Thread: Silver tip badger brush

I've used a few cheap badger brushes from ebay. I have a Vulfix 2006 pure badger brush. I have two boar brushes I like. A Semogue 620 and an Omega 1066 boar brush. The Omega is just a little stiffer than the Semogue and I like it better. The badger brush is good but not as stiff as either boar brushes. I've used both the boar brushes to break them in I think. I have one cheap badger brush that I call mushy. I hate that brush. Too soft. I like a stiffer bristle it seems and the boars have that.

I've read that a Badger silver tip is very soft right at the tip but sill has some stiffness in the bristle. Is this accurate? The Omega 66 my favorite brush out of what I've tried. I would be happy using it forever I think. What I have noticed is even though there is a lot of difference in the texture of the brushes I have I haven't found a brush that I love. If a silvertip has the firmness I like and also soft tips maybe that would suit me. What do you guys think? Thanks for any help.


Jack

A well packed, but not too densely, silver tip knot with a low loft might be what you are looking for. I am a face lathering shaver and like them that way but none of mine are close to the stiffness/backbone of my Omega 10066 boar brush. You might want to check out the reviews of the Semogue Owners Club 2 band silver tip brush. It has good backbone, soft tips and is relatively inexpensive as factory silver tip 2 bands go. I have the SOC and enjoy it. Here is a review to start you off Semogue Owners Club Two-Band Shaving Brush .

Bob

The old two banders are what you are looking for. Unfortunately they haven't been available for years now. You have alternatives though. The Simpson Manchurian line are similar as are many of the Thaters. Typical Silvertips are floppy and like a marshmallow. With shorter loft and dense fill the qualities improve. You can also talk to some of our brushmakers and they can make a brush just the way you like it.

I would not worry too much about what was available years ago that you can't get now. You have to play in the here and now unless you want to pay a huge price if you can track down a vintage collectible brush in good condition. I believe it has been said that the current Manchurian knots are not like the vintage ones either.

Lots of choices so try and zero in on a few from the suggestions you get that you think you may want and check the reviews.

Bob

Thaters are nice. Stiff and soft. Simpson chubby in super. Stiff and soft

I am playing around with restoring vintage brushes, so I am playing around with knot type, loft height, etc., trying to learn as much as I can. If I were contemplating trying to find the perfect brush, made by a major manufacturer or an artisan, with what I know now, I'd start looking at the brush makers on this forum. I'd work with one of them, tell him what I was looking for, and take his advice. You could buy a bunch of really expensive brushes trying to find what you want. Someone with the experience you need can help you find what you want a lot faster.
To be fair, you can work with some of the major brush manufacturers and get a custom designed brush from them. But it will cost you a lot more.
MHO.

If you like boar, I wouldn't hesitate to try Finest Badger as an alternative. It'll hold water better than boar and have back bone but feel soft but not as soft as Silvertip IMO. Finest badger and Boar are my preferred knots.
I'd also point out that, you being use to using Boar it may be a difficult jump to make from boar to Silvertip because of the very different feel in use. I disliked my first silvertip, but forced myself to use it, with time you'll feel that they are just as effective but without all the exfoliating scrubbing feeling.

So just buying the finest cut of badger hair in a brush is not the end of all.......there are other considerations to that brush???? Alot to learn myself!!!!

Originally Posted by Michael70

So just buying the finest cut of badger hair in a brush is not the end of all.......there are other considerations to that brush???? Alot to learn myself!!!!

The short answer is yes, there is much more to it than that. As Spender and others have said, no two makers use a standard nomenclature for describing the various grades of badger to start with. It gets more complicated from there.

Bob

Bob has provided The Perfect Answer. It is complicated and personal...just like our faces.

You may find a $10 brush you love that works for you. You may buy 10 before you find the one or two that become your go-to everyday brushes. You could spend $200 on one that another forum member raves about and not like it.

I have 5 or 6 left. I have given a few away. The most I have spent was for a custom, handmade brush from someone I trust (a member). As it turns out, it is my favorite for face feel, performance and feel in my hand. It is my favorite, period. I have a Simpson that cost almost as much and is OK, but not a home run....for me. I also have two Semogues (one badger and one boar) and a low cost Parker that work fine. I have given one or two away. I rotate the five I listed, but use the custom 75% of the time. I like the Semogue boar the least.

You could have the exact same brushes as I do and have a completely different preference.

There is no "right" answer, except from your face. Same with razors, soaps and strops except for well know sub-par products, and there are some that rave about how great some of those are which I consider junk.

The bottom line: Try two for three different ones without breaking the bank. You'll find one that you like best!