Thread: Moving away from badger

TC, my friend, after 30 years behind the radio microphone, I thought I had the perfect face for radio. Now I have competition. Well now . . .

I have a fairly modest array of brushes. But my general instinct is to reach for the synthetics. They feel nicer on my face and I find my skin less irritated. I am getting a big 11.5 cm x 4.5 cm 100 gram theater this weekend. I have heard overwhelming good things and am in high hopes this will be the badger that makes it into regular rotation. I just ordered a lathe and will start turning handles with tuxedo and boss knots soon. Not for sales just fun and to give away.

The Boss knot is nice too. IMO i didnt find much difference between it and the tuxedo besides color. I have 2 of each.

Originally Posted by Gasman

The Boss knot is nice too. IMO i didnt find much difference between it and the tuxedo besides color. I have 2 of each.

The pieces I have in hand of both kinds confirm this. But... That's an off handle, unwet, unsaved, unused view.

Originally Posted by outback

I've sent quite a few of these out to fellow members, some love it, some ARE WRONG

Fixed it.

I have to admit I must have been to rough cleaning mine when I first got it (before I got the warning against doing just that!) so mine sheds a bit. That being said, I still like the way it lathers and feels better than my two other brushes.

Run water over brush, swirl on soap a little, and I got all the lather I need.

Originally Posted by Theoman

The pieces I have in hand of both kinds confirm this. But... That's an off handle, unwet, unsaved, unused view.

I've got mine set at different heights so to try any difference. Sure, at a lower loft they are stiffer, but that's about it. I too enjoy both knots. They are great synthetics in my opinion. Now if they could pack them tighter and get more fibers in them would be cool.

Josh, I got one of Outback Brushes too. Took it on a test run on a trip to California. It's little and a bit floppy, but works up a nice lather when I pinch it at the bottom of the knot to get a little more backbone.

I had my first use of the Epsilon synthetic "extra soft" last night and was impressed, similar characteristics to the Simpson chubby 2 synthetic. Will be using the regular Epsilon synthetic tonight.

After using whatever inexpensive synthetic my local pharmacy sold for nearly 50 years, I feel that I can get an outstanding performance from almost any brush. I then switched to premium boar knots for a few years, then used nothing but newer and improved synthetics for a couple of years, but for the past year or so I'm primarily using premium boar knots. If the goal is to produce a good lather, they all work equally well. What one enjoys using is just personal preference. I prefer a knot with soft tips and enough backbone for face lathering, which I can get from a badger, synthetic, or boar.

Originally Posted by DZEC

IMHO - I understand that I have no experience with a high quality badger knot, but I can’t believe the cost is justified by any apparent improvement in lathering or feel.

I'd agree that the cost cannot be solely justified by any apparent improvement in lathering or feel. That said, you don't have to pay the price of a Simpsons Manchurian or Shavemac 2 band silvertip to have a high quality badger knot brush.

Various Chinese companies sell good solid 2 band silvertip badger brushes at reasonable cost or you can roll tour own by using a Maggards SHD 2 band knot in the handle of your choice. Another excellent choice would be a Semogue Owners Club, SOC, 2 band badger brush. All these are more expensive than the brushes you already have but not prohibitively so imo.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

I'd agree that the cost cannot be solely justified by any apparent improvement in lathering or feel. That said, you don't have to pay the price of a Simpsons Manchurian or Shavemac 2 band silvertip to have a high quality badger knot brush.

Various Chinese companies sell good solid 2 band silvertip badger brushes at reasonable cost or you can roll tour own by using a Maggards SHD 2 band knot in the handle of your choice. Another excellent choice would be a Semogue Owners Club, SOC, 2 band badger brush. All these are more expensive than the brushes you already have but not prohibitively so imo.

Bob

Well, you can apply that to anything. Why buy a custom razor when a $40 eboy special will shave just as good and last just as long or a fancy strop when a basic one does the same job?

We all spend our hard earned dollars on those things we feel are personally important to us.