So my beginner brush was the cheap but reliable Tweezerman brush that has a solid following around here, especially for those just starting out. I like that brush, but am looking to get another, mid to high end brush. I always hear about Thaters, so I'm leaning toward one of them, but would like some others' thoughts.
So what say you? What's your preference for a non-beginner brush? Knot size, brand, etc?
Do you bowl or face lather?
For face lathering I would recommend anbrush with a lower loft like a Simpson Berkeley, Duke or Chubby1 or similar, for bowllathering I would go for a brush with a higher loft.
I have several Simpsons, Semogue and the SRP Thäther, of all the Thäter and my Chubby1 is the favorites, the Thäter being a brush working all over the place while the Chubby is most comfortable to facelathering.
But of course it all comes down to a personal prefrence :)
Bowl latherer... hence the nick on my razor from when I hit it against my bowl! :gaah:
I always hear so much about the Thaters, they seem to be the go to for many. It's just difficult to pick one when you've only really had one brush so far. But let's hope this next one is just the second of many!
Uh oh, another BAD sufferer. Join the club, buddy!
I was puzzled, still am, about what shave brush to get as a step up. Finally went with a Vulfix 660 medium super badger silver tip not wanting to go way spendy. Turns out it face lathers and bowl lathers to my satisfaction. I use both soaps and creams but not the hard triple milled stuff. It works well enough so that I am not considering spending huge amounts on another brush. The priority for me is to round out my collection of hones first. No doubt in the future I might spend more on a brush though. Just saying you don't have to break the bank to get a very decently performing brush unless you want to.
Bob
I highly recommend the Thater two bands. I bought my first brush in '73 at Hoffritz For Cutlery in a shopping mall. No name just Hoffritz on the handle and it cost $80 back then so it was a high end brush. I used it daily for 30 years until I discovered the shaving forums and found I needed a couple of dozen more brushes. :p
Anyway, point is, if you are a beginner or a veteran shaver, it doesn't matter when it comes to the brush. You can use it for the rest of your life if you never pick up a straight razor again , so get the best one you can afford. Just IMHO.
I'm not a brush nut, having only 6 badger and two boar. I use the boar brushes to face lather with soap while in the shower and use the badger to generate lather in a bowl.
You can buy a "finest badger" knot with extra hair , and the handle of your choice , at thegoldennib.com . Glue it in real good with 30 min. epoxy , and don't use it for at least 24 hrs . Total cost including shipping + glue is less than $60 . I did , and I don't regret it . This brush makes the Vulfix 2234 is was using , seem like a piece of junk . I bought the 24mm size , and like it just fine .
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I don't believe in beginner brushes. There are just quality brushes and non quality brushes.
You should buy a brush based on the characteristics you like. Soft, stiff,floppy, backbone and handle type and size to fit your hand. The size should match the bowl or scuttle you are using and then what you like. I think a quality brush will work fine no matter the soap or cream. It's like saying you need a certain razor to match a certain beard. I don't believe in that either. You need to decide these factors. Whether you buy a Plisson or a Simpson or Rooney or Thater or other name brands they are all quality brushes. There are other independent makers but you need to check with other owners to check with quality issues.
As far as the Thater 2 band, you definitely get what you pay for. Worth every penny! The 2 band knots from TGN are also great, as Dave says. I wish they would come up with a larger knot than 24mm. Maybe a 26? I am enjoying reknotting old brushes these days as I prefer the old longer handles.
Has anyone tried the short loft they have? I wonder if it is stiffer? In reality, a brush is a brush. It is a shame to not find out what you like best. I like them with backbone and am not finished with boar either. TGN boar knots are the best ones I have found, to me anyway! I have one which gets better with each use.
Hopefully this isn't a dumb question, but I'm still pretty new to this world, so I get to ask it!! What does 'two band' mean?
And as always, thanks for all the input guys! :)
I am pretty certain it means how the brush is assembled using certain hairs in bands in the circular knot. They grade the hair and test it somehow. They integrate stiffer and ones with other characteristics to make a brush to a spec. Some badger hair cannot be harvested until certain times of year for a desired hair. Now you know I am talking BS here, but maybe I am somewhat correct? There is lots more to it. If you ever used a Thater 2 band, you would see what knowhow makes. A difference you can feel and see!
Hahaha. Sounds good enough for me sharptonn! :D Thanks much. Maybe I'll spend the cash and go with a 2 band. Who knows though - the more I learn about everything, the more I change my mind!!!
Put me in the camp of thebigspendur of the non-believers in 'beginner' equipment.
The truth is that if you want to know your preferences there is no way around biting the bullet trying out several different brushes. If you're short in cash but long in sociability you could make friends with other shavers in your area and some of them may let you try out their equipment, but other than that your only option is to pick something you think you may like and see how it goes.
As far as bands go, these refer to the white and black colored bands in the fancier badger brushes. The generic badger brushes look just black or gray, but in the fancier ones the hairs are sorted so that the transition from white to black (if any) aligns. Typically the top band is white/tan and in the best brushes none of the tips of the hairs are cut off in order to shape the knot so the brush is softer. Then below that you have a black area and then, you may have another tan area below that. The black parts of the hair are stiffer than the white/tan parts, so if you have a two-band brush it'll be stiffer than an equivalent three band brush. But that's just one variable, the length of the hairs and the density of the knot are more important for the stiffness.
yea, it can mean many things. Originally it referred to a type of premium hair harvested from animals however due to global warming they don't produce that hair anymore. So now they sell two band which is an inferior type, or hair trimmed to look the part or maybe even dyed to look like it.Quote:
Originally Posted by toadq5
Some makers appear to have an alternative source which closely approximates the original. Thater is pretty close and Simpson is selling what they call Manchurian badger which is pretty close too.
I had one of those original Somerset Simpson Manchurian badgers in a chubby 2. I believe it could have taken the chrome off of a trailer hitch but I never tried. Went to a good home with a member who really likes it.Quote:
Originally Posted by thebigspendur
Brushes are all so personal it depends on what you like.
for me nothing beats my omega boar with the red handle...my second favorite is my vie long horse hair brush.
I sold my thater because I never used it much..
I don't understand the soap brush vs cream brush bowl lathering thing...I think it is just a way to make people buy more brushes.
I've got good news for you , sharptonn . They have knots that go from 18mm to 30mm , in 2mm increments .Quote:
Originally Posted by sharptonn
