I hate my Commodore X2!

Well, I don't hate it...I just don't plan on using it anymore.
I thought Simpsons was supposed to be the s**ts of the brush world, so I got a Commodore X2.
I used it for the first time tonight trying to later up some soap for a shave. Well, that thing spread out like a cheap wh**e's legs on a Friday night. Not only would it not get hardly any lather, it was difficult to apply what it did get.
Are these not supposed to be for soaps? What are they best for...shaving cream in a can?
What's a GOOD brush...one that's stiff, yet soft...one that I can use for creams, soaps, or whatever?
This Commodore's going buh-bye!
/end rant

I reserve my silvertip badgers for creams and use Boar for soaps.

I particularly like the Semogue Owners Club Boar, it never feels harsh. I think that if I had happened on it earlier, I would probably not have bothered with anything else.

I know this thing has no backbone at all. I've got a badger I bought for ~$25 that's head & shoulders above this. Just wish I remembered who I bought it from & the brand.
I had previously purchased a "Wee Scot". I'm saving it for vacation, but if it's anything like this, I may leave it in the motel room. LOL!

I am a user of Commodore X3. I am really satisfied with its backbone. It is efficient with soaps and cream, both for bowl lather or face lather.
It is not the Chubby 2, but for the price, it is superb.

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Originally Posted by harrygr

I am a user of Commodore X3. I am really satisfied with its backbone. It is efficient with soaps and cream, both for bowl lather or face lather.
It is not the Chubby 2, but for the price, it is superb.

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I'm just really paranoid about getting another Simpson now.
I've got some vintage boars & aren't crazy about them, I had a Vie-Long horse hair & didn't like it.

Don't throw it away.
If you own firearms, you can use it as a lubrication brush, to spread oil on your firearms. :shrug: :beer2:

Can't say I have had any problems using a Simpsons brush in Manchurian badger to face lather hard soaps, creams or shave sticks. Then again I can say the same for my other silver tip badgers, boars and one synthetic brush. The Commodore X2 should have more backbone than any of my silver tip badgers being it is best badger grade. Maybe if you adjust the technique you are using for making lather you might get better results. Every brush type is a little different and sometimes you need to fine tune a bit to get the best out of them.

Bob

Some folks hate brushes with backbone and complain they can be too scratchy and irritate their face. Many like a brush that feels like a marshmallow.

Usually as you pay more for a brush you get more fill in the brush which makes it plusher but not necessarily with any more backbone. You either have to go with a brush with very short loft which will give a floppy brush more backbone or buy an upgraded brush that has more backbone as one of it's qualities. You can also go with a pure badger which has all the backbone in the world but can be really scratchy.

You just have to figure out what qualities you like and which manufacturer makes them for a price you like.

I have a black badger that does it all for me. I set it in an old DD metal handle with the loft about 3/16ths lower than the boar that was in there. I have tried a few and this one turns out to be in the middle of the road. Soft with backbone on the verge of scritchy. I am not going to advise you to set the knot lower to get more backbone out of it because it may destroy the knot ? But that would be the fix.

I really don't know how to fine tune a brush that has no backbone to speak of.
I've ordered a know from TGN...a 20mm w/60mm loft in Best. When it comes in & I set it in my vintage "Prophylactic" handle, i'll be all good & can dump the "Commode-ador" to someone that wants a soft brush.

How ya been, Pups? Guess what I got??????????????? :)

I hear tell some guys use a rubber band or some retainer and wrap it around the base of the hair and they say that provides backbone.

Then for the truly hard to please or just can't decide you could go with this http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...-version2.html .

Bob

I am a Commodore X2 user and fan, but I didn't start out that way. The trick to using this brush is when loading the brush from your soap make sure that the brush has been soaked for a while then when loading, do NOT press down into the soap. Let the tips of the bristles do the work. I currently use this brush with no issues on soaps and creams and get a nice, long lasting lather every time. I'm not going to lie, it took me about 12-15 shaves to get it right.

I'm also a Commodore X2 user and I found it to be good for soaps and creams. The best part of the brush is the handle, you can really whip that brush around without it flying out of your hand. If you want more "backbone" grip the base of the knot with your fingers, I do that when I use it on MWF and it works really well. I've been using MWF a lot lately and I find the Classic #1 to be better for really hard soaps. The Classic also seems to be a higher quality brush.

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Originally Posted by Silents

I am a Commodore X2 user and fan, but I didn't start out that way. The trick to using this brush is when loading the brush from your soap make sure that the brush has been soaked for a while then when loading, do NOT press down into the soap. Let the tips of the bristles do the work. I currently use this brush with no issues on soaps and creams and get a nice, long lasting lather every time. I'm not going to lie, it took me about 12-15 shaves to get it right.

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I'll try that & see what happens.

Unfortunately Simpsons quality control has been declining for years. Their brushes are the most inconsistent of any I've tried. After doing my best to stay with the brand - I've probably owned close to a dozen models in all price ranges, I sold them all off and have never been happier. Plus their prices are extravagant for what you get. YMMV.

If you got nothing to loose rip it out and set it lower in the handle. Add some "o" rings to the base. Include it in an e-bay sale .


just noticed how old this thread is. Hope I got what you had :<0)

Gentlemen, the Simpson Commodore is a good brush in general, for soaps as well as creams. It's an underrated brush. I've had the X3 best badger and found it to be a workhorse. Also, the X3 best badger seems to share some general similarities with the coveted Duke 3 best badger. Load the brush using a light touch — work with the tips rather than flatten the brush against the soap or the bowl — for best results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

I have a black badger that does it all for me. I set it in an old DD metal handle with the loft about 3/16ths lower than the boar that was in there. I have tried a few and this one turns out to be in the middle of the road. Soft with backbone on the verge of scritchy. I am not going to advise you to set the knot lower to get more backbone out of it because it may destroy the knot ? But that would be the fix.

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Would "banding" (dont know the proper word) the bottom of the knot with tight elastic bands or something like a hose clamp be a way to see if this solution would work? A bit bodgy brothers I know but needs must and all that...

I'm a huge fan of the Simpsons Chubby 2 in best...stiff, with plenty of backbone yet soft enough (for me to get the job done at the tips). All around amazing brush and huge too! This thing is a soap slayer...

http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/...ps6f26cb43.jpg