Thread: Better Investment?

I have a little cash set aside from a Christmas bonus and I was wondering what would be a better investment for right now; a silvertip badger brush or a norton stone and some diamond strop pastes? I have two razors that seem to shave pretty well (honed on a Tilly hone) but I'm sure they could be sharper. My brush is a $6 boar bristle special and seems to do the job, but the plastic handle is tacky to say the least Feedback would be greatly appreciated.

I don't see a point in getting the silvertip, other than endulging yourself. Get a cheap badger (tweezerman, I think) for $10 (or nice Vulfix for $40), and get the stone you want. Or better yet, get couple of tilly stones...

Nenad

I have a silvertip, best badger and boar brushes. The badger brushes are better than the boar, a lot better. However I don't see as much difference between the silvertip and the best badger. The Norton hone I feel is a great pickup. Tough decision. Here you go get a Norton and a less expensive badger brush.

I can't recommend a great brush highly enough. The silvertips, at least the higher end ones, have creamy white velvet soft tips, with dark and stiff shafts. This makes for a very pleasureable lathering experience. They are firm in the shafts so as not to sprawl out over your soap or face, but the tips are soft so they don't feel prickly or scratchy. The "best badger" hairs are more flexible in the shaft with not quite so soft a tip. In my experience this makes for a "floppy" brush which is fine if you use a painting stroke, or if you want an overall softer brush. I have a Vulfix in super that is in fact NOT a silver tip, more like best badger, and it is very soft compared to my other brushes. Vulfix are known for not having very tight knots as well which also contributes to their "floppiness".
That being said, in the world of str8's, I believe the sharpest blade is of utmost importance. I think I'd make do with the current brush until you have built up your stone/strop/paste aresenal to where you want it to be. That is, if you plan on maintaining them yourself. I understand some guys just send them out periodically which is fine I suppose, but maintaining them is half the fun to me.
I've been doing quite a bit of brush research the past couple months, and while I'm no expert like a couple of the guys at SMF I could mention, I can offer what I've learned when you're ready to take that plunge. .......Jeff

It's interesting that we don't discuss brushes on this site to the degree I have seen on DE sites. They seem to be obsessed with them to the point that they are shelling out $500.00 without flinching. I must admit that I have seen some cool pictures of waves of lather sitting high on the tips of these brushes.

Still, I would get the stone and pastes.

Maybe I am crazy but what some people are paying for brushes are obscene. I happen to have a silvertip badger only because it used to be my fathers. I also have a $30 badger brush that was just fine. I would rather spend my money on the steel that is on my skin then on a fancy brush. Just my 2cents.

Originally Posted by Korndog

It's interesting that we don't discuss brushes on this site to the degree I have seen on DE sites. They seem to be obsessed with them to the point that they are shelling out $500.00 without flinching.

Well, there is nothing else to talk about with the DE You got your Merkur Vision, a pack of blades, and the brush...

Larry I know what you mean. I've been getting deeper and deeper into those brush discussions on the "predominately DE" forums. Cologne, after-shave, soaps, creams, and BRUSHES! We don't talk about it so much here. I think these kind of discussions are very important to me as a straight shaver, what with the importance of the prep, etc. Besides that, I really enjoy all of the various aspects of shaving. Str8s are just at the top of that list :-) ....Jeff

Larry,

You must be referring to something like this:

I've spent a few dollars on brushes. This Savile Row 208 was $58. A great brush, holds water, heat and generates tons of lather. And it looks good cleaned up with the faux tortoise handle (originally referred to as a Tortoise Hog when first introduced).

To me, it's a matter of enjoying the whole experience. I started with a $5 Surrey Brush, graduated to an Omega Boar Bristle and then to a Tweezerman brush. I don't know that I could tell you the difference you would experience with a $500 brush vs my $58 brush, but different brushes change the total experience. I can definitely tell you there is a world of difference between the Tweezerman Badger and this Savile Row badger. I would certainly recommend this inexpensive brush, but I would also recommend my $100 Shavemac #181, which has a much denser knot, and works incredible well with hard soaps.

Probably more true with shaving than anything else...different "strokes" for different folks.

RT

I also can't recommend a good brush highly enough. It makes a difference in the whole shaving experience, I think. That being said, I think that, contrary to what some of the people here have said, you would be better off waiting until you're ready to go "whole hog" on a new brush before buying one. The difference between a boar bristle brush and a silvertip badger is quantum, and you're better off just making the leap all at once than going halfway, then being unsatisfied that your best badger isn't as soft as a silvertip and isn't as stiff for hard soaps as a boar.

I have a Taylor best badger, and while I like it a lot, it does have some of the 'floppiness' that's been referred to - it sortof fans out, which isn't unpleasant at all, but might be a problem if you like to make circles or whatever with your brush instead of going up and down. It makes a fine lather. And, since I bought it four years ago, it's by now practically free to me. ;p

As for discussion of brushes... well, some people take it to the level of obsession, and while I want a good brush, and don't want to waste money... there is such a thing as too much information.

-Keith