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I've got a small question for the folks that know. I have 3 different brushes and don't know what there made of but i'm thinking of getting another. the question is I use the solid soap and what works best with that kind of soap. Boar or Badger. I have one brush that is a lot older than I am (my wife says I was born old) and I don't know what it's made of I do know that it never sheds. the other two I have shed a lot. (the reason i'm looking for another brush. ) So what do ya'll think.
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.
Compare yours to these. Sorry rhensley, I should have looked at your post count before offering you that newbie answer.
As a newbie wet shaver, that also uses soap, I can tell you that the brush that I use does not appear to be soap qualified. It seems to me that it would work considerably better with a little more backbone.
What I've got now is kind of stiff. they work good with the hard soaps but as I said they shed like an old dog. is that going to be what I will get with most any brush now days. do they all shed a lot. I do like the stiffer brushs because it seams to pick up the soap better. With the cost of good brushes now days I would hate to buy one and watch it wash down the sink or come out on my face every time I shave. you know what I mean.
+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.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
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.
Try looking here at the wiki section on brushes.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...ex.php/Brushes
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.
Play it safe and get another boar. it seems to be what you are accustomed to and like. They are all relatively inexpensive. Just buy a quality one or have a brushmaker do one to your specs.
I have a Semogue boar brush, I think Excelsior...not fancy or expensive, but works great once it's broken in (a week of shaves)....and it won't shed!
I am amazed that your brush lasted that long. I used cheap drug store boar brushes for over 20 years before learning about better brushes on SRP and they usually lasted only 2-4 years. I have really enjoyed using better badger brushes.
Bigspendur suggested you get another boar, but you might want to try a badger if you want to try something different for the next 50 years.
rhensley,
Perhaps it is time to try a badger brush. I should think that Simpson's Commodore 3 might be just the right badger brush for you.