Thread: Which Brush?

Of the "Big" makers, I have a Vulfix, 2 Shavemacs (SMF I and SMF II) and the SMF III (made by Rooney) I also plan to pick up the B&B brush, but don't have one yet so can't say much about it one way or the other. I will say that I'm quite pleased with all of my brushes, but that I am REALLY starting to like the SMF III, (the Rooney) the handle is larger, so I am not forced to hold it in some funky way, and for me so far it ROCKS on both soaps and creams, and is very affordable, but I should warn you that (to me anyway) the thing is HUGE once it blooms out. I can only imagine what the B&B one is gonna be like. (I can't afford "luxury" grade brushes normally, so I jump on when the different forums have a good deal made for them-finest grade badger for less than 200 bucks...not gonna happen unless you get one of the forum "hook up" brushes)...
Still, if you are going to hold some different brushes that's probably the best way, as the Shavemacs I personally own aren't available anymore and are the only examples of them I've tried, and quite a few I've NOT tried seem also like they would be great brushes.
Let us know what you pick!
John P.

Thanks guys, Luckily with brushes I'm a cheap date <g>. I still prefer my C&E Best Badger over the 2 Super Badgers I have owned. The little extra stiffness works for me. I also like a smaller to medium handle and reasonable knot size. The C&E Super Badger did my whole face (partial beard) in one dab. So, I'm probably going to be in the $100 or less range.

I am fortunate to live very close to Jim at Vintage Blades and we are going to hook up early next week to go over some of the Roony, Shavemac and Vulfix brushes he has. I'm sure I'll walk away with one or two nice choices.

Thans fr all the advice and I'll let you know what I start off with.

Tony

I don't have a ton of experience with brushes but I work in the same <$100 category you're looking at, so will offer this for what it's worth.

Vulfix 2234 - My first badger brush, well made and feels good on the face but definitely floppy. Works best and very well with creams and I've learned to use it effectively with soaps too. Does not shed.

Shavemac 501 Finest Badger - Just received this from Jim and could not be happier with it. Firmer than the Vulfix but still very comfortable on the face. Absolutely superior to the Vulfix with soaps, best lather I've ever worked up and a lot of it. I haven't tried it with any creams yet. I doubt there's a better $70 value out there than this one. It didn't shed even one hair the first time I used it. The black/brown faux marble is distinctive and looks great.

Unknown brand, Xmas gift via Vermont Country Store - Dark badger bristles, scratchy on the face, sheds every time I use it. Guess it's ok for a $35 brush, better than boar bristle but not one you'd reach for if you had either of the two above around.

C&E Edwin Jagger Travel Brush - Another Xmas gift, I haven't used it yet but it seems like a better quality $35 brush than the one above.

DMS,

The Shavemac 501 is on my wish list. I like the faux ebony handle as I want some vriety there too. Your post kind of clinches the choice for me based on your use with soaps comment.

I also really want a smaller, style 1 Roony. The floppy comment about Vulfix may make me think about that choice.

I see Classic has a real ebony handle Dovo brush but if going for real wood this is more Matt's realm.

I do also have the C&E travel brush, the little white handle one which is a bit larger than the black version. Cool little brush but quite soft with those pesky, prickly tips.

Thanks,
Tony

Tony: You might want to hold off until Dr. Moss and Bernd (Shavemac) get the adjustable brush perfected. The first prototype looks awesome, I can't wait to see the second version.



Wayne

Originally Posted by Tony Miller

DMS,

The Shavemac 501 is on my wish list. I like the faux ebony handle as I want some vriety there too. Your post kind of clinches the choice for me based on your use with soaps comment.

I also really want a smaller, style 1 Roony. The floppy comment about Vulfix may make me think about that choice.

I see Classic has a real ebony handle Dovo brush but if going for real wood this is more Matt's realm.

I do also have the C&E travel brush, the little white handle one which is a bit larger than the black version. Cool little brush but quite soft with those pesky, prickly tips.

Thanks,
Tony

Tony,

I need to revise my comments about the Shavemac vs. Vulfix after using it some more. The Shavemac makes a ton of lather but it's not always as rich a lather with every soap as I'm used to with the Vulfix. I've found the difference is that the Shavemac has more bristles and holds more water, and when I shake a little more out in order to get a thicker lather it's about comparable to the Vulfix in generating lather, not head and shoulders better. I would rate the two about equal in making lather with soap at this point.

Where I would rate the Shavemac as clearly better than the Vulfix is in working the lather into the whiskers since it's not as floppy. The Vulfix blooms out much more readily and isn't stiff enough to really work lather into smaller areas like the chin. Applying lather to the face with the Vulfix is more like painting it on but the quality of my shave seems more dependent on the quality of the lather than which brush I put it on my face with.

If you work up lather on the face the Shavemac will probably do a better job, if you lather in a bowl there's not so much difference.

It sounds like we have the same C&E/Jagger travel brush with the light colored handle but I have yet to use mine.

Dave

Originally Posted by bbqncigars

Tony: You might want to hold off until Dr. Moss and Bernd (Shavemac) get the adjustable brush perfected. The first prototype looks awesome, I can't wait to see the second version.

Is this for real - if so, are there pics anywhere?

Originally Posted by suzuki

Is this for real - if so, are there pics anywhere?

You can find the info on this brush here.

RT

Thanks - very cool - but I won't be getting one of these.

Just not as fun as having a few different brushes in different grades of hair (IMHO anyhow - FWIW).

Originally Posted by suzuki

Thanks - very cool - but I won't be getting one of these.

Just not as fun as having a few different brushes in different grades of hair (IMHO anyhow - FWIW).

I think the big benefit to this brush would be to use it for traveling. It would be like packing a number of brushes instead of just one, but only having to give up space for one brush. But for home use...I like the different handles, badger grades, etc...

RT