first M&F / Sears Brush

Met with a member to deliver some soaps in person and he brought some brushes he was going to list - of course the last thing I needed was another brush, but I couldn't help myself (I have zero impulse control)... So now I'm the proud owner of an M&F / Sears brush (L7, 28mm) - it's the longest handle I own - the first time I shaved with it (yesterday) I held it by the end, and my hand started cramping. Clearly I need to change my technique for this brush - likely holding it around the ferrule. But great lather and wonderful feel!

(04-01-2019, 07:11 AM)IanG153 Wrote: Met with a member to deliver some soaps in person and he brought some brushes he was going to list - of course the last thing I needed was another brush, but I couldn't help myself (I have zero impulse control)... So now I'm the proud owner of an M&F / Sears brush (L7, 28mm) - it's the longest handle I own - the first time I shaved with it (yesterday) I held it by the end, and my hand started cramping. Clearly I need to change my technique for this brush - likely holding it around the ferrule. But great lather and wonderful feel!

I'm glad you're enjoying your new L7.  Yours is one of two, 2-colour L7's we made in the Butterscotch/Tortoiseshell combination.  

If you're used to XL/Chubby-sized brushes, you quickly find that longer-handled brushes call for a slightly different method of holding, as you suggest.  To that end, we find the most comfortable way to hold the L7--and other similarly-sized brushes--is to wrap our thumb and forefinger around the ferrule while steadying the handle with the middle and fourth fingers gently against the palm.  With that handhold, we find the L7 a quite delightful brush--and hope you will as well.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

Thank you SO much for responding, Brad - that's an unanticipated bonus :-)
It's just a beautiful brush! I really do appreciate the background of the brush and the suggestions about how to hold it - you're right, I'm used to chubby-size brushes, so will do as you suggest.
Thank you again for your response - looking forward to many enjoyable shaves with this brush!
Best
Ian

If you send it to me, your hand will never cramp from using it.  Just a suggestion.

It's a good suggestion - let me ponder that  
Ok, pondered - I'll see if Brad's recommendation works first!

(04-01-2019, 11:20 AM)bkatbamna Wrote: If you send it to me, your hand will never cramp from using it.  Just a suggestion.

Well, ya know:  we just MIGHT be able to create one...or...two...or 10(!) more....    Seriously though, the bi-colour L7 is a fun brush to create posing enough of a technical challenge to be interesting, but not so much as to have me muttering to myself.    On that subject, I've been pondering (that word again) a Coral handle under an Amber ferrule. 

(04-01-2019, 12:57 PM)BSWoodturning Wrote:

(04-01-2019, 11:20 AM)bkatbamna Wrote: If you send it to me, your hand will never cramp from using it.  Just a suggestion.

Well, ya know:  we just MIGHT be able to create one...or...two...or 10(!) more....    Seriously though, the bi-colour L7 is a fun brush to create posing enough of a technical challenge to be interesting, but not so much as to have me muttering to myself.    On that subject, I've been pondering (that word again) a Coral handle under an Amber ferrule. 

Well, selfishly, I like how few of these brushes have been made, but I appreciate that others should have an opportunity to own one
Just got home and held the brush as you suggested, Brad - huge difference - thank you! I'll be keeping this one, although Coral under Amber sounds like it would be beautiful!
Thanks again!
Ian

Beautiful handle, great knot.

Thanks!!

Congratulations on your first M&F brush.

Thanks! 'first' being the operative word

Congrats on your first of hopefully several M&F / Brad Sears brushes.

Nice tip from Brad on holding the brush.

Thanks - yes that tip makes all the difference - I like to think I would have figured out myself a better way to hold this brush than what I did, but nice to hear it from Brad!

(04-01-2019, 07:57 AM)BSWoodturning Wrote:

(04-01-2019, 07:11 AM)IanG153 Wrote: Met with a member to deliver some soaps in person and he brought some brushes he was going to list - of course the last thing I needed was another brush, but I couldn't help myself (I have zero impulse control)... So now I'm the proud owner of an M&F / Sears brush (L7, 28mm) - it's the longest handle I own - the first time I shaved with it (yesterday) I held it by the end, and my hand started cramping. Clearly I need to change my technique for this brush - likely holding it around the ferrule. But great lather and wonderful feel!

I'm glad you're enjoying your new L7.  Yours is one of two, 2-colour L7's we made in the Butterscotch/Tortoiseshell combination.  

If you're used to XL/Chubby-sized brushes, you quickly find that longer-handled brushes call for a slightly different method of holding, as you suggest.  To that end, we find the most comfortable way to hold the L7--and other similarly-sized brushes--is to wrap our thumb and forefinger around the ferrule while steadying the handle with the middle and fourth fingers gently against the palm.  With that handhold, we find the L7 a quite delightful brush--and hope you will as well.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any other questions.

That is a beautiful brush! Congrats BSWood and great job Brad, from conception to product. I now have another brush to add to my "gimme" list. Of course,  I'm a Fan fan but at that size knot bulbs do get on that list,  otherwise.....

That’s a beauty. Enjoy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks - Brad's holding tip made all the difference - enjoying this brush a LOT!

Great brush, M&F is a quality badger.