A question for those who prefer smaller brushes for face lathering: Is the Simpsons Chubby 1 bigger than you'd like it to be? It looks like everything I'm looking for in a brush (scrubby, backbone, soft tips) except the knot size (25mm). I've been gunning for something around 20 or 22mm, and even the smallest Chubby is considerably larger than this. The Duke 2 looks about right, but I was hoping to get something in super rather than best (though I may reconsider; I keep hearing great things about the Simpsons best grade).
Chubby 1 face lathering
- Thread starter roboboticus
- Start date
I face lather exclusively and, all things considered, I prefer a large brush, although I never used a chubby. I have lusted for one, however.
I have a CH1 in 2-band. It makes loads of lather when face lathering my tallow soaps. However, I dispute the claim it has a 25mm knot. Feels more like a 22 or 23mm knot. For what it's worth, my 2-band Colonel X2L (Ehsan) has a shorter loft and what feels like a denser knot than my CH1. This is probably a testament to how Simpson knot density and shape and height of loft varies from brush to brush within the same model. However, both brushes make amazing lather.
The chubby CH1 is one of the best face-lathering brushes out there. I measure mine at 24mm a while ago using calipers. Except for the rather small handle, the knot is absolutely perfect for face lathering. I still have my CH1 but find the CH2 more to my liking...however, I had Rudy make me a tulip handled brush with the same knot specs as the CH1...best of both worlds...
YMMV!
I tried a 24mm and didn't like it because most of the lather got stuck in the brush. I had to squeeze it out. When I use a 20mm, I don't have to do that...
I tried a 24mm and didn't like it because most of the lather got stuck in the brush. I had to squeeze it out. When I use a 20mm, I don't have to do that...
Luc, I do agree with you that much more product is needed for the larger knots...I've only ever found the extremely dense Rooneys to be lather hogs especially in the bigger sizes...my Finest are not hogs though my heritage medium definitely is...the simpsons I found took some getting used to and once I soaked the brushes properly and kept the hydration level just right...there was no issue with releasing lather. I just like the feel of the larger knots and their ability to retain heat since I don't use a scuttle...I continue to shave with a few 22-23mm knots in my rotation and enjoy alternating with the larger brushes.
I don't like small brushes as a rule, but my CH1 is a favourite part of the rota....
You might want to try the 2-band, I recently purchased a CH1 2-band and it's definitely small. Knot clocks in at 25mm but looks much smaller, and supposedly there's not much bloom.
I have been trying to face lather with my Chubby 1 Two Band and have had trouble. I end up using painting motions to get the lather going on my face. The knot does not want to splay on the face at all, and it feels pointy to me. Perhaps I need to break it in more. The brush seems smaller then what you would think given its measurements. I measure mine at 23mm with a 47mm loft. I wish this knot had more of a fan shape, which I believe would make face lathering easier. All told, the brush is decent quality. To date, I have only lost 6 hairs, 5 during the first shave and a straggler during the third shave. My brush has a very pronounced dark band. Also, the tips feel "scritchy" to my face.
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The Chubby 1 is actually a very tiny brush. I generally like midsize to smaller brushes, but the Chubby 1 was too small for me for daily use.
- Thread starter
- #11
Cool, thanks for the input guys. Still considering it, but not gonna jump on it right away...
I recently picked up a Simpson Berkeley in best. The various vendors who carry this say it's a 20mm knot, and for face lathering, it's pretty close to a perfect size for me. Then again, I'm really liking small brushes these days.
It does want to hang onto the lather a bit more than my other (floppier) brushes, but I get three good passes-worth of lather and squeeze out a bit more lather for the third, just because it's in there.
I have a Penfolds silvertip with a 24mm knot, but that's a little too large for face lathering for me -- lather in my ears, etc. The 20mm is much neater ...
It does want to hang onto the lather a bit more than my other (floppier) brushes, but I get three good passes-worth of lather and squeeze out a bit more lather for the third, just because it's in there.
I have a Penfolds silvertip with a 24mm knot, but that's a little too large for face lathering for me -- lather in my ears, etc. The 20mm is much neater ...
I took the plunge and received my first Simpson today, the aforementioned CH1 in two-band. Visually, it's tiny but hard not to love. Looking forward to breaking it in (little brush, prepare to be Ambrosed), face lathering awaits!
- Thread starter
- #14
Congrats on the new brush, 12halfshell. Let us know how it works out.
Will do, thanks!
