Initial impression of the Simpsons Cubby 2 LE synthetis brush

My cobalt blue one arrived today in this frozen wasteland called home.

I used MWF, cold water, the Chubby 2 to face lather for a 4 pass shave with a straight. Swished just the tips in cold water, a quick shake and loaded the MWF. Another quick dip of the tips and a little more loading then built the lather on my face. Used a combination of circular and painting strokes. The loading was enough for 4 passes and some to spare. It ate up the MWF with ease producing a fine lather.

The tips felt as soft as those on my QEII Jubilee Manchurian but it did not splay as easily for use with circular strokes. None the less was very useable with circular strokes. I would love to see this brush offered with a fan shaped knot similar to the Jubilee as I think with this short a loft in a synthetic it just might take the face lathering with circular strokes up a notch.

All in all, I am pleased with the brush and intend to keep it. As I get more familiar with the brush I think it will grow even further on me. The obligatory measurements are loft 49.9mm and size 28.4mm but I am no expert at measuring.

It took a lot of guts for Simpsons to introduce this short a loft in a synthetic but I think they have proved to me that it will work, at least for me.

Bob

Almost forgot the obligatory photo.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps91521c0e.jpg

Nice looking brush, Bob,,,going to add a Simpson one of these days.

Thanks for the report Bob.

Thanks for the comments guys. I know synthetics are not popular on this forum bur I can say for myself that I will likely not buy another badger knotted brush after having used several synthetics. Now to try and convince Simpsons to make me the same brush but with a fan shaped knot.

Bob

Thanks for the post Bob...waiting myself for my first boar to arrive...a Semogue 1305....that Simpson's looks great....where did you get it?

I'm hoping the boar will be much stiffer than the two badger's I have...I've come to realize I want a shaving brush that is very stiff.

Cheers!

Hey Phrank

Got it direct from Simpsons Simpson Shaving Brushes: Products: Limited Edition Brushes.

Yea, the Semogue 1350 is a nice brush with soft tips once broken in. If that is not stiff enough for you try a cheap Omega 10066 boar from Shoppers.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Hey Phrank

Got it direct from Simpsons Simpson Shaving Brushes: Products: Limited Edition Brushes.

Yea, the Semogue 1350 is a nice brush with soft tips once broken in. If that is not stiff enough for you try a cheap Omega 10066 boar from Shoppers.

Bob

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Thanks Bob - appreciate the link.

I've got this Kent K-2 black, paid $85 for it, have used it under 10 times, and really don't like it. Keep going back to the intro badger brush I got from Classic Edge in my starter kit. It's short, and seems much stiffer, which I like.

In your experience, what is considered a very stiff type shaving brush?

Hey Phrank

I do not have a lot of experience with a huge variety of different brush types from a lot of different makers. My guess would be for stiffness/backbone generally a large sized short lofted densely filled boar brush would be pretty stiff. Then again a densely filled short lofted 2 band badger can be pretty stiff too. If you are a face latherer a brush can be too stiff and irritate your face using circular strokes.

Really, just way too many variables to pin it down and add to that everyone's idea of the perfect stiffness is different. Just call me clueless.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Hey Phrank

I do not have a lot of experience with a huge variety of different brush types from a lot of different makers. My guess would be for stiffness/backbone generally a large sized short lofted densely filled boar brush would be pretty stiff. Then again a densely filled short lofted 2 band badger can be pretty stiff too. If you are a face latherer a brush can be too stiff and irritate your face using circular strokes.

Really, just way too many variables to pin it down and add to that everyone's idea of the perfect stiffness is different. Just call me clueless.

Bob

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Thanks Bob - appreciate the info. Looking forward to my Semogue 1305 boar brush, we'll see how that goes. For me, as far as stiffness, while I face lather, the harsher the brush the better for me...so it will be fun to explore until I find the right one. Which is a lot of the fun in this hobby anyhow...

Well, I am not that masochistic about stiffness. I like just enough stiffness/backbone to have to use some pressure to splay the knot doing circular strokes building the lather on my face but demand soft tips. No way I want to feel I am lathering my face with corn broom. Yea, chasing down the one that ticks all the right boxes is half the fun. I;ll let you know when I find that one.

Bob

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Thanks Bob - appreciate the info. Looking forward to my Semogue 1305 boar brush, we'll see how that goes. For me, as far as stiffness, while I face lather, the harsher the brush the better for me...so it will be fun to explore until I find the right one. Which is a lot of the fun in this hobby anyhow...

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You seem to imply that once you find the right one, you will stop? Haha, me too...

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Originally Posted by badg3r

You seem to imply that once you find the right one, you will stop? Haha, me too...

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How true that is...

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Originally Posted by BobH

My cobalt blue one arrived today in this frozen wasteland called home.

I used MWF, cold water, the Chubby 2 to face lather for a 4 pass shave with a straight. Swished just the tips in cold water, a quick shake and loaded the MWF. Another quick dip of the tips and a little more loading then built the lather on my face. Used a combination of circular and painting strokes. The loading was enough for 4 passes and some to spare. It ate up the MWF with ease producing a fine lather.

The tips felt as soft as those on my QEII Jubilee Manchurian but it did not splay as easily for use with circular strokes. None the less was very useable with circular strokes. I would love to see this brush offered with a fan shaped knot similar to the Jubilee as I think with this short a loft in a synthetic it just might take the face lathering with circular strokes up a notch.

All in all, I am pleased with the brush and intend to keep it. As I get more familiar with the brush I think it will grow even further on me. The obligatory measurements are loft 49.9mm and size 28.4mm but I am no expert at measuring.

It took a lot of guts for Simpsons to introduce this short a loft in a synthetic but I think they have proved to me that it will work, at least for me.

Bob

Almost forgot the obligatory photo.

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps91521c0e.jpg

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Does it hold any water?

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Does it hold any water?

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Yea, she holds water but synthetics seem to be different from natural fibers in how they hold the water. Never found a need to soak a synthetic but then again I don't soak natural fiber knots either. I just barely swish the tips in cold water shake and start loading from the puck, go back for a quick tip dip and shake and load a wee bit more. Build lather on the face by adding water a tip dip at a time. If you dip the whole knot in and shake it you will eventually have water running out of the knot onto your hand. Basically I treat it like I do all my other brushes with a little fine tuning to suit.

The thing is a lather monster as you would expect from any fairly large and dense knot. It is an entirely different knot than the one in the Muhle V2 synthetic 25mm synthetic I have in feel and how you have to work it to face lather with circular strokes. There is a big difference in loft with the Simpson at 49 mm and the Muhle at 63mm, a fairly big difference in size with the Simpson at 28mm and the Muhle at 25mm plus the Simpson is more bulb shaped. Still think the Simpson with a fan shaped knot would be even better for face lathering.

Bob

Just a quick up date on the brush. It has bloomed a bit after half a dozen uses and is getting easier to face lather with using circular strokes. I really don't understand all the flack this brush has gotten on it's introduction.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Just a quick up date on the brush. It has bloomed a bit after half a dozen uses and is getting easier to face lather with using circular strokes. I really don't understand all the flack this brush has gotten on it's introduction.

Bob

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Yes, been reading about it, and many seem to feel it's a dud. Yet I've read reviews about other synthetics and it seems those familiar with them no what to expect and are fine with them. Hence, it would seem a lot of the "bad press" around these Simpson synthetics seems to be around Simpson actually making and selling one...they're out of stock on the blue right now, emailed them to let me know when they're back...I know I'll try one...why not.

Love that blue by the way. Striking!

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Yes, been reading about it, and many seem to feel it's a dud. Yet I've read reviews about other synthetics and it seems those familiar with them no what to expect and are fine with them. Hence, it would seem a lot of the "bad press" around these Simpson synthetics seems to be around Simpson actually making and selling one...they're out of stock on the blue right now, emailed them to let me know when they're back...I know I'll try one...why not.

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Well there are a couple of things that get dragged out and they seem to be that the Simpsons brand is polarizing, the usual it is too expensive for what it is and people expect for some strange reason that synthetics should mimic badger knots.

To me Simpsons is just another brush maker, no more no less, and as far as being too expensive for what it is all I can say is that there may be a grain of truth to that. OTH nobody is being forced to buy one. I enjoy synthetics for what they are and if I am in the mood for something else I reach for a boar or badger brush.

I hope you will not be disappointed when you get one. They are an extreme brush for a synthetic with a much lower loft than usual for that sized knot and more densely packed. Very different experience from even other synthetics.

Bob

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Originally Posted by RoyalCake

Love that blue by the way. Striking!

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Thank you, I wasn't sure I would like it being a little over the top for me colour wise but it is sure growing on me.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Thanks for the comments guys. I know synthetics are not popular on this forum bur I can say for myself that I will likely not buy another badger knotted brush after having used several synthetics. Now to try and convince Simpsons to make me the same brush but with a fan shaped knot.

Bob

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Nice Chubby Bob. In the past, when you got that first Simpson, I asked you if they were 'scritchy' and IIRC it was moderately so. I broke down and tried a Simpson/Vulfix chubby. It is the Manchurian variety and it is both stiff, dense and plenty scritchy. I've never had a Vulfix because of their reputation for being soft and floppy. Two things I hate in a brush. They have done a wonderful job with the Simpson line AFAIC. Every bit as good as the brushes made in Somerset.

As far as getting them to make something special for you ........ I emailed them a few times before I finally bought the chubby, asking for a Tulip 2, and never got a reply. Good luck with getting a fan but I wouldn't hold my breath.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Thanks for the post Bob...waiting myself for my first boar to arrive...a Semogue 1305....that Simpson's looks great....where did you get it?

I'm hoping the boar will be much stiffer than the two badger's I have...I've come to realize I want a shaving brush that is very stiff.

Cheers!

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Andrew, IME with a few Semogue boars they are not stiff or scritchy. Nice brushes though that deliver the goods as far as lathering goes and you cannot beat the price. For stiff the aforementioned chubby Manchurian is hard to beat. As Bob said, a short and dense loft is more likely to give a stiff feel. I have a Shavemac pure with a 21mm knot and a 48mm loft that is wonderfully stiff and scritchy. Bought it second hand from a member in Japan for $50.00 USD shipped, and can't for the life of me figure out why he let it go. Guess he didn't like stiff and scritchy. :thinking:

Thanks JimmyHAD...I'll look into one of those. Appreciate the advice!

Edited to add: Do you happen to know what model Shavemac you have is?

Unfortunately the logo is worn off. Here is a pic if I can figure out how to post it with my phone .........

Telling me "this feature is disabled by your forum administrator". .... :mad:

Had to email it to myself off of the phone and use gimp to resize. Anyway .......... here it is ;

Attachment 160871

Thank-you kind Sir!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Nice Chubby Bob. In the past, when you got that first Simpson, I asked you if they were 'scritchy' and IIRC it was moderately so. I broke down and tried a Simpson/Vulfix chubby. It is the Manchurian variety and it is both stiff, dense and plenty scritchy. I've never had a Vulfix because of their reputation for being soft and floppy. Two things I hate in a brush. They have done a wonderful job with the Simpson line AFAIC. Every bit as good as the brushes made in Somerset.

As far as getting them to make something special for you ........ I emailed them a few times before I finally bought the chubby, asking for a Tulip 2, and never got a reply. Good luck with getting a fan but I wouldn't hold my breath.

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I am happy your decision to get a Simpsons Chubby in a Manchurian knot worked out OK. I am never really sure what people actually mean by 'scritchy' and am really hesitant to say something about it. I really like my Manchurian knot, soft on the face with decent backbone.

I did get a reply back from Mark Watterson saying in effect they were very busy with other things now and had no plans to make custom synthetics at this point in time. That would lead me to believe it might be a possibility in the future at some point. I think I will keep on it.

Bob

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Unfortunately the logo is worn off. Here is a pic if I can figure out how to post it with my phone .........

Telling me "this feature is disabled by your forum administrator". .... :mad:

Had to email it to myself off of the phone and use gimp to resize. Anyway .......... here it is ;

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Thanks JimmyHAD - just placed my order with them...21mm pure badger with a 48mm loft! Got it in marble blue!!!

BobH - I just got an email from Mark at Simpson's, he says he will let me know when the Simpsons Synthetic in Blue comes in, don't really like the other colors...and here I thought I'd never succumb to BAD...guess it will be good that I have to wait...actually can try a few brushes out...the Shavemac's are pretty reasonably priced! Customized even!

And look what just arrived in the mail:

Attachment 160881

Now this feels like a brush...feels like I could use this for some Curling!

20 minutes later....

Wow...that's more like it! I guess if I was to attempt to define, "scritchy"...this brush would defintely be, "scritchy"! There certainly smelly darn things though!

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Nice Chubby Bob. In the past, when you got that first Simpson, I asked you if they were 'scritchy' and IIRC it was moderately so. I broke down and tried a Simpson/Vulfix chubby. It is the Manchurian variety and it is both stiff, dense and plenty scritchy. I've never had a Vulfix because of their reputation for being soft and floppy. Two things I hate in a brush. They have done a wonderful job with the Simpson line AFAIC. Every bit as good as the brushes made in Somerset.

As far as getting them to make something special for you ........ I emailed them a few times before I finally bought the chubby, asking for a Tulip 2, and never got a reply. Good luck with getting a fan but I wouldn't hold my breath.


Andrew, IME with a few Semogue boars they are not stiff or scritchy. Nice brushes though that deliver the goods as far as lathering goes and you cannot beat the price. For stiff the aforementioned chubby Manchurian is hard to beat. As Bob said, a short and dense loft is more likely to give a stiff feel. I have a Shavemac pure with a 21mm knot and a 48mm loft that is wonderfully stiff and scritchy. Bought it second hand from a member in Japan for $50.00 USD shipped, and can't for the life of me figure out why he let it go. Guess he didn't like stiff and scritchy. :thinking:

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Well, a big thank-you to you JimmyHAD, arrived today with two razors, and what an awesome brush! Perfect...holds the lather, nice and firm on the face...and it's ferkin' blue!

I'm living the dream man, living the dream!!

Attachment 161823

Hey Phrank I have an Omega Boar brush and after getting used to badger brushes it is a big difference and took some getting used to but after some breaking in I love how it performs with hard soaps and really nice change of pace when it comes to the scritch. Love it for occasional use.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Thanks for the post Bob...waiting myself for my first boar to arrive...a Semogue 1305....that Simpson's looks great....where did you get it?

I'm hoping the boar will be much stiffer than the two badger's I have...I've come to realize I want a shaving brush that is very stiff.

Cheers!

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Great looking brush Phrank but I don't think it would be my cuppa tea, really don't care for scritchy but backbone is OK. It is a good thing that there is something out there for everyone's tastes. The hard part is finding out what you like in the first place and seems you've done well. Enjoy.

Bob

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Originally Posted by dexter90723

Hey Phrank I have an Omega Boar brush and after getting used to badger brushes it is a big difference and took some getting used to but after some breaking in I love how it performs with hard soaps and really nice change of pace when it comes to the scritch. Love it for occasional use.

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Hey - tried the Semogue 1305 boar, it's got a lot of scritch, no doubt about it, but it just sacrificed too much in the lather department for me. I'm sure I'll pull the boar brush out again, as I will the Kent brush, even though it's way too floppy, but this brush seems to have hit the sweet spot in terms of balance.

edit: Hi Bob, thanks! Yes, it's the experimenting and trying that's so much fun...cheers!

Itll take some getting used to. The lathers will get better as it breaks in and you get used to the water factor. I would use it with a scuttle cuz the added heat dries up the lather a bit more. Dont give up on it quite yet. Its a process. But if you really end up not too fond of it you can send it my way ;)

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Hey - tried the Semogue 1305 boar, it's got a lot of scritch, no doubt about it, but it just sacrificed too much in the lather department for me. I'm sure I'll pull the boar brush out again, as I will the Kent brush, even though it's way too floppy, but this brush seems to have hit the sweet spot in terms of balance.

edit: Hi Bob, thanks! Yes, it's the experimenting and trying that's so much fun...cheers!

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Originally Posted by dexter90723

Itll take some getting used to. The lathers will get better as it breaks in and you get used to the water factor. I would use it with a scuttle cuz the added heat dries up the lather a bit more. Dont give up on it quite yet. Its a process. But if you really end up not too fond of it you can send it my way ;)

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Hahaha...the postage to California would be more than the brush...think I spent $18.50 on the brush.

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Thanks for the post Bob...waiting myself for my first boar to arrive...a Semogue 1305....that Simpson's looks great....where did you get it?

I'm hoping the boar will be much stiffer than the two badger's I have...I've come to realize I want a shaving brush that is very stiff.

Cheers!

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I have a Semogue 620, which to my knowledge is the stiffest model. Since I bowl lather, the stratchiness is not a problem, as by the time the brush is on my face, it is cushioned with a thick lather. I'll take my $20 Semogue over my pricey badgers any day of the week.

Your a lucky man ! Beautiful looking cobalt blue. I am so scared to buy this brush honestly this is the first good review I have read on this brush, I know people that have already bought and sold this brush literally twice over like the sellers buyer sold the brush a third time. I have used a few good synthetics but none had the backbone or full Monty a true hair brush has. Truly I am happy to hear a good review in a huge sea of negative it's somewhat encouraging that they are becoming more standardized.

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Originally Posted by Spineshank

Your a lucky man ! Beautiful looking cobalt blue. I am so scared to buy this brush honestly this is the first good review I have read on this brush, I know people that have already bought and sold this brush literally twice over like the sellers buyer sold the brush a third time. I have used a few good synthetics but none had the backbone or full Monty a true hair brush has. Truly I am happy to hear a good review in a huge sea of negative it's somewhat encouraging that they are becoming more standardized.

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Yea, I am the odd man out on this brush for sure. It is different than any other boar, badger, horse hair or synthetic that I have used. I get along with almost all the brushes I have bought except for TBS synthetic which I gave to SWMBO and a horse hair which the jury is still out on. If you can't or won't adapt your technique to how a particular brush wants to be treated you are done for. Some people probably expected it,wrongly, to behave like a badger. If you want a badger buy a badger. It definitely is not a brush for everyone especially since some of the brush experts are turning their noses up at it. It is a bit pricey to take a chance on.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, I am the odd man out on this brush for sure. It is different than any other boar, badger, horse hair or synthetic that I have used. I get along with almost all the brushes I have bought except for TBS synthetic which I gave to SWMBO and a horse hair which the jury is still out on. If you can't or won't adapt your technique to how a particular brush wants to be treated you are done for. Some people probably expected it,wrongly, to behave like a badger. If you want a badger buy a badger. It definitely is not a brush for everyone especially since some of the brush experts are turning their noses up at it. It is a bit pricey to take a chance on.

Bob

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I think you hit the nail on the head ! Simpson's is so known for their badger even though it says Synthetic the expectation was similar performance and usage. I have found the Plisson Synthetic the most user friendly out the box, as well as the black fibre Muhle , but like you said you must be able to bend a bit to adapt, I actually couldn't agree stronger and that is with anything in life. Sincerely I am happy to hear a good review. Thanks again you may have swayed my buying choice ( though you will seriously need to pry my Marfin or Chubby 3 from my dead hands) :)

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Originally Posted by Spineshank

I think you hit the nail on the head ! Simpson's is so known for their badger even though it says Synthetic the expectation was similar performance and usage. I have found the Plisson Synthetic the most user friendly out the box, as well as the black fibre Muhle , but like you said you must be able to bend a bit to adapt, I actually couldn't agree stronger and that is with anything in life. Sincerely I am happy to hear a good review. Thanks again you may have swayed my buying choice ( though you will seriously need to pry my Marfin or Chubby 3 from my dead hands) :)

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Don't let single decent review against a sea of bad ones influence your decision especially coming from a non expert. I would seriously look at a nice lightly used one to minimize the risk. The Simpsons is very different from my Muhle STF brushes.

Bob