Wolf Whiskers AMA, April 25th, 2016

Hi Peter.  Your brushes are very much in demand and a backlog is not uncommon for you.  Do you periodically try to rethink how best to offer your brushes for sale or do you believe you have found the best way possible for your one man operation?

On a personal note, do you ever miss the structure of the Navy as oppposed to working for yourself?

I don't miss the Navy at all. I value the freedom to work when I want to and to take a nap if I need it.

I have thought out all the options for me to offer my brushes. I think I found it already. There has been several custom guys that have gone the way of "shelf sales" due to frustrations they have experienced in the world of custom orders. I guarantee you that it is challenging. After almost 3 years of taking orders, many things have been tried, some failed, some improved the process and other things did nothing to change the process. The only thing I haven't tried is a group buy with a single brush design. Yes, that would allow me larger volume but is that really the answer? It would eliminate the custom side of business and upset many out there. No matter the process I go with, someone will love it and others will hate it. Some will benefit and others would be left out. I have a unique challenge with a wait list method when it fills up so quickly.

I thought about CNC machines for about 15 minutes, but then realized it takes away the high touch personal feel of something unique.

Hello Peter

Thank you for taking the time to hang out here and answer questions today.

I have to say, as a previous customer of yours it is a pleasure to use your products, having custom made brushes feels like I am pampering myself without breaking the bank. However, it was just as great a pleasure dealing with you during the purchasing process.  I don't often say this about people;  I found you to be a true gentleman.  I have no doubt that should your company continue to grow, that level of customer service and communication will remain.

As always, most of the questions I wanted to ask have already been well covered.

After watching the videos on your website of you turning a handle (great to watch BTW), I was wondering how fast the lathe was turning?  And the tools you use, are they tungsten tipped?  Then I wondered how much work goes into polishing the handle after it has been turned.  Finally, do you discard all the fillings from the turning process, or do you have a way to recycle and reuse them?

Oh yeah, cats or dogs?

Cheers!

I use multiple tools including some carbide tipped and others from Thompson lathe tools http://thompsonlathetools.com/

Yes, the plastic ribbons can get >50 foot long when my tools are at their sharpest point, but have no real use at all that I have discovered. I fill up a small 13 gallon bag about once per 10 days and it weighs less than 2 pounds for a full bag.

There is considerable work to get a good shine. My process for that has been lots and lots of trial and error and lots of money figuring out the best method for me. I have gotten fairly efficient at this now, but it wasn't learned over night and the way I do things is nothing like methods I read about in the fora or from other brush turners as far as I know. Everyone has their own way that works best for them. It's like grilling chicken with super hot temperatures or slow and steady over time. Everyone has their own grilling method and by God in heaven, don't tell someone they are doing it wrong or that their is a better way to grill your meat.

Hello Peter


Oh yeah, cats or dogs?

Cheers!

Cats or dogs. Oh boy, will this get me in trouble? I used to love both. Now, I don't have patience for my family dog. He just ate my egg sandwich this morning when I went to pour a glass of milk. Not a fan of dogs. I have been bit while running in the past as well. Now, I am not an evil guy whom some dog senses as a "bad" guy as some people seem to believe. I do like some dogs. Those who do not bark too loudly and are respectful of authority and are clean without fleas or ticks and don't dig holes in my back yard or runs across the street and immediately jumps in the pond or rips insulation off of pipes or rips drapes and window screens. I don't mind those dogs.

I like how our family cat is friendly and never touches my food on my plate or meows too loudly in my ears.

This is one of my favorite handles, and I'm wondering what makes these materials so iridescent? The way the light hits it is stunning. I'm also very fond of the profile which has several excellent characteristics both  functional as well as aesthetic.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and share your thoughts today.
(shown here lathering some Italian Barber Amici)

This is one of my favorite handles, and I'm wondering what makes these materials so iridescent? The way the light hits it is stunning. I'm also very fond of the profile which has several excellent characteristics both  functional as well as aesthetic.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and share your thoughts today.

Mica Powder is what gives the pigment that sparkle. It is the same stuff that is used in automotive paints and even some cosmetics.

This is one of my favorite handles, and I'm wondering what makes these materials so iridescent? The way the light hits it is stunning. I'm also very fond of the profile which has several excellent characteristics both  functional as well as aesthetic.
Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions and share your thoughts today.

Mica Powder is what gives the pigment that sparkle.  It is the same stuff that is used in automotive paints and even some cosmetics.

Very interesting, thanks.

Hi there!

What's your most popular :

Handle
Material
Knot?

Thanks!

Hi there!

What's your most popular :

Handle
Material
Knot?

Thanks!

The Bishop handle is my most popular overall. The color theme would have to be Burnt Oak Whiskey and the knot is hands down 24mm ST premium from TGN.

Hello Peter,

With all the brushes I have I continue to reach for yours. The Julie in the Tiffany, the Julie in the Copper and Turquoises, The DWW (chief design) the Bishop in your fist multi color rod design etc. These brushes look more beautiful today then when i received them from you a few years ago. And by the way my boys/the men in my family feel the same way about your brushes. Thank you.

P.S. I really like the Odyssey

Andrew,

Thank you for inviting me to participate in one of your unique AMA events. Let's make this fun.

To answer your question about WHY I started to make shaving brushes is a long answer, but I will try to keep it short. I started DE shaving back while I was still in the Navy. I think it was circa 2011. I kept seeing some wonderful hand turned shaving brushes on other forums. Some of them just made my eyes pop.

For several months I wanted to buy a custom made shaving brush, but with 5 kids, I just couldn't justify it. I preferred those over the larger manufacturers because of the price and the art it provided.

I told my bride that I thought I could perhaps make my own brush......LOL So, a few months later, I fell into the wood turning vortex and popped for the smallest lathe I could find. Long story short, it doesn't take very long before I realized I needed a lathe chuck, turning tools and many other items that quickly added up to over $1500. Most expensive shaving brush EVER and I didn't even like it and ended up giving it to a buddy in the Navy.

Then I convinced my wife that I think I might improve since I knew my drive and knew that I could if I set my mind to it based on my past experiences with wood working, stained glass and other crafty type things. She was pretty indifferent and yet supportive, so I up'd the anti and purchased several hundred dollars of more supplies with confidence that I might be able to pay off my supplies. I was turning my first brushes under my back yard Maple tree sitting on a tiny child sized picnic table with no weather shelter. I finally sold my first brush in June 2013 for a profit of $8 to a gentleman named Jeff R. I realized this was going to take a while to pay off my supplies and also felt it was a big mistake jumping into this.

Well, my first brushes were........not my favorite shapes. 3 months later, a few people took notice of my work as it began to improve a bit and I kept taking risks. The challenge that faced me was the Navy. Since we were scheduled to deploy for 9 months, we had many underway workups on my ship schedule from mid 2013 until deployment in February. I knew this would pause my hobby and I also knew I would miss it tremendously as it provided me peace and serenity during those times I need it......which is often.

I still hadn't paid off my lathe, much less my other tools. But, I just cautiously kept the faith and kept pushing myself hard to practice as much as possible while home with hopes that the guys and gals would like what I was making.

There is much more to this story, but I will save that for other questions.

thanks for the insights, Peter!

Peter,


- what do you like to do in your spare time that's NOT shaving related?


Thanks!

In my spare time, I am currently moving, so fixing up things, mowing the lawns here and there, hanging curtains, repacking boxes, etc. I am about to paint my other home and get it ready to sell. If anyone is good at that and wants to help who lives in the Newport News area, I welcome the help because I don't love painting.

I run for health. I used to compete in 5K, 10K and half marathons during 2009-2011, but now just for health. http://articles.dailypress.com/2011-01-2...nable-race

good luck with the running! I'd like to start getting into biking myself.