Any love for the size 2 Rooneys?

[Ignatius]

We know this brand is known for the density of their brushes, and the thus the ability to work well with hard soaps.

Mostly we seem to like the size 1 Rooneys here, but why? The medium/large ones are also very dense. THe 1/1 realy is quite a small brush. Does the 1/2 lose any of the abilities of the 1/1? It seems a more practical size.

 

[syzygy]

I have a 1/2 and think it is perfect. I can't think of how it could be improved upon. A smaller one wouldn't hold as much soap and larger one would be awkward with most puck sizes I use - at least my practical thoughts lead me to such conclusions and I may be incorrect. Ahh, the subjective experience of stuff.

 

[rsp1202]

I've had two 1/2's: a firm one that was excellent for face-lathering soaps and creams, and a slightly softer version. The former was what I had hoped the Vulfix-Simpsons Duke 3 could have been but wasn't.

 

[whitebar]

I have a 3/2 finest coming in so I'll know soon. Currently, my 2/1 finest is my favorite Rooney. I also have a 1/1 finest, 3/1 super, and a small beehive from the heritage series. I'm looking forward to the slightly larger size of the 3/2.

 

[sigmasix]

Lots of love for them!

The stubby picks up a lot of lather and works well with soaps and creams, but is also not too large to face lather either. If you want a brush that's slightly smaller than the stubby you can go the Alibaba.

 

[Matt P]

I love my 3/2. Works great with soap.

 

[Ignatius]

Do you guys think they still have the firmness and density than Rooney is famous for?

 

[riooso]

I like the 22mm-24m range in brushes anything smaller just doesn't do it for me. I have a Heritage stubby size 2 and it is very dense. I will say though that since it is a Rooney it is so dense that it tends to be a lather hog, got to work it baby! I have an Emillion and it is a superlative brush. I to have an new Rooney 2 band finest coming. A style 3, size 2 and it will be Monday. I am looking forward to getting it in my hands!
I am guessing that since it is a Finest that it will give up the lather just enough more to make it a killer brush!

Take Care,
Richard

 

[Ignatius]

Curiosity killed the cat. Ordered a 1/2. Looking foward to using a 24mm knot with some density.

 

[Sueto]

a 1/2 seems to be roughly the same size as a 3/1. 1/2 having a 24mm knot compared to the 22mm of the 3/1 according to spec. Of those of you that have both, how do appreciate the differences of the the 1/2 to a 3/1 or vice versa?

 

[riooso]

Let us know what you think. It will a little while to break in but I think you will like it from the first day you use it.

Take Care,
Richard

 

[KenR]

I have a 3/2 in super and it seems to be a bit too floppy for face lathering.

 

[woodsrider]

I've had a Rooney 3/2 in Finest for a couple of years. It's a great brush. I don't use it frequently, but every time I use it, I really enjoy it. It's not floppy at all -- probably due to the more resilient Finest grade badger.

Cruddy pic, but you get the idea...

 

[Tha Baron]

I'm looking forward to the slightly larger size of the 3/2.

The 3/2 is the next brush on my radar... that is if my 1/1's sheding problems get worked out.

 

[Ignatius]

1/2 arrived.

First thoughts; a lot smaller than I expected! Thought it was a 1/1 at first, but checked the measurements and it is indeed a 1/2. I will lather with it later, perhaps post bloom it will look bigger.

Its a very nice brush aesthetically, much nicer than looks in pictures (its in faux ebony). Knot seems densely packed, but again this is pre-use. Out the box, tips are also very soft to the touch, even though its a lower grade of hair (well I think it is, its labelled Silvertip which I think is the grade below Rooneys 'Super'. - got the brush cheap off UK ebay btw, hence details bit sketchy and I'm not too concerned). Anyway, Rooneys Super must be very soft if thats the case.

 

[strat1117]

I have a 1/2 in super and I find it ideal for face-lathering hard soaps.

 

[Ignatius]

Second thoughts. Wow does this brush bloom!

First attempts at lathering a cream in a bowl did not go well. Created a frothy bubbly lather at the tips of the brush, and a lot of bubbly stuff in the knot. Couple of attempts along these lines (using a cream I'm not keen on and keep for cleaning new brushes). Tried lathering a hard soap (a Palmolive stick milled into a wooden bowl), results were again not great; bubbly (ableit usable, unlike the boots cream attempts) lather.

At this stage I was still amazed at how dense and soft tipped the knot was, and enjoying the aesthetics of the brush, but kinda felt like it was less than the sum of its parts; it has all the characteristics I want in a brush, but was somehow not working as well as I would have hoped.

Then I made one small change. I'd noticed that the brush felt much heavier in hand when in use (and certainly compared to my other brushes); it was holding waaay too much water. So I really shook the water out of it and attacked a puck of my favourite MWF with an essentially 'damp' brush - perfectly hydrated, slick and cushioning lather after a minutes face lathering!

Used it for the last two days actual shaves (both with MWF, which is what I use most days), and its been really good. I love this brush. Haven't retried it with a cream yet, but my initial thoughts are its a fantastic brush for hard soaps (mainly what I'm after in a brush). Its amazingly soft at the tips, even though its not even Super (I think its the grade below; Silvertip). The brush does feel a quite large when applied to the face, so if 1/1 or users of other samller brushes in 22mm range don't like that, it may not be for you. But I really like it; the soft firmness in a brush this size is a lovely unique lathering experience thus far, imo.

 

[Sobriquet]

I ordered a Rooney 3/2 in Super yesterday. Looking forward to the upgrade from my C&E BBB. I'm hoping it does better with soaps.

 

[Drubbing]

Its amazingly soft at the tips, even though its not even Super (I think its the grade below; Silvertip). The brush does feel a quite large when applied to the face, so if 1/1 or users of other samller brushes in 22mm range don't like that, it may not be for you. But I really like it; the soft firmness in a brush this size is a lovely unique lathering experience thus far, imo.

I've got a 1/2 arriving very soon (T&H badge), and I'm pretty sure the Super is a Silvertip. Classic shaving list 5 grades; Best, Pure, Genuine Silvertip, Super Silvertip and Finest.

 

[jadam318]

Glad I found this thread. I've been hoping to pick up a Rooney before too long (next 2-3 months, hopefully), and I've been torn about size. I have a Vulfix 660 small, in super that has been a champ. The only brush I've owned, or even used in nearly a year of wet shaving, but it just seems a little small sometimes. I'm glad to see all the info here on the Rooney sizes.