Thread: brush comparing

First you need to decide what qualities you like in a brush. If boar suites you then go for it. If badger does go for it. I never worry with matching brushes to soaps but since I hate floppy I stay away from those anyway and they can be a bit bit more challenging with a hard soap. However they still work fine.

Boar can be more prickly at first and take some time to break in. The better badgers have backbone, hold water, are softer and usually thicker in the fill dept.

You'll get plenty of opinions here.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

First you need to decide what qualities you like in a brush. If boar suites you then go for it. If badger does go for it. I never worry with matching brushes to soaps but since I hate floppy I stay away from those anyway and they can be a bit bit more challenging with a hard soap. However they still work fine.

Boar can be more prickly at first and take some time to break in. The better badgers have backbone, hold water, are softer and usually thicker in the fill dept.

You'll get plenty of opinions here.

+1 to that. I use mainly hard soaps, some croaps and a few creams. Any badger, boar or synthetic that I have will do the job on any hard soap, croap or cream that I have. Pick a knot type that you like the characteristics of.

Bob

Well that's pretty much the problem. I wouldn't know the difference between the types of knots and the hair in them. maybe that's what i'm trying to ask you folks. I've shaved for many years and used the same brush for atleast 55 years. it's just this last year that i'm adventuring out to different brushes.

OK, what is it about the brushes you have used that you like and what is it about them you wish to avoid? That mght give a starting point for some suggestions.

Bob

The shedding may be due to the way you use your brush or who made the knot or just an old worn out brush :<0) Not knowing what you have doesn't help pick a direction. GOT PICS ? The stiffer brushes do pick up soap quicker but tend to hold less water. How long you soak your soap makes up for that. I bounce back and forth between a silver tip and a black. (night and day) I have learned to get the best out of both. The black I like when I haven't shaved and I want to feel those whiskers getting worked.

Why not just contact one of the custom brush builders on this forum and have them build a brush custom tailored to your needs and wants? They know more about knots, backbone, lofts, types of materials and suitable use than anyone that I know. Just a thought and good luck with your search.

The brush I like is an old everready. ben using it since about 1959-60 it was dads don't know just how old it is. it's kind of stiff and I would bet it's a boar bristle. the other 2 are just cheap cheap cheap brushes. you know the kind you get at those places like Wally world and the drug sto. I've got the old one that would probably last me my life time but I am looking for a another one. I use the old one with the sweet po something can't spell it or pronounce it. the other 2 I use with the blood orang and lime soap. The every ready is white and red nob plastic. you know type . It was the kind bought at the country store back in those days. I guess a boar brush is what I would need but one that want fall apart like these cheaper things I have or do the new ones loose the bristle the same . Ya'll mentioned the knot. what is the difference and which is the longest lasting. I do know I would like one fairly large I really don't know this Millimeter measurement's.

Yes, I have seen pictures of the old Ever-Ready brushes and I would love to find one so that I could try it out. I think that they may have been boar. Speaking of which, take a look at the link in my first post. There are some pictures comparing the different types on brushes and it may help you to identify the types of brushes that you currently have.

I don't know much about the knots, other than the fact that they are measured in millimeters and there are several different sizes. Maybe someone will chime in later and explain it all to us.

I have some vintage boar and they are very soft. It sounds like brush abuse is out :<0) I would say a 24mm is a big enough size unless you want a giant. If you like what you have except for the shed you could measure and just buy better.