Thread: telling the difference in brush grades

Hello all,

So I have a question about badger brushes. I have been looking at different brushes from different brands to upgrade from my cheap boar brush and to go nicely with my Geo F. T. shave cream (when I want a nicer pampering than unscented shave soaps). As I look online, some brands' best badgers are a certain color and their silvertip will have another color. However, when I look at brushes from other brands, the colors won't be the same for each respective brush.

This is just info I would like to have in the future to maybe help spot fakes and what not. Can somebody help me by giving descriptions of what each badger grade (pure, best, super, silvertip) generally should look like? And maybe post some pics? Or am I asking too much and this is a thing that varies from manufacturer to manufacturer?

Thanks

I think the short answer might be that you are asking too much. As far as I know there is no universally applied standard of grades for badger brushes. You might be better to ask what badger brush will fill whatever qualities you want it to have.

Bob

Thebigspendur did a great primer on brushes at some point. That would be a great start for you to read

http://straightrazorpalace.com/showpost.php?p=564556

Michael

There is basically nothing that can be known for sure from a Pic... You either trust the Brush Maker, or you don't, and if you don't, then move on to another maker that you do trust...

Thre is so much more to what makes a good brush then the type of Badger Hair,,

I understand that the quality of brush is much more complicated than just bristle grade. I was just wondering if there was a common visual difference between, say a best badger and silvertip, which you guys have answered and apparently is a no.

There are general grades like the ones you mention but the problem is each manufacturer has his own versions so those general grades like silvertip and best and pure and two band mean little. You have to know the manufacturer and how he grades his brushes. So, first you need to decide the maker you prefer and then you can decide the grade you want. Otherwise, you might be comparing say 5 brushes from 5 makers and they all call them something different and they might be all the same.

You really can't tell grades from photos. The most basic badger, the pure, is usually a solid color brown or black or combination. Sometimes especially in vintage brushes, they were dyed so color may mean nothing along with banding.

Thank you all very much for the help and answers.