Thread: One Brush to Rule Them All...

The current group buy on the Thater brush has made me think seriously about my shaving equipment. I've been shaving with a straight now for three years, so I'm long past the point of knowing whether I'll stick with it or not. I'm a dedicated straightrazor user. Now I'm looking to upgrade my equipment.

Specifically, I'm looking to get a better brush than my EJ Best Badger fan, which I'll hand down to my 17 year old son, who needs it only twice a week or so. lol.

I want an everyday workhorse brush that will be my one brush. I like what I've read about the group-buy Thater, especially how soft the bristle tips are, yet how stiff the rest of the bristles ar--making the brush not floppy and providing lots of room for lather to form between the hairs. That's what I'm looking for.

But...I don't care for the shape of the handle.

The 4125/3 though, seems to have the same qualities as the group buy brush, with a handle that appeals more to me, as well as stellar reviews. Am I correct in understanding that the knot on the 4125 is 25mm across and the bristles are 41mm tall? If so, that's quite a bit smaller that the group buy Thater. What does the 3 stand for?

I'm looking for a bulb; I mostly lather in my Georgetown scuttle with shaving cream, though I occasionally face and palm lather, and am looking to get more into soaps. (I do have a Wee Scott that's dedicated to travel).

I also don't want a brush that is too gigantic, wastes shaving cream or never dries out when I use it every day.

Is the group buy the brush what I should get--should I just shut up and not be bothered by the handle? Am I really better suited for the 4125/3 or another similar brush? Should I give the group buy a miss, and keep looking for a better-suited (for me) brush?

Sorry for all the questions, but thanks for any advice you could give me.