Shaving Brush

by **griswold** » 15 Apr 2011 22:53

I bought a shaving brush for giving my records the once over before playing and have to say that it works a treat. You can see the dust residue on the deck below the turntable.
(Yes, my records had been cleaned using de-ionised water, distilled vinegar and rinse aid.)

My wife thinks I am mad.

by **Devil Doc** » 16 Apr 2011 00:52

You using silver tip or pure badger?

Doc.

by **pivot** » 16 Apr 2011 03:32

Interesting. I would expect it would generate static but have not tried it myself.

Only shaving brush I have around I use for - well - shaving.

Given the cost of a decent badger hair brush it does not seem you would save any cost over a carbon fiber brush meant for records. I know my shaving brush was circa $45 and one can spend a great deal more.

Does it really do a better job?

by **Dadimo** » 16 Apr 2011 03:58

Griswold,
I hope you are not planning on using a carbon fiber brush to make shaving lather. I am just joking, the badger hair is some of the softest around. :wink:

by **Whitneyville** » 16 Apr 2011 07:46

Kevin, do you "go all the way" and use a straight razor? I've used a straight razor and a brush and cup since I was 16 (57 now). I'm on my fourth brush, third or fourth cup, same Otto Fromme Red Head No. 43 bone handled razor with German Silver (nickel silver) filigree on the ends. It's 100% Damascus spring steel, and will rust over-night if not cared for properly. I wear tri-focals, and never shave with my glasses on....in fact when the power was out a few years ago, I shaved in the dark by "Braille", and I haven't nicked myself in so many years I can't tell you...except when I'm away from home and have to use a #&@#% "safety razor" and nearly slit my throat! I know of people who use shaving soap and a brush on LP's! It works for them is all I can say...

by **pivot** » 16 Apr 2011 13:56

Whitneyville wrote:Kevin, do you "go all the way" and use a straight razor?

Not currently, just one of those multi blade things.

I have been looking for a decent re-pop, or usable original, of an 18th century cut-throat for when I am reenacting. 18th century blades are flat ground, not hollow ground, an lack the "monkey tail" opposite the blade.

Either as re-pop or original they are not cheap.

by **Whitneyville** » 17 Apr 2011 08:59

Yes, a flat ground "cut throat" is going to be hard to find indeed. My Great grandfather had one, but one of his daughter's (my great aunt's) grabbed everything when he died, and probably threw it away, because she was like that. His was very, very old, worn and rusted, but some time with a whet-rock would have made it look OK. His had a hard rubber handle on it. I have my mother's grandfather's wooden shaving "cup" which is only about a 1/2" deep and either American Beech or possibly Bald Cypress. It's over 150 years old, and I have some of my mother's maternal grandmother's cast iron cookware, which may have been her mother's! I have two sizes of iron skillets, a griddle and what people today call a "Dutch Oven" but is really a fireplace oven. You can't buy cast iron cooking utensiles like these today for any price. I also have some of her tinware skillets and a huge coffee pot (about 3 gallons). These were made for cooking over an open fire, or on hot coals. The tiny Civil War "Coffee boiler's" pots are being made as reproductions now. And mine is modern, but I'm proud to own an Alladin's Magic Lamp, with a nickel-silver font and a "Flower Garden" glass shade. When the power's off, I have a 300 watt "halogen" light that will burn 8-9 hours on 6 oz. of kerosene or lamp oil.It doesn't smell or smoke either.

by **griswold** » 22 Apr 2011 13:21

pivot wrote:Interesting. I would expect it would generate static but have not tried it myself.

Only shaving brush I have around I use for - well - shaving.

Given the cost of a decent badger hair brush it does not seem you would save any cost over a carbon fiber brush meant for records. I know my shaving brush was circa $45 and one can spend a great deal more.

Does it really do a better job?

I haven't used carbon fibre brush. The shaving brush cost £3.50 from Tesco. I think it helps - judging by the amount of dust that falls off the disc onto the deck. It is also good when wet washing a record. The bristles are soft and fine.

I have just got back into vinyl and am not a purist (yet

)

by **Whitneyville** » 23 Apr 2011 07:46

For that kind of price in the US, we get a boar's hair brush maybe (not so good). If it works, then use it until you find a reason not to, and I can't think of any off the top of my head.

by **griswold** » 07 May 2011 21:37

After a couple of weeks now, have to say that I am still impressed by the brush. I also wet washed a couple of dirty LPs purchased at a record fair using the brush and it seemed to work well (in the sink - then home brew then deionised water).
I am now trying the method of using the brush a few times then giving the record the once over with barely damp micro fibre cloth. Seems to work well.

by **wordwizard** » 07 May 2011 22:18

Whitneyville wrote:... do you "go all the way" and use a straight razor? ...

There is something fatalistic about someone that starts his day by putting sharp steel to his throat...

--just saying....

by **Jim Leach** » 11 May 2011 18:38

For those thinking of other brush options...

Over at the local Wally-World (WalMart) in the shoe section, you can get a nice horse-hair brush for a few bucks.

I use the small round one as a hat brush (works great!) but they also have the buffing brush for sub-$20.00 that has a nice hardwood handle and generous size for cleaning records...

I've not tried it, but if you want to compare horsehair to your shaving brush (mine is badger hair, but a plastic handle) you could check it out.

IMPORTANT: do not use brush on your records after doping it with shoe polish (not even black polish). :wink:

by **griswold** » 12 May 2011 17:53

It gets better.
I got one of those brushes that women use to put powder or whatever on their faces. Called a 'shimmer brush'. It is softer, finer and fuller than the shaving brush. Takes a heap of dust out. Then I wipe the disc with a slightly (very slightly) damp lens cleaning cloth - a few times - which removes a heap of dust (from a 'clean' disc).
I got the brush in Boots for £3.29.

Life was so much simpler before I got the deck back out.

by **Whitneyville** » 12 May 2011 18:17

Gris', you are a man after my own heart! It DOESN'T need to be labeled audio and cost 4 times as much to work, does it? I'm a plastic aircraft and railroad modeler, and I recently purchased at the bargain store some "make-up" brushes, to apply women's make-up that are 100% identical to a set of "weathering applicators" sold by one of the hobby shop's distributor's for 8 times the price!