Anyone tried the WSP brushes from StraightRazorMan?

[CoinToss]

Chinese-made, seller claims they are very dense.

On eBay: E.g., http://www.ebay.com/itm/300755395933?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619

Well-reviewed on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Silvertip-Badger-Shaving-Products/dp/B0085IBU12/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

In reply to questions I emailed "Lee," the proprietor, he wrote me:

Well, it's going to be impossible to have the same handle as Simpsons does at my price point, so no, I'm not going to say my resin handle is equal to Simpsons. Theirs is hand turned on a lathe made out of resin-acrylic. WSP handles are injection molded out of regular resin. The brushes weigh the same and feel similar though. I think the Stubby actually weighs more than the Chubby.

The chubby has more hair density, the Persian Jar has less. The Tulip 2 is about the same, or a little less.

In terms of softness, I would say yes, they are extremely similar.

In terms of performance, Simpsons has different effective lofts than my brushes. The effective loft of the regular Stubby is only about 40mm, and the extra firm is even shorter. So, they're scrubbier. At least for this generation of brushes.

So, that's my thorough answer. The knots are going to be similar, but not the same. They're both hand made using the same or similar grades of silvertip badger hair. The handles are different, Simpsons has much more labor put into theirs.

The brushes are made in China.

I would recommend the regular version. The extra firm is extra scrubby and is a huge lather hog. It is not for everyone. It does eat up soap pretty good though.

 

[Loric]

So both the regular and extra firm brushes are listed at 48mm loft. What one is correct? They look dense enough in the photo, but I did see the disclaimer at the bottom "Actual product may differ from stock picture." It makes me worry what might not be the same.

 

[edgerunner]

If you want, you can ask Lee, the vendor, at TSN?

http://shavenook.com/thread-wsp-model-2248-stubby-extra-firm-brushes-now-in-stock-at-amazon
http://wetshavingproducts.com/
http://www.asharperrazor.com/

 

[Loric]

Thanks for the links.

For anyone wondering, they use more glue, to bind up more of the knot. So the loft is technically the same height, just not all of it can move with the extra firm.

 

[Gingerbread]

I've always wanted a natural scotch glass holder.

 

[CoinToss]

Thanks, Loric and edgerunner.

Loric, on another thread I was asking about what brush might provide a hotter lather for face lathering, and you suggested a Shavemac D01 or Simpson Chubby; and I've been reluctantly nudging myself toward splurging on a Chubby (probably a 1, otherwise a 2; not sure Best or Two-Band). Apart from aesthetics and tradition, does the WSP Stubby/Chubby seem like it should get me pretty close, for my purposes of hot face-lathering, to a real Simpson Chubby?

(That other thread did convince me to get a scuttle, which I think may help the most.)