Thread: Is bigger, better?

Rooney 3/2 for me....It's just right....

Originally Posted by zib

Rooney 3/2 for me....It's just right....

Found your "Goldilocks" brush, then?

I don't know if bigger is any better, but I seem to have gravitated to larger and larger brushes over the past few years. Once I learned to get a decent lather with a small brush, I've used that same exact technique with progressively larger brushes, with the same good results. I use Mitchell's Wool Fat, in a bowl. I used to face lather.

I soak the brush in the bowl filled with hot water while I shower. Then I shake it nearly dry, and charge the brush on the (dry) MWF puck for a good 30 seconds. Then I start vigorously pumping and swirling in the bowl without adding water, and then gradually add hot water as I develop the lather. As long as my base lather is solid, the more water I add with MWF, the better lather I get, so long as I add it gradually. Without fail, I consistently get great MWF lather this way.

My first brush was a Kent BK4 in best. I went through a Simpson PJ2 super, Rooney 2/2 super, Shavemac super (can't remember the model, mid-size). Then I stumbled upon a big Omega in best for a low price, and really liked it. So I got an equally big SRD brush in super. Finally, I got a huge Kent H12 in best that I just love. The faux horn handle is huge and gorgeous. The H12 just gobbles soap and water, but what a feel!

After all that, my favorite brushes are still that little Kent BK4 in best, and now the huge Kent H12 in best. The Kent BK4 may be the single best brush I've ever used, it's certainly the best lather engine for it's size of anything I've used. Or maybe I'm just a Kent guy. Hey, somebody has to be!

Originally Posted by Richard

I saw a tutorial on badgerandblade saying to soak the brush in hot water and put about a teaspoon of water on the puck. Then squeeze the water out of the brush and transfer the teaspoon of water from the puck to the bowl. Then take the brush to the moistened puck and swirl until you pick up enough soap then go to the bowl, adding small amounts water as needed. I do all that and still can't get the lather. I'd hate to concede defeat and go back to the cheaper, smaller brush I have but no matter how much soap I pick up on the brush I'm just not getting the lather.

Any big brush afficianados having any success?

I've got a Edwin Jagger BBB in XL edition and have no problems using this approach. Keep in mind you may need to stay on the puck longer (i.e. pick up more soap) than you do now. The 3 seconds in that tutorial are a no-go for me, I whip up a good amount into the hairs.

Thanks JimmyHAD! I had been very stingy with the water but I'm going to try your method. I just hate wasting so much lather which, with a brush this size, is unavoidable.

Rich


"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

Originally Posted by Richard

Thanks JimmyHAD! I had been very stingy with the water but I'm going to try your method. I just hate wasting so much lather which, with a brush this size, is unavoidable.

I add water slowly in small portions as I lather until the consistency is just right, this always works great for me.

I have a Roony's 3/1 that for me is perfect in all respects, whether lathering on the face or in a bowl. When I use a bowl, which is usually, I don't think I'm wasting lather on account of the size of the brush, because after I apply the lather the first time, I've always had the habit of squeezing the lather out of the brush and back into the bowl to be used for later passes. I guess this habit started for the exact reason that I didn't want to waste all that great lather that's sitting in the brush! I've also never had an issue getting lather where I wanted with this brush. Of course, it is all a matter of personal preference.

for me...no. It's only a different.
It depends the bristles too. If I soak pure badger while showering and it's ready e.g in 5 minutes silvertip needs at least double time to get ready.
I don't ever shake the bristles as they loose too much water that way. Gently squeeze is enough. How much I want to leave the water in the bristles depends what soap or cream I'm going to use. Cade cream needs (and it is a must) only half of the water what I use with Harris cream.
Another thing to watch is the amount of water to leave into bowl.
So my conclusion to watch
* right soaking time of each brush
* how much water to leave into bristles after squeezing (of each brush)
* how much water to leave into bowl to make lather
* no need to vary cream or soap amount

This is hard to answer because you would have to have 2 identical brushes: same manufacturer, size, grade, etc., in two or more sizes to make the comparison fair. In fact, no two brushes are identical, they are a natural product, well, most of them. I have had 2 identical brushes and one was significantly better than the other.

The other part that is relevant in this discussion is that the knot size only tells you part of the story, other factors that are important are: knot density and loft of the brush. All these factors play a significant role in the performance of he brush.

This is what I have found in my limited 6 brush experience:

I prefer smaller brushes for the size my face but I have a large one that I use from time to time. If I use soap, the size of the brush matters because a larger brush has more surface and takes up more soap if you do not adjust for size. This is the interesting part, for creams, where I can control how much I add, my Muehle (very large and floppy silvertip), makes more volume than any of my other brushes, just the opposite of what you would expect.

This brings me right to my next point, brush differences become really important depending on the lathering method (whether you lather in a bowl or on your face). My 23mm Shavemac is much better than my Muehle for facelathering, which is what I do mostly these days, because the loft is shorter and it is more densely packed. Contrary to what most people would tell you, in my experience, firmer brushes work better on creams, especially on very dense ones.

After some experimentation, you would either find a size, grade, density, etc., that you like best and stick to it, or you would build a collection of brushes in all sizes, densities, loft sizes, etc... ;-); what else is new?

Now for the real advice: Regardless of whether you go big or small, dense or floppy, etc., please make sure that your brush is properly broken in before you give up on it. It takes any brush some time before it can perform to its peak and that varies from brush to brush with stiffer brushes, like boar and pure badger, taking longer. It is very possible that the problem you are experiencing is related to your brush not being properly broken in and nothing else. People do all sort of things to condition their brushes, like boiling their bristles, adding shampoo or hair conditioner, combing them, etc..., there is no need to do any of that. Just be patient and keep using your brush, it will start performing better after just a little while, plus you will be more aware of its capabilities and that will help your decision making process.

Al raz.

P.S: For lathering tips, please start another thread or send me a PM ;-)

Originally Posted by Richard

Not long ago I bought a hand made shaving brush that is great in every respect but one. It's too darn big. It has the longest badger hair available and it seems that the soap all gets sucked up into the bristles. My smaller brush makes a better lather that stays in the bowl. I get great lather with either brush but I'm wondering if I could have more lather in the bowl with my big boy if I change my lather making technique. Any suggestions?

Rich


“If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” – Mark Twain