Thread: Opinions to Narrow Brush Choices

Someone posted a nice diagram of a straight razor and its parts for me a few months back.

Is there one with a brush and measurement areas?

Originally Posted by gflight

Someone posted a nice diagram of a straight razor and its parts for me a few months back.

Is there one with a brush and measurement areas?

The knot size is measured at the opening of the handle. The loft is measured from the opening of the handle to the top of the bristles.
When you are buying only a knot the diameter is the diameter of the plug.

So if Loft is 54mm and overall height is 109mm the handle would be 55mm tall or 2.16 inches.

The knot diameter is the same as knot size just one mounted one unmounted.

I think I am getting it. I want a lower loft and a large but not huge knot. I also want a taller handle but probably not the real long versions. I am thinking a faux horn but not sure if I can get matching color. Picking the brush is a PITA for me compared to the razor and strop, they seemed easy...

Originally Posted by mainaman

The knot size is measured at the opening of the handle. The loft is measured from the opening of the handle to the top of the bristles.
When you are buying only a knot the diameter is the diameter of the plug.

Silver tip in two band would not be as floppy or waste as much soap as a three band but would still have the softness on the face.

If I am off base with any of my conclusion/perceptions please chime in....

Originally Posted by gflight

Silver tip in two band would not be as floppy or waste as much soap as a three band but would still have the softness on the face.

If I am off base with any of my conclusion/perceptions please chime in....

Correct. For me the only 3 band that at is really important the category of soft tips and great backbone, is Simpson Super badger in Chubby handle. I have not tried their honing best badger or the Rooney equivalents. To band badger will fit your bill, but still may take some iterations to narrow down the choices

Originally Posted by gflight

Silver tip in two band would not be as floppy or waste as much soap as a three band but would still have the softness on the face.

If I am off base with any of my conclusion/perceptions please chime in....

Generally speaking that is about it for the difference between 2 and 3 band silvertips, 2 bands are not floppy as they have more backbone. A lot of people like them for face lathering including me. You can still load a lot of soap into them. The amount of soap a brush takes up is controlled by the user.

If I were to start over again I would go for a knot in the middle of the size range, around the 24mm size. I'd like a 2 band with a loft that is around twice the diameter/size of the knot. Lets say a 24mm knot with a 50mm to 52mm loft. Even though I face lather I still like longer handles and would look for a handle That is around the 60mm mark. I have a few that are longer too but I have big hands. Longer handles are a definite plus if you bowl lather which I do occasionally.

I went through a number of brushes to find out roughly how to pick a knot that I would like with a handle the size I enjoy. Awful hard to get it right the first time around. At some point you just have to take an educated guess and take the plunge.

Try and find a few brushes you think you might like and read all the reviews you can on them. That is about the best you can do.

Bob

Originally Posted by mainaman

In the end of the day you have to try some knots to know what you like.

That is the real deal when it comes to brushes. IME buying a quality brush, such as a Thater, Simpson or Shavemac is your best bet. You'll get a high quality knot, and if you don't like the size, you can usually get most of your money out of it.

I tend to like a 23-24 mm knot, (diameter) and a 48-50mm loft (height of the bristle above the handle). I like a medium length handle well enough but really appreciate a longer handle as well. If you face lather a shorter handle is fine, but for bowl lathering the longer one is very handy. I've done it both ways but the past couple of years I've stuck to face lathering.

Not carved in stone, but as a general rule two band brushes have more backbone, as do shorter lofts. That is why I always buy 2 bands, and loft no longer than 52, though I have a couple that are longer, and they are good.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I shall return one day.

Please return sooner rather than later 👌

Originally Posted by Substance

Please return sooner rather than later ��

Yes I second that. Tc