Beautiful Shaving Accessories Made on the NOVA Wood Lathe

The story of these shaving brushes' creation is a great example of how finding a niche and using the right equipment can lead to excellent results. It also allows for a blend of hobby and work. The main character of this post, Mait, is a keen self-learner – the internet and extensive experimentation have made him a valued woodmaster. Mait and his wife Helena dedicate a large portion of their time to producing quality shaving brushes and bowls from domestic wood. They put their heart and soul into each product.

IF YOU CAN'T FIND A SUITABLE PRODUCT, MAKE IT YOURSELF!

This is exactly what prompted Mait to start making shaving brushes. After buying a brush from a not-so-cheap store, it fell apart on the second use. When communication with the store's representative didn't resolve the issue, he decided to tackle the problem himself. Thus, he bought the best possible lathe and started making the brushes himself. Mait has found the right niche – there are no competitors in the domestic market for these shaving brushes.

Mait and Helena’s range of products isn’t limited to just one item. In addition to brushes, they also make wooden bowls (e.g., for use as foam bowls in shaving), coffee cups, and special products. To complete the shaving set, Helena also makes shaving soaps.

NATURE CLOSENESS IN BOTH HOBBIES AND PRODUCTION

Mait and Helena are accustomed to working with nature. Before they started making wood products, their free time was spent hiking, working at Mait's family farm, and fishing. Now, even though they also engage in woodworking at the farm in their spare time, they still connect all their activities with nature.

Mait works daily as a machine operator in a metal company, and Helena is a customer service representative. Since both work on a schedule and can handle the NOVA mini wood lathe, they find enough time to fulfill the growing demands of their clientele.

Their choice of materials also reflects their closeness to nature. Often, they use wood from their own forest, but sometimes clients provide their materials. They frequently use alder, ash, juniper, birch, pine, oak, and various types of apple wood. Mait prefers to turn spruce – it has the best smell and after burning, the pattern lines are very strong. Helena thinks juniper is the best for its aroma and unpredictable wood texture and patterns.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT – WITH THE HELP OF NOVA

While it took Mait two hours to make his first brush, after practice, he can now make them in just 45 minutes. This faster completion is due to two main reasons: naturally, practice speeds up the entire process. Secondly, the quality of the mini wood lathe and its additional components contribute to both speed and reliability.

Reliability is one of the most important aspects of making brushes and bowls. The entire process starts with selecting the right wood for the lathe. Choosing good, flawless timber reduces the likelihood of the piece breaking during chiseling. If it breaks, the whole process has to start over... While the risk of breakage is small for large, shallow bowls, the production of their most important product, the shaving brush, involves more risks.

Generally, the product creation process involves:

• Selecting the material
• Working on the lathe
• Sanding the base
• Oiling and varnishing

THE NOVA MINI LATHE IS THE BEST LATHE FOR SMALL WOOD DETAILS

It can be confidently stated that the NOVA MC450VD lathe, intended for wood, is the best machine for Mait’s projects – it's used for 95% of his work. In addition to the mini lathe, the craftsman has found several accessories and products that significantly simplify production: mini lathe extension, spindle, drill spindle, and the NOVA HSS chisel set. For sanding, Mait has so far used an orbital and belt sander, but a quality Koneita belt sander is soon arriving in the workshop.

Mait and Helena are soon planning to release a new product. The development process is still ongoing, and the product is being refined, but if you want to be the first to hear about the new product, or just keep an eye on Mait and Helena's activities, you can find them on social media: Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.