Anyone have an opinion on their shaving brush?

[ForestryProf]

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 ; however, I just got a quote from JJ Atkinson on that brush can't justify spending the $300 right now (but one can dream ).

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

[rtaylor61]

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

[threeputt]

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

[JerseyLawyer]

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.

[marciaga]

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

[bbqncigars]

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

[Korndog]

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

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.

[threeputt]

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

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.

[robertlampo]

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

[superfly]

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:



cheers,
Nenad