Thread: Sizes?

Im looking to upgrade to a silvertip. Out of interest, what is considered to be small large and medium? I figure 18 and 22mm is small, but is 24mm average and 28 and 32mm large?

Im not too sure which size I would like best. Perhaps someone with experience with brushes can help recommend me which size they prefer and why. I know YMMV but Im interested as to why before I part with a chunk of cash for a silvertip!

Thanks

For hard soaps I like a 48 to 50mm loft and a 20 to 23 mm knot. For a brush to use with creams a 55 mm loft and at most a 24 mm knot. I tend to prefer scrubby brushes to soft and luxuriant although I have both and like one or the other depending on my mood. I am not a fan of extra large knots in loft or knot diameter.

I probably still have around 25 brushes in the laboratory ranging all the way from travel size, about 18mm knot up to a 30mm shavemac. My sweet spot is really the 24-26mm knot in the best badgers or finest knots. I like a bulb cut the best as well. These brushes have a little stiffer body and yet the tips are soft and feel nice. The good thing about the firmer body is that they will work well with either soaps or creams. I have found that floppy or really soft brushes are not for me. The other thing I like is a longer handle with my brushes. The Polo style or longer Heritage styles are my favorites. When it comes to brushes, like razors and hones and strops, there is a significant amount of personal preference that comes into play.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

I probably still have around 25 brushes in the laboratory ranging all the way from travel size, about 18mm knot up to a 30mm shavemac. My sweet spot is really the 24-26mm knot in the best badgers or finest knots. I like a bulb cut the best as well. These brushes have a little stiffer body and yet the tips are soft and feel nice. The good thing about the firmer body is that they will work well with either soaps or creams. I have found that floppy or really soft brushes are not for me. The other thing I like is a longer handle with my brushes. The Polo style or longer Heritage styles are my favorites. When it comes to brushes, like razors and hones and strops, there is a significant amount of personal preference that comes into play.

Have fun,

Lynn

Lynn, I totally agree about the really soft brushes. They aren't my cup o' joe either. I prefer a stiffer brush, they seem to make for easier lathering, plus they seem like they are better for exfoliation.

^^ Lynn and Freebird nailed it.

My 24mm is a finest badger, a bit firm but soft on the ends and works well with soaps and creams alike. I don't think I'd go much bigger than that. I also prefer a longer handle that I can fit my whole hand on.

Thankyou for your replies, this has certainly helped with the decision making process!

So a 24mm is by no means small?

I didnt realise there was a difference between optimum brushes for creams and optimum brushes for soaps....damn, Im going 2 need a few...I can feel an acquisition disorder beginning to evolve..BAD! And Ive got it bad.

I have two 22mm brushes (1x Semogue 2015, 1x Tweezerman reknotted with a Golden Nib 22mm silvertip knot) and I would be wary of going much bigger, as it's hard to load a bigger brush evenly off a puck. I think a 24mm knot would be my max. I've bought a 28mm knot, but it's now just sitting there unused because it's so obscenely large - I may offload it in the future since I doubt I'll ever actually use it.

I guess the answer depends on the size of your face, its geometry, whether you have facial hair or not, and lastly, the purpose of the brush (bowl vs face lathering). I view the brush is a tool and as such, its use depends on the job. I have a small face, facial hair and I create lather on my face.

I have had a few brushes, ranging from a 21 to I guess 30 mm. I find that the 23 mm is probably right for me. My giant soapguzzler, which is also very soft, is a great latherer but it covers my entire shavable area, making it difficult but not impossible to create lather on my face with, particularly with very dense creams.

The other issue is that the density of the knot is as important as the size and the material of the knot for the performance of the brush. The more densely packed knots work better for me (face lather) as they impart some firmness.

just to confuse you a bit more, I have a very inexpensive pure badger (AoS) that lathers better than any of my other brushes. I do not like this one because it is very prickly but the firmness is about perfect. Although I love my 2 silvertip brushes, I also love my boar brush. Surprisingly the boar brush after it was broken in is pretty soft on my face. I love the firmness of this brush.

This is a personal observation but I do no have a soft brush for creams and a firm one for soaps. I have creams that benefit from using a firmer brush. I do see a difference between bowl and face lathering, with the latter requiring a firmer brush.

In the end, it is a bit of personal preference guided by your particular needs at that moment.

Al raz.

Originally Posted by Scipio

Im looking to upgrade to a silvertip. Out of interest, what is considered to be small large and medium? I figure 18 and 22mm is small, but is 24mm average and 28 and 32mm large?

Im not too sure which size I would like best. Perhaps someone with experience with brushes can help recommend me which size they prefer and why. I know YMMV but Im interested as to why before I part with a chunk of cash for a silvertip!

Thanks

Thanks guys. Im just not sure to go for 24 or 26mm! Heavens sake, its 2mm!