Thread: First Synthetic

I have been wanting to get another brush for awhile now since I reach for my Finest badger 99% of the time. I figured I would try something different this time so I went with synthetic. When I received the knot I was expecting something that would feel like a soft toothbrush, but I was surprised at how soft the tips felt. Anyway I needed a handle so thought I would just buy a cheap vintage brush and take the old knot out, but I couldn't find one that I liked that was cheap enough incase it turned out I didn't like the brush. I ended up finding a new handle that would work and paid extra to have to hole drilled deeper only to find out once I got it that I couldn't set the knot any deeper than the base otherwise it would have been far too stiff. It didn't bloom out like my badgers, but that doesn't matter as long as it performed well and it did. I think I found another brush that I will use more often. I still like my Finest better, but this one will get more use than my others. The knot is 22mm and I ended up setting the loft at about 58mm.

Synthetics have been around a long time, at least from the 1950s. Those brushes were terrible. They have improved them over the years and the modern versions not only look like natural materials but they are performing like them too. I have a feeling the time will come when they will sell more synthetics than naturals and they will perform like the best.

That is a good looking brush. Right now I'd rather buy another synthetic than a badger as a personal preference.

Bob

The only thing I would like different about this brush is I wish the handle was longer. It works fine and the fact it was in my cheap price range I decided to use it. I haven't tried horse hair yet so I might have to try one of those soon. I have another synthetic knot that I might use, but if I go with another handle like this I will not pay the extra to drill it deeper. Its not needed. I think I want to get my lathe running first and try my hand at turning and if I do that I think I will go with another finest since I really like the wood that I have waiting to be turned.

Loft preferences with synthetics are a personal preference as with other brushes. I had a Muhle XL STF brush that had a 28mm knot which I had reset to a 54mm loft and liked it even more. I had a brush made and had the 24mm syntheic knot set to 48mm. I like this one too. I have a Plisson that came with a 22mm knot factory set at 56mm and do not like it as much as the others, seems a bit spft and floppy for my taste to face lather with. The Plisson works just fine mind you, just feels different. If you buy the Plisson from L'Occitaine it seems like quite a bargain Cade Shaving Brush Plisson | L'OCCITANE en Provence | United States at the moment. I will say one thing for the Plisson and that is it feels like you are lathering with a cloud it feels so soft.

Bob

...........and what knot would that be JS?

Congrats!