A good upgrade from Tweezerman Brush?

OK, I'm still pretty new and really cheap. I bought this for ~$13 when I first started shaving with a straight and it still seems to work pretty good, but I don't know what a good one is like. A buddy gave me a "Genuine Rubberset" vintage shaving brush, but it is not even close to the Tweezerman Badger cheapie I'm using. My question is..what would be a good, not too expensive, upgrade. My biggest fear here is spending $30-$75 and not being able to tell the difference when lathering.
http://www.amazon.com/Tweezerman-Men...7750016&sr=8-1

I upgraded to a Tweezerman from a scratchy Vulvix bristle brush and to date I have not had the urge to upgrade my brush. I really like the Tweezerman; but, I too am curious like you are. I echo the question: Is there a $30-$75 brush that would make us Tweezermen fall off our chair in amazement at any dramatic improvement in comfort and performance? Would a $200 brush be so indescribably amazing in comparison that we'd want to kick our Tweezerman brushes to the curb? For me I don't care about handle composition since the handle doesn't touch my face, I'm talking performance wise.

Chris L

I just received a shipment of Tweezerman brushes. I did the cleaning process that Em has on her site and checked the brush against an Altesse silver tip and a another (name with held) silver tip. The Tweezerman is just as soft but the model I purchased, the 2801-H, was smaller then the other two. But I would say unless you want a bigger brush, the Tweezerman is just peachy.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...brushes006.jpg

This is a shot of the new Tweezerman brush treated and one straight from the box.

http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/i...brushes008.jpg

In my opinion, it gets to the point where you are simply paying more for the same product in a prettier shell... I mean, if you have the extra cash lying around then go ahead and get one and see what you think but if it's simply a lather delivery device you need, then what you have will you just fine.

In fact, I would go as far as to say that some guys even prefer the boar hair over badger. I know a lot of younger guys, say 19-25 or so like the boar hair because it exfoliates the skin better and can fight acne breakouts. The boar hair brushes can be had for $5 at wal-mart. It's all a matter of opinion, but I say that if money is an issue for you, the brush you have is just fine!

I have read a bit on this, have....had 3 brushes and currently have two. Here's my sacreligious take on brushes. Brushes are like cars, they will all get you there. Some cars look nice, while others look cool. Some cars hold lots, while others don't. Some cars are luxurious, while others are simple. While there are many hairs/bristles available you have basically two types Badger and Boar. With both of them you have various " qualities. After that you have the different manufacturing qualities...in which I include style, form, and function. If your looking to upgrade I can attest to the fact that different brushes feel different and behave differently. My first after much research ended up being a Savile Row 3118 ($75) a nice smaller brush soft but dense and just a bit skritchy. My second....SBAD was a Kent Blk4 which is soft, larger than the 3118 and a bit floppy. I have been told that the Vulfix is floppier. If I had to have only one I would keep the SR because it can do everything well. Upgrade from the tweezer man....well to feel a difference you might have to go up to $75 or more to notice anything. I have read many nice reviews of the brush and not just because its inexpensive. I would consider what it is that your looking for and then read, read, read. B&B is a good place to read because is VERY heavily trafficked and a review warehouse. All of the forums are worth checking out because you will get different opinions but you will find patterns and these can help you make a choice.

simple answer post the same question on all the forums and wait for the suggestions. Research those because yes there is a difference but if it is enough of one for you I cant say.....Good hunting!

btw what you have is called SBAD

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Originally Posted by Belegnole

I have read a bit on this, have....had 3 brushes and currently have two. Here's my sacreligious take on brushes. Brushes are like cars, they will all get you there. Some cars look nice, while others look cool. Some cars hold lots, while others don't. Some cars are luxurious, while others are simple. While there are many hairs/bristles available you have basically two types Badger and Boar. With both of them you have various " qualities. After that you have the different manufacturing qualities...in which I include style, form, and function. If your looking to upgrade I can attest to the fact that different brushes feel different and behave differently. My first after much research ended up being a Savile Row 3118 ($75) a nice smaller brush soft but dense and just a bit skritchy. My second....SBAD was a Kent Blk4 which is soft, larger than the 3118 and a bit floppy. I have been told that the Vulfix is floppier. If I had to have only one I would keep the SR because it can do everything well. Upgrade from the tweezer man....well to feel a difference you might have to go up to $75 or more to notice anything. I have read many nice reviews of the brush and not just because its inexpensive. I would consider what it is that your looking for and then read, read, read. B&B is a good place to read because is VERY heavily trafficked and a review warehouse. All of the forums are worth checking out because you will get different opinions but you will find patterns and these can help you make a choice.

simple answer post the same question on all the forums and wait for the suggestions. Research those because yes there is a difference but if it is enough of one for you I cant say.....Good hunting!

btw what you have is called SBAD

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Thanks for the info. In reading your post I thought you were going to lead up to a suggestion to wait for the B&B Essential brush to come out in which case I would have said "HA!" to you. ;) After literally months and months of waiting that brush seems to be one that may never materialize even though it was originally touted as being the $75 end all be all to slay most any brush out there.

Chris L

Thanx guys for some straight answers. Looks like I may have found a decent brush through blind luck. I only got the Tweezerman because it was badger, cheap, and I have "Amazon Prime"..free two day shipping on most everything at Amazon.com. Oh, and Ken it is the 2801-H and it is a bit small, otherwise works great. After reading these posts I think I could spend the brush money on another razor..:D

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Originally Posted by Chrisl

Thanks for the info. In reading your post I thought you were going to lead up to a suggestion to wait for the B&B Essential brush to come out in which case I would have said "HA!" to you. ;) After literally months and months of waiting that brush seems to be one that may never materialize even though it was originally touted as being the $75 end all be all to slay most any brush out there.

Chris L

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Chris when I can or where my interests take me I study what info I can. About the things that I feel I have knowledge I am happy to pass it on. When I am as much a newb as many others I often feel that I am not knowledgeable enough do give a definitive answer. Take this thread...brushes, while I know how to find a brush for myself (and it's still a gamble without trying first) I have only tried/used a couple and cannot say use a Shavemac as I have not used one. I however could find myself saying OH, those guys a B&B love them. The Shavemacs ARE well received but then again so are some others. Each brush has it's strengths and weaknesses you just have to pick the one/s that fit you.

If you were asking me about jewelry I might find it hard NOT to answer your question.

I'll say that the most frequent (and frequently supported) recommendation for an inexpensive badger brush is the Crabtree & Evelyn best badger brush. I've never tried one, but lots of people whose opinions I value have great things to say about them. And I beleive they go for about $35! (C&E also carries more expensive, 'higher quality' brushes, but the BBB is the one that gets the glowing reviews.)

If you want to go up the scale, a Shavemac is a good choice for many. It boils down to a matter of personal preference. Some guys like firm, some like floppy, some like soft, some like 'skritchy'. And then there's the whole size-preference thing.

Vulfix makes a really good brush, for example, but are notoriously 'floppy'. Some guys like that, some hate it: personal preference.

As for paying big bucks, you may not get a 'better' brush, but a 'different' one. The more expensive badger hair tends to be softer, and often whiter, than the cheaper versions. You are paying higher costs because (in large part, imho) of supply & demand and the percieved exclusivity of the 'luxury' product.

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Originally Posted by Belegnole

If you were asking me about jewelry I might find it hard NOT to answer your question.

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Hopefully this will be irresistible to you then;): I've been wondering where I'd find a very inexpensive jewelers equivalent to a small coping saw which would use small blades for making very fine cuts in metal. I'd like to use such a saw to cut brass and nickel steel rods for pins. Is there such a thing?

Thanks

Chris L

I've become quite attached to the Vulfix 660 I got from Lee's Safety Razors. It has a cheesy cast plastic handle, shaped like a Persian Jar brush but the bristle bundle is high quality for a $65.00 brush. I got the Super Silvertip Large and it's been a most excellent brush. It's not floppy or moppy like my previous Vulfix and it performs very well with both soaps and creams though it was initially touted as a soap brush. It's NOT a super scrubby brush by any means but it holds it's own and I've got plenty of other brushes I could use... and yet, there it sits on the counter, cheesy handle and all... it just works great.

Chris, why not try a pair of cable cutters for bicycle control cables. They are designed to cut the cables without fraying them and as cables are made from carbon steel, pins should not be much of a challenge for them.

Otherwise, check out Widget Supply for a range of jewelers saws.

Regards

Christian

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Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Otherwise, check out Widget Supply for a range of jewelers saws.

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Go to that page then click on Frames the fourth one down is the same one I have and the biggest problem is the dang handle keeps falling off. I either have to put a screw in it or something. They don't have a very stout tang for the handle to grip. Other than that they are pretty good little saws

Bob

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Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Chris, why not try a pair of cable cutters for bicycle control cables. They are designed to cut the cables without fraying them and as cables are made from carbon steel, pins should not be much of a challenge for them.

Otherwise, check out Widget Supply for a range of jewelers saws.

Regards

Christian

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I do have a pair of very small nippers that do the job, but they pinch the end which I then have to file down. Not a huge deal, I just thought an extremely fine metal blade would make for a cleaner initial cut. Thanks for the info and the link

Thanks to you as well, Bob.

Chris L

I have been through the BAD and have several brushed including the Tweezerman. I wrote a review of this in B & B review section. By far best all around bang for your buck are two inexpensive great brushes.
One is the Crabtree and Evelyn best badger for 35.00. Today Sunday 4/13 is the last day for customer appreciation sale. That brings it down to $28.00 plus @ 6.95 shipping. That is a great deal for quality.
The other has Q & A on it in the auction talk section of SRP. It is listed under silvertipbadger (http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=19402). This is readily available through an ebay vender from China.
Once you start using these other brushes you will rarely go back to the tweezerman.
Headdoc