Thread: does knot size matter!!

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

You could look at it this way 25mm is 1 inch now take into consideration the loft mm. Imagine that spread out on your face, it'll cover a good bit of area. Brush density, Loft and hair type all play a part.
IMO if you go to big, you might cover your face with lather in record time, but might miss out on the other benefits of applying lather to your mug with a brush of smaller size. Exfoliating, lifting hairs and working the lather more.

I'm for 22 -24mm knot at about 50mm loft in finest badger

Well-said, Trimmy. My peference almost exactly, while I like mine set a tad lower! I have some 26mm's and 28's, but prefer my 24's in finest for above resons! The biggies seem to waste some lather as well, IMO!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Changing the loft has nothing to do with the density. Only more hair will do that. Changing the loft can make it less floppy though.

Brush size is the same as razor size. It's all a matter of personal preference.

I don’t know. I think of density in terms of the number of hairs per square millimeter. More hairs per square millimeter makes for a denser brush (as you said, “more hairs will do that”); the hairs are bunched closely together. But if you decrease the loft on a brush, by drilling the brush‘s hole deeper, the hairs get bunched up, closer together - it’s now denser. You have the same amount/number of hairs, but they now occupy a smaller area, so, to me, that means a denser brush. Of course maybe my definition, or what I think density is is wrong? Possibly. All I know is that when I look at the Vestavia from above, as the brush came from the factory, I see a lot of air in between the hairs. The brush doesn’t seem too dense. But when I lower the loft by about 6mm, and once again view the brush from above, the hairs are now much closer together, and to me, that translates to the brush now being denser. It’s all about changing the numbers in the ratio of hairs per square mm. If you increase the number of hairs, you increase the density, if you decrease the surface area, or the diameter of the brush’s tip when viewed from above, you also increase the density. Right?

All I know for sure is that setting the loft lower on the Vestavia, caused the brush to be a bit less floppy, and it feels better on the face now. And when I look at the tips, I don’t see as much space between the hairs as I did before. I may actually use the brush once in a while now, whereas before, it just sat on a shelf gathering dust.

I usually don't get involved in these debates. The shorter the loft of a specific knot the closer the the hairs are at the top of the knot. Call it density or backbone. Take the big Omega boar at a factory setting of about 65mm and shorten it to 45mm. The knot will not spread as much and feel stiffer and denser at the lower setting. You'll find more hairs per square (inch, cent. or whatever measurement you use) at the lower loft if viewing the knot from the top.

You could just as well put a rubber band around the loft and accomplish the same thing far easier.

Making the hairs closer together to increase density is like folks who use magnets to "soften" their water. It doesn't really soften the water but just makes it seem like it does. Same with brush density. It makes it seem denser.

is not a debate,a lower loft makes for a denser Knot.plain and simple.

I've got 21mm knots, 28mm and in between. Most are 48 to 52 and a couple 54 or so in loft. Density as I define it is how populated those knots are with bristles. Where I preferred scritchy knots to soft tips in the past, I've learned to appreciate both. Depends on my mood. Some of the brushes I've got lend themselves to face lathering a puck of soap, others to bowl lathering creams.

Most of them will serve in either capacity. I've gotten to know my brushes to where I can pick one out, based on its characteristics , to match what I'm feeling like that day. If you've got a little harem of brushes you can do that. If you just have one, well be satisfied with what you have.

i like lots of backbone. i also like a tall handled brush so that when i bowl lather in winter, my hands don't get lather on them. i have a large 30mm extra dense silver tip with approx 100mm long handle with 51 mm loft from rod jeep. awesome brush, but i want more backbone. he said go for a smaller knot and less loft. i understand the less loft thing, but the smaller knot surprised me. will let you know how i find it when it arrives. i find my big knot isn't accurate when doing things such as upper lip, but it whips up a HUGE creamy lather and helps me cover large areas well. love the big brushes, in all dimensions!

When it comes to knots, I prefer bigger. The bigger the better. I prefer a very generous amount of lather and the bigger knots produce a plenty. Yes you can go with a smaller knot to economize your soap use but admittedly most of us have more soap/cream than we will use in a lifetime so using it up is not a concern.....for me anyway. I have smaller brushes that sit around and never get used. But like most things here, its preference. If you like a generous amount of lather get a big one. If you want a lighter coating of lather get a smaller one.

I like a small, round firmly packed knot. OCDshaver, if you want to get rid of any just send them my way.

Brushes are like Boobs....the bigger the bettah !!!!