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I am new to straight razor shaving having only about 10 shaves done. I have been using an Omega Stripey 100% Pure Badger Shaving Brush that I got for cheap online.
I was wondering if it would be worth it for me to invest $50 - $75 in a "better" brush. I have been looking at some of the handmade brushes on ebay and other sites.
Is it worth it or should I concentrate more on other areas for now?
Shoot, I'm still using a VDH brush I bought when I started and it's been just fine. I don't feel any compulsion to change unless I run into a C-Note for free or my cheapie breaks down. Really, if you can afford that luxury, go for it...but remember that you can feed your family for a week on $150, or you can get a new razor, or whatever....there's lots of options out there.
A razor will, in all likelihood, make less of a difference than the step from a bottom line brush to one of these brushes. The one I own makes a huge difference to the Simpson "Commodore", for example. The luxury of the soft tips is just an added value. The Thäter just makes lathering so much easier.
Some of the Knots out there in that price range of brush, are really really good, some hmmmm not so much...
So that leaves you just two choices, you can spend the money and go to a reputable vendor, selling name brand, quality brushes (like that Thater) or you can wait until you are very positive about what to spend your money on...
It is like a fine pair of shoes. There is a point where spending more $ really delivers the goods in quality and comfort. You can get from point A to point B with the cheaper shoes but they don't give you the quality, comfort or longevity of the more expensive brand. You get what you pay for. My high dollar brushes were worth the price of admission.
+1 on the VDH LOL
First you need to buy the necessary things and once you have them then you can buy the things that are important but not really required and then you can upgrade the items you already bought. Of course if your a rich guy then all this doesn't matter.
So the question to ask yourself is do I have everything I need to shave with and maintain my razor. If you do and want to upgrade then you need to decide what to upgrade. Personally I've found a great brush goes a long way towards increasing my enjoyment of shaving. Of course many love their boars so you need to decide. If you do buy a brush I would get one from a major brush manufacturer unless the handle end is more important to you than the business end.
I have everything I need at this point. I just feel that I skimped on the brush. I think I will take the majority opinion and go in for a better brush from one of the major manufacturers. It seems logical. I will look on SRD at the Thaters.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Prehaps I will start with their $42.99 brush to hold me over until I am ready to drop $100+ on a brush. The post above did state that I would see a difference with that brush over my current one, so for that price, it is worth it.
Insert my quiet applause here.Quote:
Originally Posted by red96ta
A sharp razor and a confident technique are worth a thousand times more than a fancy brush. Don't get me wrong, I'd like a fancy brush, there's just better ways to spend money. Put one on your Christmas list.
What!?!?!? :dropjaw:Quote:
Originally Posted by BeBerlin
I would totally prefer to have a bottom rung brush and a great razor than the best brush and a mediocre razor.
I wound up buying a really nice brush a ways back, but I still use my cheap-0 boar bristle about half the time. If it was between a nice brush and a nice razor, I say razor all the way. Keep in mind, this is only the correct answer and you don't have to listen to me. :D
Another option is to make your own. You can get knots at The Golden Nib and then just epoxy them into either a vintage handle, or a homemade one.
I made my first one about a year ago and have since added a nice super badger housed in an antique Ever-Ready handle.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbones24
Let me remind you that there are lots of choices.
Compare these two just by looking and tell me which is $100+ more than the other.
Attachment 43467
I always enjoy my low cost badger.
It has worked through a couple of pucks+ of
Williams and gets softer and better with each.
It works well with all the soaps I have from
AOS, MWF, Tabac, Williams... The hard soaps
that shave so well for me seem to jump up and
lather with a badger brush.
Since there are so few shaves in a year
do not postpone and try one now. If nothing
else it will teach you how to use your
Omega.
PS:
Ask me in a month or two about the
new horse hair brush that is in the mail.
It was a toss up between it and a
new Thäter .. see the thread:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...r-theater.html
I haven't used that specific brush so I can't really comment on its quality or lack thereof. But I guess you'd have to ask yourself if you are unhappy with its performance? If the answer is yes I'd say to upgrade to a medium priced model, such as the one Robin mentioned and go from there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fbones24
In the scheme of things is a $200 brush going to make or break your shave? No. Nor will it make you a better lather maker. Just one of those luxuries that is nice if you can afford it.
Fbones: what soap or cream are you using?
I'm not inclined to recommend a brush upgrade just yet, because that Omega shouldn't be too bad at all. If you really fancy a new brush though, the Golden Nib knots really do represent excellent value, and an opportunity to make or commission something unique. Here's mine (best badger, flanked by a Kent and a Semogue):
http://i741.photobucket.com/albums/x.../mybrushes.jpg
I'm currently using Mamabear's soaps. The omega brush is okay, I just notice it is losing bristles daily. I'm sure that is a quality issue. Based on the comments here, I think if I did get a new brush, it would be in the $40 - $50 range from one of the reputable manufacturers. It just seems that I should concentrate more on technique, prep and acquiring more razors before acquiring more brushes. :D
I think the point Robin was trying to make was that someone relatively new to straight shaving would not readily discern the difference between shaving with a decent, but good quality razor and an expensive one, even a custom. On the other hand, going from a shedding, pure badger Omega off ebay to a quality silvertip, the difference is readily appreciated. Not necessarily in the quality of the shave, assuming the user can make good quality lather with both, but in the enjoyment of the whole process.Quote:
Originally Posted by BingoBango
If it were just the ability to get a good shave that we were all concerned about, a puck of Williams, a boar brush, and one professionally honed Dovo Best Quality or vintage blade will go a long way for us all. As Lynn would say, it's all about enjoying the sport. :)
sure, get one. you feel like you skimped on the brush and you want to find out the difference. since everybody values different things the only way to find out if a more expensive brush is worth the price for you is to try it out.
there are plenty of differences among all kinds of brushes and plenty of people who do or do not care about them.
but where you will fall depends on you only.
