Disappointments with QEDUsa Silvertip.

[gabes_shadow]

Hi all, I have been lurking here for a number of years now, I have used a Merkur LH since 2006, and about two years ago I made completed my transition to soaps, mainly Tabac and AoS Sandalwood, which are incredible and consistent and I friggin love em(unlike the letdown that is MWF IMVHO). Sometimes I'll use a cream to change things up but I found soaps to be much more effective and convenient...

Anyways I wanted to tell you guys about my QEDUsa brush that I recently bought, and hopefully get some feedback from you experienced gentlemen on this site. I used a Shavemac Silvertip brush since 2007, the website has since changed but I am pretty sure I purchased what was a medium size brush at the time. Needless to say, the Shavemac was incredible, and I only parted with it since about two months ago when it became noticeably floppier and I felt that it was appropriate to buy a new brush(5 years of 3 days/wk shaving, I feel like I got my money's worth from my $100+ investment ).

So I decided to try out QEDUsa's Silvertip brush. I ordered it and received it about 2 weeks ago, so I have used it almost 6 times now. However, I notice the the brush feels much less dense compared to my old Shavemac, although thankfully it is not as floppy as my old brush had become. QEDUsa website says the 24mm know is densely packed. I don't think it has to break in much more, and it does work up quite a lather with my tried-and-true Tabac soap. But even in the midst of creamy Tabac-goodness, I see parts of the brush that separate from eachother and leave minor gaps in the lather "bulb" that I was used to.

Am I mistaken in my judgement of this new brush? Or is this new brush actually as "dense" as advertised and I have just become hopelessly spoiled by the uber-denseness of Shavemac brushes? Either way, I am thinking of ordering a new 24mm Shavemac brush to get back to the wonderful density that I was used to...

What do you fine gentlemen opine?

 

[Tim_McD]

I have a shavemac D01, a D01 2-band and a QED Select Silvertip in natural horn.

The two D01 knots are denser than the QED, but not by a lot. I find the QED brush to to have a better flow through than the 2-band knot and it hasn't displayed any splaying during use. The QED brush lathers huge with a great face feel.

Those shavemac brushes are great and I plan on picking up the Colonia next year, but a new 3824 won't be too far behind.

 

[Mad Man]

The 3824 SR I have is not as dense a knot as my Chubby 1 on best but comparable to the TGN 24mm Finest (if not a little denser). Having said that it's softness and lather-ability, especially with creams, is amazing.

There's a reason it won the Brush Wars from a couple years back - sorry to hear you're not enjoying it.

 

[gabes_shadow]

Thanks for the replies, I guess I wasn't ready for the less dense knot on the QED. I had been using my Shavemac for so many years, and I am also very fond of it because it was it was the first silvertip I purchased in my journey into DE shaving. The Shavemac was an excellent brush, perfect for anyone starting out, but it seems all of Shavemac's brushes are...

I am looking forward to using my QED, the last few shaves with it have been quite enjoyable...might still have to order another Shavemac, I wouldn't mind having two brushes...it took me three years to get over my SCAD.

Thanks again for the feedback!

 

[MaxP]

I support your idea of getting another Shavemac. There's enough difference in it and the SR, that you could find satisfaction in having both.

And by having a two brush rotation, you wouldn't need to buy again for TEN years!

 

[Mad Man]

+1 to another Shavemac ... Or any other brand.

Brushes need love too! Adopt A Brush Today!!!

 

[Tim_McD]

I support your idea of getting another Shavemac. There's enough difference in it and the SR, that you could find satisfaction in having both.

And by having a two brush rotation, you wouldn't need to buy again for TEN years!

A 7 day set will cover you for a lifetime.........

 

[gabes_shadow]

So if I am not mistake, the QED Select Silvertip Horn is basically the same as the Saville Row 3824? Except for the horn?

 

[Mad Man]

View attachment 330462

Just to give context - this is the SR3824 (post-bloom)

 

[gabes_shadow]

So just to clarify, a couple the gentlemen above might have been mistaken about which brush I am using. When I referred to the QED Silvertip brush, I was talking about QED's Silvertip Genuine Horn brush, not any of the the Saville Row brushes(the SR 3824...) that are also available for purchase on the QEDUsa website. I am assuming that the the QED Silvertip Genuine Horn is made by a different manufacturer than the SR 3824, and thus the density and other characteristics will vary. Unless anyone knows better...

The SR 3824 is a great looking brush though, and Acqua di Parma is one of the highest quality creams I ever used back in my SCAD days. I will have to look into whether Acqua di Parma makes a SS...