A Soldier's Story: How a Brush-Making Guardsman Supports his Brothers-in-Arms

Alex Marshall is the kind of person to whom giving comes naturally. The son of a pastor, he grew up in small-town Indiana, where he was active in his church and community and after college joined the Tennessee National Guard, where he has now served for 13 years. After a decade spent honing his woodcraft, Alex began turning shave brushes in 2024, and they quickly gained popularity on Shave Dad and across the wet-shaving community for their beauty and performance. But while some artisans consider it enough simply to share their work, Alex looked for ways to give back to both his community and his country, launching an innovative program that donates a brush to an active-duty service member with every one he sells. His story is one of sacrifice, commitment, and generosity—one that deserves to be told.

Q: Origins and craft – What first attracted you to woodworking, and how did you develop your skills? When did turning wood on a lathe become the springboard for Marshall Made Woodworking?

A: Growing up, my dad was a pastor for 37 years, and the church was a huge part of my life. As a kid, I spent many weekends helping the men in the congregation with things like landscaping and small home repairs – through this I started to enjoy working with my hands. That early experience sparked a real interest in building and creating, and eventually, I knew I needed to find someone to learn from.

Thankfully, a church member and lifelong family friend named Dean Bardonner stepped in as that mentor. I’ve peppered him with questions for years, and he’s always been generous with his knowledge. He’s a true master woodworker, and I feel very lucky to have learned so much from him. Beyond Dean, I’ve also sought guidance from many incredible people in the trades over the years, and their help has been invaluable. I’ve never shied from asking for help, especially when someone offers it. For me, this has been my key to developing the woodworking skills I have today.

I set a goal in 2024 to start woodturning, and I jumped right in. By the end of January that year, I’d bought a used lathe and began working. I’ve been woodworking for over 12 years, but after turning my first bowl, I haven’t been able to stop – woodturning is very addicting! I worry a little about losing my other woodworking skills, but honestly, I’d be happy even if I did. Turning really boosted my ability to consistently sell my work, which now funds new tools and materials. Since I started, I’ve really focused on branding and marketing myself, and while I plan to refine my brand over time, I think I’m starting to gain recognition in my local area.

Q: Joy of creation – What do you find most rewarding about bringing a piece to life with your own hands?

A: I love transforming raw materials into finished products. The specific material doesn’t matter; as long as I can creatively develop it into a functional piece, I’m captivated. Finding materials with a story—an heirloom, a log from a homeowner’s tree, or an old timber from a home remodel—excites me even more. I find immense joy in returning a significant or sentimental piece to its owner in a new and improved state.

Q: Wet-shaving journey – When did you start wet shaving, what drew you in, and what keeps you devoted to the ritual today? Can you tell us a bit about your own routine and some of the gear you use?

A: I've shaved daily for almost nine years. As an active duty member of the Tennessee Army National Guard, I must maintain regulatory grooming standards. Like many, I started with a can of Barbasol and a cartridge razor. However, about a year ago, I had an epiphany: I could make shaving brushes on my wood lathe. I tried my hand at turning some, and then I made my first brush sale on Etsy to Adam VanCamp from Yeole Strait N Strop. His deep passion forwet shaving sent me down the rabbit hole.

As I messaged Adam more, I realized how great the wet shaving community was. He introduced me to others, and I've connected with them consistently. After I joined Shave Dad, that was it—it's all I ever do on Facebook anymore!

My daily routine begins with a 4:30 AM wake-up and a splash of hot water on my face. I almost always start with Proraso pre-shave cream to awaken my senses, then I choose from my variety of soaps. I regularly cycle through about eight shaving brushes and six safety razors. I recently acquired five straight razors and started incorporating those regularly as well. Compared to some wet shaving enthusiasts, I don't have extensive software and hardware, but I have enough to keep it interesting. So far, all my safety razors have come from antique stores, and I've really enjoyed the handful of Gillettes I've found. Now, I only look for shaving gear when I'm out shopping with my wife!

Q: Handle design essentials – In your view, which dimensions or design elements are truly critical to a shave-brush handle’s comfort and performance? Is there one feature that can make—or break—the brush?

A: I'll tread lightly with my opinion on this topic because I've found that everyone has their own preference for shaving brush designs; some are very specific and unique. But this makes brush making so exciting! I can make a brush that's attractive in every way for myself, and ten people will love it just the same. I can also make a brush that seems odd to me, and ten people will absolutely appreciate it for its uniqueness.

However, my personal view has remained somewhat consistent since I started making and using a variety of brushes. I like a brush with curves that allow for a very comfortable grip in the palm. I like both longer and stubby handles, so length doesn't necessarily matter. As long as it has an area to rest my thumb and index finger, and I can feel the base resting in the crotch of my hand, I can dig it.

Q: Material selection – How do you choose your woods and other materials, and do you have any personal favorites or “signature” species?

A: I only use hardwoods for my wooden brushes; I believe they're essential for long-term durability. Exotic species are even better for their durability and character. As I mentioned, I prioritize wood with a story, so I’ll search for my own logs and branches vs. buying from the store. Beyond that, I'll use any species I can find to make a cool brush. Some of my favorite wood handles have come from mahogany, oak, walnut and old-growth pine.

I recently started casting my own resin blanks. I have much to explore here, but it's been a lot of fun. I hope to significantly elevate my brush designs over time, as the possibilities with resin are endless.

Q: Perfect loft – What’s your process for setting the knot and dialing in the ideal loft height?

A: I used to set my knots with epoxy, but I quickly realized that was too permanent. While epoxy works, replacing a knot requires drilling it out and cleaning the socket with hand tools or a rotary tool. It’s too easy to damage the brush this way. Since then, I've used silicone to set my knots. Silicone is waterproof and provides a strong hold, yet it allows for easy removal and cleanup of residue if you need or want to replace the knot.

I generally maintain a consistent loft height when setting knots, but I'm open to varying it. Depending on the knot, I might set it deeper if it lacks backbone. This is likely a personal preference for those highly attuned to these details, but I've never received a complaint when setting knots at my go-to loft height.

Q: Care tips – What maintenance routine do you recommend for keeping a wooden brush in top shape for years?

A: Some claim wooden brushes don't hold up well against water. While wood can be susceptible to moisture, wooden brushes can last a lifetime with proper maintenance.

After receiving your wooden brush, I recommend applying mineral oil or a wood conditioning product weekly or biweekly, depending on usage. I keep a small bottle of mineral oil under my sink; I rub it over the entire handle and let it sit overnight. Most times, the handle absorbs the majority of the oil. If some remains the next morning, I wipe it off, and the brush looks brand new. Stabilized wood makes the handle even more durable and extends the brush's lifespan. Of course, you'll also want to rinse all shaving soap from the knot and dry the bristles and handle after each use.

Q: Brush-for-service program – You donate a brush to an active-duty service member with every purchase. What sparked that initiative? What’s been your experience with the military?

A: As an active service member and recent wet shaving enthusiast, I wanted to provide other service members with wet shaving gear. The “Buy One, Gift One” idea emerged because I struggled with giving a lot of my work away. I'm unsure why, but exchanging money for my products has always made me feel uncomfortable, most likely due to being my harshest critic. My wife, an avid supporter of my craftsmanship, told me I needed to sell my product with confidence! So, I thought gifting a brush with each sale would satisfy both my need to earn a profit and my desire to give back. I've served in the Army National Guard for 13 years, joining after college. I've loved the experience, traveling to great places, participating in cool training (like clearing houses and shooting sniper rifles with The 5th Special Forces Group), and learning a lot about leadership. Giving back to the armed forces was an obvious choice.

Q: Military wet shavers – Can you share a memorable story from a recipient? How prevalent is wet shaving in today’s armed forces?

A: The most memorable part of gifting these brushes is reading the bios about the recipient’s military service. I understand most roles within the National Guard, but it's particularly neat to read about service members from other branches. Some of their jobs sound incredible, like working on submarines, ships, and aircraft. Ultimately, these service members are willing to do what it takes to keep their country and family safe—that's truly inspiring.

I recently gifted shaving brushes to a Lieutenant General, a Major General, and a Brigadier General. To my surprise, all three were wet shavers! The Lieutenant General's response was the best: “Wow man! This is a REAL man's gift! This is awesome!” That was a truly memorable experience.

I know plenty of wet shavers exist in the military, but unfortunately, I'm having a hard time finding them. It's proving more challenging than I thought, but thankfully, the more I spread the word, the more come out of the woodwork. If anyone wants to send me the contact information of a service member who wet shaves, I would be happy to add them to my recipient list!

Q: Looking ahead – What does the future hold for Marshall Made Woodworking? Where do you see the product line evolving next? Currently, you're on Etsy. Any plans for opening your own online store? 

I work on a variety of woodworking projects, but turning wood is by far my favorite. Soon, I'll add hand-turned safety razors, lather bowls, and brush/razor stands to my Etsy shop. I'll also introduce resin shaving bowls to my product line, with experiments starting in July.

I plan to launch a website in 2026. Etsy works well for my current sporadic inventory, but once I can consistently produce more, I'll manage my own sales. My goal is to direct customers to one central location and control the website's management.

I also hope to collaborate with other artisans in this community. So, keep an eye out for a collaboration one day soon!

Alex Marshall

Visit Marshall Made Woodshop to view Alex's wares.

A drop of new brushes will go live on Sunday 6/22/2025