Anyone have an opinion on their shaving brush?

I've recently decided to purchase a second shaving brush (my first is a Men-u premier synthetic brush) and have been spending way too much time gathering information trying to decide which badger brush to buy. I know ThreePutt is likely to chime in here and tell me to go straight to the top and buy a Plisson, High Mountain White :p ; however, I just got a quote from JJ Atkinson on that brush can't justify spending the $300 right now (but one can dream :hmmm: ).

Anyway, I think I've narrowed my search down to a top three and was hoping to mine the collective experience of this board for any opinions or first hand experience.
1) The current toprunner is a Shavemac #177, http://www.shavemac.com/index.php?la...en&sel=2&cat=3
2) Second is the Vulfix 2236 http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/800550.htm
3) The last is a Savile Row SR208
http://www.qedusa.com

I know that the short answer is that it depends on what you're looking for, so here are my preferences. A good quality silvertip badger brush, good water holding, dense, soft tips, but good spring to it--I'm not looking for what I've seen described as 'moppish'. Any opinions?

TIA,
Ed

Ed,

It will all depend on what your preferences are as to the "feel" of the brush. I'm guessing that your synthetic brush is a bit scratchy. I have the Shavemac #181 which is very similar to the #177, same knot size, and I love it. It was my first badger. It's not scratchy, but soft, and the Shavemac will seem to "suck up" to your face. Water retention is good, and it holds heat semi-well. I also have the SR-208. A gorgeous brush, but it is a bit "floppy", i.e., the bristles don't tend to stand up as well as the Shavemac. I have no experience with any of the Vulfix brushes. Personally, for me, any knot size over 26mm is too large. I'm very much enamored with a little Edwin Jagger I got from Crabtree & Evelyn...a $35 best badger with approximatly a 20mm knot. It's not too soft, not too scratchy, and is a pleasure to use.

RT

I won't say a word <g>. I have heard good things about Shavemac, although I have no first-hand experience. I have a Vulfix, and it is soft, AND floppy. I recommend cutting and pasting this very post to the "Shaving Brushes" forum over at ShaveMyFace.com. Those guys know more than any person would ever need to know about all aspects of brushes. Especially, DrP, Bernard66, and JackieMartling. Those are their forum names, anyway. I've seen similar inquiries and they really jump right in.

Jeff

I have an opinion on my brush, but unfortunately, it's not one of the ones you have up there. :)

Though I may be in the market soon, too. Gotta start saving up my pennies for a silvertip.

I'm sure they're all good, though I prefer the vulfix :)

I love my SMF brush (custom Shavemac) and my Vulfix Super Badger travel brush. The travel brush is what I usually go to on soaps due to handier size, but the SMF and Taylor's Shave Shop cream make for a decadent shave. You might want to hold off a bit, as it looks like another limited edition SMF brush is in the future. If you're handy, you might check this place out:
http://www.blankity-blanks.com/brushes.htm



Wayne

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Originally Posted by threeputt

I won't say a word <g>. I recommend cutting and pasting this very post to the "Shaving Brushes" forum over at ShaveMyFace.com. Those guys know more than any person would ever need to know about all aspects of brushes. Especially, DrP, Bernard66, and JackieMartling. Those are their forum names, anyway. I've seen similar inquiries and they really jump right in.Jeff

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Boy, you're not kidding. Those guys over there are brush freaks. I have to admit that I have been more than a little curious lately. I have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach about this topic. I wish it would just go away.

Larry I was recently there. I know what you mean. SBAD is a mean one, that's for sure. Watch the brush forum at SMF for my review/comparo of two of the hottest rods in brush-dom. I'm getting it together right now, maybe have it up tonight if I can snap a few more pics "post-bloom". As to that pit feeling, just go with it! Come on, everybody's doing it! It isn't addictive! It won't hurt you, and you can stop anytime you want!! mmmuuuHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

Jeff

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Originally Posted by Korndog

Boy, you're not kidding. Those guys over there are brush freaks. I have to admit that I have been more than a little curious lately. I have this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach about this topic. I wish it would just go away.

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This is how my brush was chosen: Ray at Classic asked me if I liked my women lean or curvy. I told him curvy and he recommended the Vulfix 2236. It's got a "voluptuous" handle, a huge brush, and a high quality feel all around. It whips up a great lather and feels awesome on my face. I really like the polished cream-colored handle as well. It's worth the $90.

-Rob

Ed, as you might know, I just found a nice silvertip laying around in my house (just like that). Ofcourse, I expected to be superior to my Vulfix Pure badger in every aspect. With that tought I went to my first shave with my new silvertip. I was wrong. My way of doing things with brush and creme is this: I bring in my bathroom my empty metal soap bowl with some creme in it (almond size dolap). I fully saturate the Vulfix brush, flick the smallest amount, and procede working the lather in the bowl. Actually, I only mix the water and creme in the bowl, and lather on my face. This produces the nicest lather available...

Now, the silvertip is completely different animal (well, not exactly;-). It eats creme. Really. I went on with the same method (and amount of creme) in the bowl, and completely screwed things up. First, the amount of water in the brush was three times as much as in my pure badger. Second, the brush eats creme, really. The same amount of creme enough for mountain of rich lather was only 3-5 soap bubbles on my face with this brush. I ran from the bathroom drippin water all over my place, got some more creme on the brush, and finished thing up.

Now, this was the brush's first use, and my first expirience with the silvertip. It might be my technique, it might be the brush. Tomorrow I am givin' it a try with soap.

Given this, I strongly suggest you get your self a nice Vufix Pure badger 22mm knot, 39$ from Classicshaving, and then upgrade to silvertip. For now, I think I prefer the stiffer action on the PureBadger bristles, and the way it works lather faster. It saves creme/soap too... You really need to try the silvertip/pure badger diference yourself. Also, my new brush packs maybe three times more hairs than my Vulfix. I think I like Vulfix's smaller size, too. Mine is model Vulfix #2198. If you end up liking the silvertip better, you got excelent travel brush that whips up lather in no time.

besides, my new brush smells like I was lathering with my neighbourhood streeter:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...C/Streeter.jpg

cheers,
Nenad

I really like my super badger Vulfix #2234. It seems to be the perfect size (hehehe,but I have only used this brush) but I do enjoy the size. I don't think I would actually need anything more, but I don't know that...yet

I have a vulfix #40 and its an outstanding brush. It replaced a caswell massey pure badge about half the size and the difference is remarkable between the two. I recently got another brush the same size as the 40 from a guy in Canada, its supposedly super badger but its a bit scratchy so I'm not sure if its a blend of super and pure.

I think overall the vulfix is the way to go but of course I've never used a Simpson so maybe I'm missing some nirvana.

...a silvertip (super) badger brush works better with soap vs cream, where you need for the brush to hold more water in order to get a good lather from the soap. With cream, getting a lather is a little easier due to its concentrated nature, therefore a pure badger brush works just fine. This is just personal theory and may be a load of doo doo. What do others think? :thinking:

Tom

I have a Maestro Stag Horn, 2 Vulfix, 1 Kent and a small Rooney. The least moppish of them is the Rooney. This badger hair is awesome. Has some spring in it and really holds the water without the dripping from some of the bigger brushes. All of the brands mentioned are good though. I am finding that the really big brushes can actually hold too much if you don't limit the water a little and are more prone to the dripping and splattering of water and lather. Good Luck. Lynn

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Originally Posted by adjustme69

I have a Maestro Stag Horn, 2 Vulfix, 1 Kent and a small Rooney. The least moppish of them is the Rooney. This badger hair is awesome. Has some spring in it and really holds the water without the dripping from some of the bigger brushes. All of the brands mentioned are good though. I am finding that the really big brushes can actually hold too much if you don't limit the water a little and are more prone to the dripping and splattering of water and lather. Good Luck. Lynn

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Thanks Lynn,
I've heard a lot of good things about the entire line of Rooney brushes. Maybe one is in my future. In the meanwhile, I was offered a deal on a Vulfix 2235 that was too good to pass up. I'll post my impressions once I've had time to try it out.
Ed

I was pefectly happy with my cheap badger brush with a plastic handle that I got in a $38.00 shaving kit....now I find myself searching the internet for new brushes...you have ruined my state of bliss.... :rant: :cry:

As promised, my take on the Vulfix 2235.

First, some background: This is the 3rd brush I've owned; the first was a $6.95 Surrey bristle brush--worked great with the <$2 Surrey glycerine soap (definitely the way to go for shaving on the cheap). My next brush was a Men-u premium synthetic brush $52 (I got it on sale for $35); definite step up from the bristle, holds alot of water and can lather a brick--I still use this as my travel brush because it is a fine brush and dries almost immediately.

Now on to my new (used) Vulfix 2235 purchased for $50--two months old. Now I know what all the fus us about with regard to good badger hair brushes! This thing holds water and heat quite nicely, builds lather immediately and in profusion from all of my creams and soaps, and man oh man does it feel great on my face. It is not stiff, but it has enough body to it that I would never describe it as moppish. I have lathered creams and soaps both in my mug and directly on my face. The brush holds up well to a circular scrubbing motion on my face and also does a great job of evenly spreading lather when I use a painting motion. Bottom line, I love it.

Unfortunately, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Now I'm looking at the new SMF brush that Shavemac is making :rolleyes: . Either that or a Plisson European White :nono: (Unfortunately-maybe fortunately-I've not caught this addiction badly enough [yet] to consider the Plisson High Mountain White :eek: ). The take home message JL, yes, this is an addiction. Eventually you will either go broke or learn to be satisfied with what you have...I'm not there yet :D

Ed

Don't foget the other option: "Or you'll buy all the stuff you can and be on the lookout for fresh pickings"

All depends on the bankroll available to you, I guess.

Me, I'll probably go broke first.

This forum is like crack for the straight razor user...

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Originally Posted by JLStorm

This forum is like crack for the straight razor user...

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That is the best description of this place I have heard yet.:eek:

Hi everyone.

This post is useful for me as I'm considering buying a brush too. I've heard quite a lot about the vulfix brushes and have been looking at one or two models. Interestingly, although you tend to see Vulfix brushes in 'pure badger' and 'super badger', they also make 'silver tip brushes. I live in the UK so have been trying to find a UK retailer for Vulfix and found the following:

http://www.vulfixoldoriginal.com/pro...ry.asp?CatID=1

Even if you don't live in the UK there is still some useful info on that site - for example, I never realised that silver tip hair comes from the badgers neck, or that the Chinese eat badgers :hmmm: .

Ed,

For what it's worth I have the Vulfix silvertip 374. I have been
quite satisfied with it. BUT the only thing I had to compare it
to was a Burma Shave brush. But I still lke the Burma Shave and
will use it for a travel brush. :)

Good luck on selecting a brush.


Terry

Somebody recommended the Crabtree & Evelyn brush. I picked one up in Charleston, and couldn't be happier. Granted, I don't have a lot of brushes to compare it to, but it works magnificently, and I really don't see a reason to try another one. For $35, I gots no complaints. I've got a $26 pure badger I got from Norva Barber Supply, and it's ok, but it's too "moppy". I still kinda like my Burma Shave boar brush, but the C&E's just about perfect.

While I have always been a Burma Shave brush fan I hate to admit I am now using a Tweezerman almost exclusively now <g>. I have discovered cremes instead of cake soap and the badger is much better for these than a bristle brush. I have all thre that Crabtree makes, travel, medium and the big beast too. I have several of the William Marvey bristle brushes and they have a great feel to the densly packed bristles. Sadly they smell much like a wild beast when wet I I will leave what end of the beast to your imagination <g> (hint, it ain't the end that barks at you).

Tony

Tony,

Give those brushes a good shampoo, or two, or three! Or, try Borax (20 Mule Power, available at Wal Mart) and give it an hour long soak, using 1 tsp to once cup of water. That should tame the beast!

RT

I did a good shampoo on mine a few weeks back. It seemed like the brush wasn't retaining water like it used to. Just grab whatever you use on your noggin, squirt it into a coffee cup, add a little water and whip it up. Rinse and repeat. You can use conditioner too -- after all, brushes are just hair.

I have a small Rooney's Best and absolutely love it. I also have a Kent and a couple of Vulfix's and a Maestro Stag Horn. The Rooney is a stiffer Best Silver Tip Badger and I love the way it holds and spreads the lather without flinging it all over the place. Wish I would have gotten the Medium size though. Lynn

During my winter vacation, while traveling, I packed a Simpson Major Best Badger (turnback style) travel brush and found it a real pleasure to use. The brush is particularly small, but like all Simpson brushes, it is very densly packed, so much so, that they say that you don't need to hang them in a stand to dry after use. At home I have an SMF brush (a fine Shavemac brush), a 377 Vulfix, and a couple of Kents (BK4 and a larger huge T-12). Nonetheless, after using the Simpson for the past couple of months while on the road, I now find my other brushes too floppy. I intend to sell most of my brushes and purchase another Simpson (either a smaller knotted Harvard or Persian Jar) in best badger for use at home.

Hal

Hal,

You raise a good point about the smaller brushes. There is a thread at BadgerandBlade about this very topic!

Since this thread started, I have changed up my brush inventory. I said goodbye to a Savile Row 241, a 30mm knot brush that was huge. And I've added a couple of custom brushes.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/image...minbrushes.jpg
Left to right: Shavemyface.com Brush I, SMF.com brush II and the third brush was a brush that SMF rejected. Yeah, the handle screams "get a wrench", but guys, it's the easiest to use brush I own. Brushes 1 and 3 have a 26mm knot, the middle brush a 24mm knot. I believe that once you pass 26mm, you aren't using a brush, your are dabbing lather on your face.

RT

Check out this guys brushes. He made me a great brush.
http://stores.ebay.com/Thomas-Anthon...Q3amesstQQtZkm :hmmm:

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Originally Posted by pmays

Check out this guys brushes. He made me a great brush.
http://stores.ebay.com/Thomas-Anthon...Q3amesstQQtZkm :hmmm:

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Phillip,

These are some fine looking brushes.


Terry

I just received my new Shave Mac #22557. It's not Silvertip, just Finest Badger....Geez, It's beautiful. It makes great lather with Proraso and with Musgo Real. At $54.20 + Shipping...It's worth every dollar.

Jim

I've only got two brushes so far, a Vulfix 376 and the Shavemac SMF II. The Vulfix is a great brush but the Shavemac is even better. It's a little stiffer, denser and holds water just a bit better than the Vulfix. Both are great brushes though, but I'm sold on Shavemacs.

An update on my Vulfix travel brush: it's been losing a hair per shave the last two weeks. Perhaps it's the stress of flying that's causing the fall-out. :-(


Wayne

Hey guys! I joined up last week at the suggestion of a customer and have been looking for the right time to chime in. I thought this is as good a time as ever.

I am the maker of Thomas Anthony Brushes and you can check out some more of our work here...
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/london276/my_photos

Mr. Mays, I'm glad to see you here. Even happier to hear you've got positive things to say. Thanks.

I know this isn't the shopping forum, so I'll keep the business bit to a minimum. I source 5 grades of bristle from Asain supplier. Pure black, Pure Grey, Best, Silvertip and Super Silvertip. I carry dozens of exotic woods and other exotic materials when available. Inlay work is done in mother of pearl, sterling silver, pre ban ivory, mammoth ivory, walrus ivory, bone and horn.

Anyways, I build brushes because I love doing it. I just couldn't justify spending the $300 on a big name brush. I've tried to make my own quality brushes at a reasonable price.

I'm pleased to find SRP. I'm a member at SMF and though the company is quite nice, I find most of the razor talk is of DE's and I'm a straight user, always have been, so I feel at home here already.

Back on topic, I've got a medium C&E brush in best and it's a quality brush for the price.

Thanks,

Matt

I've got a standing offer on SMF to give free small packet airmail shipping to any member and I'm happy to extend that offer to the members of SRP.

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Originally Posted by bbqncigars

An update on my Vulfix travel brush: it's been losing a hair per shave the last two weeks. Perhaps it's the stress of flying that's causing the fall-out. :-(


Wayne

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I have 3 possible explanations:
1) You're not using a brush stand, which lets the water/lather drain away from the knot. If you have water draining into the knot, it loosens the hair and your brush starts needing Rogaine.
2) The brush is defective.
3) You are using a turpentine-based cleaner instead of soap, thus dissolving the knot.

I have a Simpsons Special in best badger and love it. Great brush.

Matt,
Welcome to the group. I love the brush and I hope the other guys will give your skills a try. I do not think there is a better brush out there.

Phillip