Thread: Best brush under $50 for soap pucks

I like a badger with a little backbone, especially since I occasionally use soap pucks, but more often use a dense cream, Acca Kappa 1869. Thoughts?

I shouldn’t recommend one of these because I don’t own one…yet. But I’ve heard a lot of great things about Frank Shaving. He sells via ebay out of China. I’ve heard that his product is fairly high quality for the cost. I also would suggest something in best badger. I have silver tip brushes and they are nice, but I actually like the scrubby feeling of a best badger. Pure badger is a little harsh and scratchy. Best has good backbone and just enough scrubby texture for my taste. I’d recommend my Simpson’s Persian Jar but it easily exceeds your dollar threshold.

Originally Posted by marosell

I like a badger with a little backbone, especially since I occasionally use soap pucks, but more often use a dense cream, Acca Kappa 1869. Thoughts?

Parker pure badgers. 26 mm knots. I have 2 I liked the first one so much. Under $40 delivered ebay. I have an AOS best badger brush and the parkers feel the same even though they are pure not best badgers. The bursh has a little back bone to get your soap going to lather but not harsh on the face at all. I bowl lather but have used them for face lathering with no irritation at all and not scritchy either like some boars are. The frank brushes I have never tried.

A "trick" to give your brush a bit more backbone is to put an o-ring over the nib (apply from handle end). THis will bunch up the hairs tighter at the handle and give it more backbone...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

A "trick" to give your brush a bit more backbone is to put an o-ring over the nib (apply from handle end). THis will bunch up the hairs tighter at the handle and give it more backbone...

or you can trim it back to decrease the loft which will stiffen it up a bit.

In your price range the large outfits are pretty much out of your price range unless you go with best badger in a more modest size. The private guys have them though. You need to do some research to see which ones to consider and which not.

Trimming it up will get very "pokey" IMO. The tips are tapered and softer than the mid shaft of the hair for lack of a better word. I would use the o ring and avoid cutting back the hairs. YMMV.

I have a 24mm Whipped Dog silvertip and I find it has good backbone while still being soft. The best option, IMO, is any handle with a TGN Finest knot in it though.

To part with my Progress Vulfix 404, they'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hand. Boar and best badger hair... lathers up a treat (even MWF (I live in a hard water area, fwiw))... and costs around $27 on Amazon.com.

Originally Posted by bill3152

Trimming it up will get very "pokey" IMO. The tips are tapered and softer than the mid shaft of the hair for lack of a better word. I would use the o ring and avoid cutting back the hairs. YMMV.

You then take that "poky" brush to a fresh sheet of 400 wet/dry & then 1K. This tapers the hair. Ask me how I know...you can get it soft again after a little work on the sandpaper, rubbing only the first 1/2" of hairs & not the shafts.

Sounds like a plan. Never thought of that. And it makes sense. Thanks for sharing that.