Thread: Which Brush?

Okay, I know this has been asked a million times before but hey, I answer the same strop questions daily so it's payback time <g>.

I want to try a few nicer brushes. Right now my most used is a very old C&E badger/boar blend about the same size as the medium $35 C&E brush out now.

I do like that size, fairly small, maybe the same height/width as a Burma Shave brush. I had the big C&E Super Badger but it was way too big and floppy.

So, a small to medium brush that is stiff enough to use on cake soaps but also do well for creme/tub/tube type soaps. Must be a sub $100 brush and I am looking for choices from Rooney, Vulfix, etc.....

I have a bunch of nice razors and really feel it's time to own a few nicer brushes.....so, what do you suggest? What was the Rooney Lyn liked on the DVD?

Tony

Tony, you mean you aren't buying the bristles from blankity-blanks and making your own?;-) My two favorite brushes are my SMF1 (Shavemac) and my little Vulfix super travel brush. The Vulfix is amazingly hydrophilic compared to the SMF1, which needs the occasional shampoo treatment. The Vulfix is this one: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalo...550/422556.htm
I would be very satisfied if that were my only brush, but variety is fun.



Wayne

I would like to highly recommend Matt AKA shavethebadger. I have a 20mm Super silver tip hand made to my specs for about $90. Great brush. I want one of his black tips now.

X

A handcrafted Matt brush is a given. I just wanted to round out the collection with a brush from each of the leading sources, Rooney, Shavemac and Vulfix.

I suppose living so close to Jim at Vintage blades I could just drop by and handle a few to be real sure.

I have already e-mailed Matt about his creations.

I suppose I an not sure mainly about what grade of hair. My Tweezerman is floppy, my C&E is just right. The cheap AOS badger that came in a sample set makes a nice lather but is really prickly against the skin, which is a different feling altogether than stiff.

Tony

Tony,

Of the "leading" brushes you mention, based on my experience with all three, and your experience with the C&E Super, I think you will find the Rooney and the Vulfix a bit more floppy than the Shavmac. The Rooney and Vulfix brushes are excellent brushes, but seem to lack either the tensile strength or density of the Shavemac. Maybe that's why I own 4 Shavemac brushes and one Rooney and one Vulfix! One other brush you may want to look at is the Savile Row brushes at QED. The newer brushes (allegedly Shavemac but no one is telling) are also some great buys. The only problem is the QED website sucks and you may just want to call Charles direct.

RT

Tony,

check out the new B&B Finest brush. I think they'll be alll that...

Rooney Finest has the reputation of one of the best - but costs 200 for a small. Probably less than $100 wholesale, if you can get it (or ask for a showroom sample - you have a business, you know how it's done). Some Olde Apothecary brushes were like the Finest but even cheaper, just a different name, even same maker (Sabini). AND it's bleached, according to Joel.

This is why I decided on B&B Finest, unbleached, and half the price because of the promotion. They (EJ / MP) will be selling the same hair later at much higher prices, I hear.

In your range - Rooney Super small is a great brush. Lee can get you a nice deal for some Simpson Super small - but it will be closer to 150, I think. And Simpson seems to have QC issues right now. There are some Plissons that can be had for about $100 (bit more, I think, but definitely not their top brushes).

The Rooney Lynn likes is about $300, I think

Cheers
Ivo

edit: oh, yeah - I hear SR are great buys and fab brushes! I just saw Randy recommend them... Shavemac - many people like them, esp if you can get a pre Jul 2005, as the hair was different, from what I read. Nobody selling, though.

I'd go with the BB grade, 22mm knot in that case. The EJ that I have was comfortable on the face and good with both soaps and creams.

I have a Simpson Duke 2 in Best badgerwhich is very nice. They quality of the hair is more like Super, and the brush is nice and compact. It is great for hard soaps being more 'scrubby' than 'moppy' if that makes any sense.

Only downside, mine tends to shed a lot of hairs - I don't know if I just got a lemon or if they're all like that.

It cost me just over £50 in a local shop so should be right at your budget.

Tony - its great to be able to give you some advice, instead of just asking you for it!

In your price range, I would definitely consider the Saville Row brushes - I have a 22mm silvertip and its one of my favourite brushes - soft, but firm and definitely not floppy. They come in 18mm and 20mm (around $80) in a variety of handle shapes. These are some of the best deals around in my opinion. The brush works well with both soaps and creams and is the brush that finally disabused me of the notion that you need a stiffer bristle to get soaps to perform.

Rooney makes some great brushes as well I have a #1 large silvertip (I can't justify the incremental difference between silvertip and finest given the huge price difference - I also got mine for about 1/2 the retail price). The Rooney is a little floppier than my SR, but not as floppy as my Vulfix. If you're looking for a less floppy brush, then stick to brushes with a shorter loft - a 5mm difference in loft height makes a big difference in this regard. The #1 has the shortest loft, followed by the #3 and then the #2 - so the small (22mm) in the #1 in either super or silvertip would likely fit the bill). I have a definite preference for smaller brushes and this is the only brush that I have that has a knot diameter greater than 22mm (its a 26mm) and it is nice to have a large soft brush - especially for whipping up creams - for when you want a change.

You might also want to try a Kent brush - the white barrel handles are supposedly some of the most comfortable around (and they look great). The BK2 is a pure badger brush that is a little firmer (and a great deal on e-bay as they can be had for between $50 and $60 new) that is supposed to be a great soap brush (I almost bought one, but decided that I really prefer silvertip brushes and already have a small Simpson brush that is very similar). The BK4 is basically the same brush in silvertip and goes for around $75 - $80 on e-bay).

As for the Vulfix, I only have a 2197 in pure - this was my first "good" brush (got it for about $30 locally) and I still use it. It is floppy and Vulfix brushes have this reputation. If you want a Vulfix, I would go with someting with a shorter loft to combat this tendency and pick something with a beefier handle if you have large hands - I find the 300 series brushes to have very small handles and I don't have especially large hands.

Shavemac is another great option - especially if you want a custom brush. You're not limited to the options on the webpage - Bernd will work with you to come up with something that's just right for you. His prices are also amazing for the quality.

Finally, there is the B&B brush that's going to be available soon - I'm seriously considering one of these (even thought I'm quite happy with my current selection) as it looks to be a great brush for the price.

Hope this is useful information.

Vulfix 374 silvertip. It's a 22mm. Mine
works quite well with creams and soap,
including the hard soap such as Williams
and Trumpers.



Terry