Thread: Question about knots

I want to order a knot. What is difference between Super badger, silver tip and finest?

Thanks you Rene

Hi,

My understanding is the quality of the hair used in the knot, as you move from super to silver to fine the hair is more refined and denser. I think the greater hair density provides better water retention for a finer lather.

- Mike

There are no standards so one outfits super is another's finest or another's silver tip. You have to know the outfit you are buying from. Simpson sells super as their best, Rooney sells finest as their best and Plisson sells High Mountain White as their best. As far as the differences go it's a rarer form so it's more expensive.

Once you get to Silvertip which is the highest general grade the others are subgrades of that. It's a matter of how dense the knot is and the characteristics of the particular hair.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

There are no standards so one outfits super is another's finest or another's silver tip. You have to know the outfit you are buying from. Simpson sells super as their best, Rooney sells finest as their best and Plisson sells High Mountain White as their best. As far as the differences go it's a rarer form so it's more expensive.

Once you get to Silvertip which is the highest general grade the others are subgrades of that. It's a matter of how dense the knot is and the characteristics of the particular hair.

Hi,

+1 for you. I was thinking from what I saw/heard at a place in the mall called the "art of shaving". Being a natural material I guess it would be difficult to grade across the board but a specific lot may show some kind of progression.

- Mike

A member here has a blog about brushes.

So, the question to you is where are you looking to purchase said knot from?
By the sounds of your post I am thinking TGN, mostly because he doesn't define his levels very well and you said knot not brush.
this is direct from the TGN website:
Finest Badger
Creamy white tips that fade to black, sometimes refered to as two band. Fairly soft tips well packed good with soaps and creams. Available in fan & bulb shapes
Silvertip
Super Silvertip - Top of the line, soft creamy white natural tips well packed.
Silvertip Grade A- Soft creamy white natural tips, well packed.
Silvertip- Standard grade, not as soft as the above knots, greyish silver tips very well packed, good backbone, great value.
Super Badger
Super badger is treated silvertip. This makes the tips whiter and softer. Very high quality knot, soft tips well packed available in Bulb or Fan shapes.

I hope this is what you were referring to. If so the fine is a two band, the silver is a standard silvertip and the super is treated to be softer.
I have all three from this distributor and if this is the information you were looking for I would be willing to elaborate further on the differences in my experience.

-G

Ahhhh! Yes! This is what i was interested in. I just removed my first knot from a vintage brush and was looking at TGN. I just wasnt sure which was which. If you could elaborate please. Thank you

Also thank you for everone's input. Im sorry if i wasnt clear about what i was looking for.

Rene

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

So, the question to you is where are you looking to purchase said knot from?
By the sounds of your post I am thinking TGN, mostly because he doesn't define his levels very well and you said knot not brush.
this is direct from the TGN website:
Finest Badger
Creamy white tips that fade to black, sometimes refered to as two band. Fairly soft tips well packed good with soaps and creams. Available in fan & bulb shapes
Silvertip
Super Silvertip - Top of the line, soft creamy white natural tips well packed.
Silvertip Grade A- Soft creamy white natural tips, well packed.
Silvertip- Standard grade, not as soft as the above knots, greyish silver tips very well packed, good backbone, great value.
Super Badger
Super badger is treated silvertip. This makes the tips whiter and softer. Very high quality knot, soft tips well packed available in Bulb or Fan shapes.

I hope this is what you were referring to. If so the fine is a two band, the silver is a standard silvertip and the super is treated to be softer.
I have all three from this distributor and if this is the information you were looking for I would be willing to elaborate further on the differences in my experience.

-G

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

Ahhhh! Yes! This is what i was interested in. I just removed my first knot from a vintage brush and was looking at TGN. I just wasnt sure which was which. If you could elaborate please. Thank you

Also thank you for everone's input. Im sorry if i wasnt clear about what i was looking for.

Rene

Ok, sorry, I had to finish some lab reports.

The finest is a two band as stated before, I find it in the scratchier of my badgers, but descent backbone compared to knot size and loft. this brush has worked with just about any soap or cream I have used. I like it because it doesn't hold too much water.

The Standard silvertip is a descent knot. Not as scratchy as the finest, but a little softer and denser in general I like this as a good all around brush and especially if I have a soap that needs a little more backbone.

The grade A I find similar to the standard, but with a much softer texture. I prefer the feel of this one on my skin. I set this one a little deeper.

The super I find almost too soft. this was my first brush and as such has a special place among my brushes. With the extra softness comes a brush that soaks up the water and the lather, this aspect makes this brush a possible candidate for face latherers. I find though, that from dry this brush can absorb nearly the entire volume of water in the bowl of my G4 scuttle. I have not found this a problem with denser creams, but those that already have a low viscosity I am not a fan. With these I have since set them deeper to increase the backbone as well. Set shallow they tend to be too floppy for my liking.

Remember that these are just my opinions and I've probably forgotten half of what I was going to say. I am not an expert by any means, just a wood turner who attempted to save a few dollars and got addicted to brushes.
At this point you should probably decide what you want out of your brush and what type of latherer you are. If you have any more questions please feel free to ask.

-G