Wood Handle Shaving Brushes vs Resin (2025)

When looking at handle materials for a shaving brush, some are sold with wood and then there are the popular resin/acrylics in various colors.

Can anyone speak to the durability of the wood handles brushes vs resin? In other words, if the brush is used daily, will the wood get all beat up. It's subject, obviously, to water but also getting dropped, bumped, and more importantly, just used daily. It would seem to me the resins would be about indestructible but even the hardest of woods, even when lacquered, are subject, will deteriorate with daily use over several decades.

There is no way the wood handles that I turn will ever deteriorate as a result of water contact, because water can't contact it. Completely coated inside and out with clear epoxy. Absolutely water proof.

Now if you want indestructible, completely water proof and a brush that floats......ruberised cork is the ticket.

op8glum said:

lovely work on those brushes alpster

Click to expand...

Thanks Aaron

Old Sure Hand said:

Wood and water don't work together. Sooner or later will be some issue with wooden handle.

Click to expand...

+1. This is why I prefer resin in modern blushes. (In the old days, before PC, I would likely have purchased bone or ivory handles.)

alpster said:

There is no way the wood handles that I turn will ever deteriorate as a result of water contact, because water can't contact it. Completely coated inside and out with clear epoxy. Absolutely water proof.

Click to expand...

+1 I coat inside & out with CA glue, which is liquid acrylic. There is no difference after drying between an acrylic handle and a wood handle in terms of water affecting it.

The only wood handled brush I currently have is one made of Jerusalem Olive Wood. It is sort of a remembrance of a trip there a few years back. I bought the handle and finished it with several coats of polyurethane as well as sealed the hole well with epoxy before setting the knot. I have several other brushes so I don't use it often. It will likely last a long time.

Growing up I had a brush from a company who's name I have long since forgotten. It was the fore-runner of VDH, and probably of Surrey as well. Back then, it was a wood handle although the same shape as the cheap VDH boar brush of today. Over time, they cracked. It was kind of nice when they switched to plastic so the only wear was when the boar bristle wore out.

That isn't much to go on, but still I much prefer a modern plastic handle. I have a real horn brush, and it requires some attention, especially to oil it from time to time so it doesn't crack. Looking back, the plastic faux horn brushes I have look just as good and I probably would not buy the real one again.

That said, some woods hold up to water very well, and many really look great when properly finished. If cared for, they can last a long time, especially the hardest woods. So if that is what you like and you don't mind caring for it then go for it.

For me though, I'll usually go for plastic. It's nearly indestructible.

op8glum said:

lovely work on those brushes alpster

Click to expand...

+1 alpster. Some beautiful handles you've made there. Resin handles can not equal the awesome look !

Craig