Crispy Thater Brushes

[Teddyboy]

I just received my first, perhaps last, beautiful Thater from SRD. A BBer directed me to an apparently well-known thread about Thater brushes being
crispy or crunchy or very stiff after being wet and drying. I thought I'd try to poll BBers to see how widespread this was.

 

[tfinch]

My 4525/1 dries normally, stays pretty much soft as any badger brush I have. I do have a Shavemac silvertip that dries with the hairs in hard clumps but I had never given it much thought as it goes back to soft when I wet it prior to lathering. It's about 6 months old now and shows no signs of being worse for the wear.

I was trying to think of a word to describe this condition - crispy is perfect! =D

 

[AgBill]

I have had a few Thaters --- borrowed one that dried crispy. I actually think that it was softer than the others! One swipe across a towel or your pants leg and voila! No more crispy tips. It really doesnt affect the performance of the brush at all.

 

[Teddyboy]

Thanks for the reassurance. I have only palm lathered with it to get the funk out. The tips were so soft, it almost brought tears to my eyes. The thought of them turning to something like Rice Krispies makes me go postal.

 

[texaninkc]

just got one. dries crispy. very noticeable and i voted as such but not annoying. it's a super soft brush when lathering though.

it reminds me a bit of the old heritage hair by Rooney that dries crispy too.

 

[Krona Kruiser]

I had the "crispy" issue with my silvertip from whipped dog and slightly with the TGN finest knots. It's annoying but when it's wet, it acts as it should. I've had close to a dozen Simpsons and never had this issue with any of them. I wonder what makes some knots do that.

 

[edgerunner]

There's nothing wrong with the hooked crispy tips when the brush is dry. It's a 'feature' of one of my two Thaters, a Shavemac Silvertip, and a TGN Grade A. They're very soft when in use.

Check the images in this TSN thread:
http://shavenook.com/thread-hooked-badger-and-h-l-th%C3%A4ter-brushes?page=2

 

[Monty3278]

I've been using a 4125/2 3-band regularly in rotation for a few months now and have noticed the hairs clumping together when they dry. They are stiff once dry and return to normal once brushed along a towel or rewetted. I have not noticed any change in performance and the tips are still very soft. I have also read the threads on this issue and I am wondering if the stiff/crisp issue is related to an area of performance or longevity of the brush I not aware of or is it based on personal preference? Any insight from experienced members is appreciated.

Side Note: I recently acquired an old Rooney Heritage brush off the B/S/T with the "gel like" tip batch of hairs. This brush also has the stiff drying characteristic described above. Again, I have not encountered any performance issues with this brush either. Could this just be a characteristic of badger hair with extremely soft tips?

 

[bobfarvour]

Mine has done it, but most often not. Leading me to believe it's not the brushes fault, but something to do with the drying method or lack thereof, or possibly a soap or cream variety. I dunno. All I know is I don't use my brush when it's dry and it doesn't hurt anything. I've had it happen with other brands as well. Again, not consistently.

 

[Rudy Vey]

I have a 4125/2 that dries a bit crispy, but this is not a problem at all. The hair is very thin and it sticks together a bit when drying, brush one time over your hand and they all separate. My Simpson Chubby3 in three band Super does the same thing, no need to worry at all.
My two-band Thaeters do not dry crisp.

 

[jkh]

I've never understood why one cares how the brush feels dry?

 

[njpaddy]

I think my Thater 3 band dries a bit crispier than my Thater 2 band, but it's no big deal. Running your hand across the knot when it dries (or as it's drying) takes care of it. I do that with all my brushes when they're dry. The Thater 2-band is a great brush and I have no complaints.

 

[brucered]

unless you shave with a dry brush, who cares.

"3 band, very crispy, don't care" would have gotten my vote

 

[TallyShave]

I have 3 Thaters (two 3 bands and a 2 band). Only one had any of the "crispy" issue and it no longer does. It lasted a couple of months and then stopped. I am still of the opinion that that thread was a massive overreaction.

 

[Foyle]

My Rooney 3/1 feels a little crispy dry. Wet it's nice and soft. Don't worry. The brush is fine.

 

[brucered]

I am still of the opinion that that thread was a massive overreaction.

without a doubt

 

[cessnabird]

Forgive my ignorance but I have never understood the actual problem with "crispy" Thäter's?? All you have to do is run your hand over the tips a few times and it is back to cloud soft again, it's not really an issue. There is nothing annoying about it. My M&F chubby is the same way.

 

[German]

+1

I've never understood why one cares how the brush feels dry?

 

[Teddyboy]

Forgive my ignorance but I have never understood the actual problem with "crispy" Thäter's?? All you have to do is run your hand over the tips a few times and it is back to cloud soft again, it's not really an issue. There is nothing annoying about it. My M&F chubby is the same way.

It's good to know, thanks. It is just so odd that after four Simpsons, a Shavemac, a Rooney and a TGN, I have never experienced the phenomenon. As for my new Thater, I've yet to experience it, but I take the time to blot my wet brushes on a dry towel, and run the brush across it a few times. They seem fine. Anyhow, it is not your ignorance, it is my being more than a tad neurotic!

 

[Teddyboy]

without a doubt

I think a lot of people agree with you, I'm glad to say.