Duke 3 vs. Chubby 2 Best vs Chubby Manchurian

[AEIOU9]

Hi,

I currently have an EJ best badger brush. By browsing through the boards and various web shops I came across these three brushes which look interesting - Duke 3 (Best), Chubby 2 (Best) & Chubby 2 (Manchurian). Here is a list of things I would like in a new brush:

• More densely packed. From looking at photos it seems the EJ is pretty lightly packed and I'm thinking this contributes to some of the flopiness.
• Softer tips would be welcome.
• Larger knot would be welcome.
• I face lather so it would have to be good for that.

My plan is to keep the EJ as my travel brush and to have this new one be my daily driver. I do not want to acquire more than 2 brushes and would really like this next purchase to be "the brush" until it's destroyed after many years of use.

In regards to price, I like to not spend unnecessary amounts of money. However, if there is a real material benefit to something absurdly expensive and it would really keep this as my final brush purchase then that is worth something.

Lastly, if you look at this list and my criteria and think there is something else I should look into - please volunteer that info!

Thanks!

 

[.soap.]

- Face latherer
- Seeking dense brush
- Guaranteed soft tips...

A Rooney 2XL is for you! If I had gotten mine early on when I was in your position, I probably could have stopped at two brushes as well... good luck!

 

[ChiefBroom]

First, good job with your research! You've focused in on some great brushes.

I have a Chubby 2 in Best, a Chubby 2 in Super 2-band, and a Tulip 3 in Manchurian. I believe the Chubby 2 in Best is an exceptionally high quality example of that brush; however, I still find it too be a little less soft at the tips than I prefer. So if you want softer tips, that might be a consideration for you.

The T3 (23.5mm) in Manchurian is one of my very favorite brushes -- I love it -- and I was sorely tempted to get a Chubby 2 in that hair, but I was a little concerned that the size and density of a Chubby 2 in Manchurian might result in too much of a good thing with a Manchurian knot. I don't have one, so I can't say.

My Chubby 2 in Super is a killer brush, but I've come around to deciding that the sweet spot for me in terms of knot size is in the range or 23.5-26mm.

I like my Simpson brushes a lot, but they're pricey. I picked up all of mine on BST. You might also want to check out Rooney 2XLs, although they're prices have recently jumped a bit also. For myself, I've settled on Morris & Forndran as offering the best quality/value combination in British-made brushes.

If you can get comfortable trying brushes other members have used, I strongly recommend BST as a way to broader experience more affordably than buying new.

Good luck.

 

[whavens]

I love my Chubby 2 in Best. It is a great brush that doesn't have the softest tips, but they aren't scratchy at all. Good luck with your search.

 

[AEIOU9]

First, good job with your research! You've focused in on some great brushes.

I have a Chubby 2 in Best, a Chubby 2 in Super 2-band, and a Tulip 3 in Manchurian. I believe the Chubby 2 in Best is an exceptionally high quality example of that brush; however, I still find it too be a little less soft at the tips than I prefer. So if you want softer tips, that might be a consideration for you.

The T3 (23.5mm) in Manchurian is one of my very favorite brushes -- I love it -- and I was sorely tempted to get a Chubby 2 in that hair, but I was a little concerned that the size and density of a Chubby 2 in Manchurian might result in too much of a good thing with a Manchurian knot. I don't have one, so I can't say.

My Chubby 2 in Super is a killer brush, but I've come around to deciding that the sweet spot for me in terms of knot size is in the range or 23.5-26mm.

I like my Simpson brushes a lot, but they're pricey. I picked up all of mine on BST. You might also want to check out Rooney 2XLs, although they're prices have recently jumped a bit also. For myself, I've settled on Morris & Forndran as offering the best quality/value combination in British-made brushes.

If you can get comfortable trying brushes other members have used, I strongly recommend BST as a way to broader experience more affordably than buying new.

Good luck.

Ken, thanks for the feedback. I have a quick follow up question. I know that you said best was a little less soft than you were shooting for and that super is spot on minus loft size on the Chubby 2. How would you describe the Manchurian hair in terms of soft tips, density and firm backbone relative to the other Simpson hair grades?

 

[ChiefBroom]

Ken, thanks for the feedback. I have a quick follow up question. I know that you said best was a little less soft than you were shooting for and that super is spot on minus loft size on the Chubby 2. How would you describe the Manchurian hair in terms of soft tips, density and firm backbone relative to the other Simpson hair grades?

First, nothing I'm about to say is intended as a shot at Simpson.

If you search, you'll find a lot of discussion about Simpson Manchurian hair. I think you have to be careful about interpreting others' experiences and opinions, not only with regard to Simpson Manchurian hair, but classifications of badger hair generally. 1) Not all Simpson Manchurian hair is the same, and 2) different users (and for that matter even the same users on different days) can experience the same hair differently.

Case in point with respect to 1) above: Back in November of last year I called Mark at Simpson and had a very nice conversation, in the course of which I expressed interest in a T3 in Manchurian. He had T3s in stock at that time but thoughtfully steered me to a Chubby 2 on the basis that he thought the tips were whiter in the Chubby 2s in stock at that time than in the T3 in stock at that time. I asked what difference that would make. As I recall, he his response was to the effect it boiled down to aesthetics. (I ended up not buying a Chubby 2 in Manchurian.)

Not long before that conversation I'd picked up a Butterscotch M7 on BST. It was labeled "Super Badger" on the handle, but its box was labeled "Super Badger" with "Manchurian Badger" hand-written underneath. After I figured out (post purchase) that Simpson Manchurian hair is (or was) a sub-category of Super Badger, but that handles with Manchurian knots are typically labeled "Manchurian", I assumed my brush had just been placed in a mismatched box. But when, shortly after the conversation, I landed my T3 in Manchurian on BST, I wasn't so sure.

If you look on the Simpson site, you'll see that most of the brushes labeled as Manchurian have more fan-shaped knots whereas those with 2-band Super Badger knots are generally more bulb-shaped. BUT, I can't see or feel (dry or wet) any appreciable difference between the hair in my M7 and that in my Manchurian T3. I can, however, both see and feel a difference between the hair in the Manchurian T3 and two other Tulips (a T3 and a T2) that I have with 2-band knots. (See below, note BTW that the T2 has taller loft than the T3 in 2-band.)

Around the same time I landed the M7 and the Manchurian T3, I got a M&F Polo (see blow) and L7 directly from Lee Sabini. They are both labeled "Blonde Badger". I can easily distinguish between them based on look and feel of their hair. I wouldn't say one is better than the other. I like both of them a lot. Once again, they're just different. More interesting, is that I cannot by look or feel (dry or wet) distinguish between the hair in the M&F Polo and that in the Manchurian T3.

So, coming back to your question, how I would honestly answer your questions based on my experience of my brushes might be very different than how someone else might honestly answer them based on their experience of their brushes (or possibly even my brushes). All of that said, My T3 in Manchurian, M7 mystery brush, and M&F Polo all seem to have just a little more backbone than other comparably dense 2-band brushes. I.e., they don't require as much density to have good backbone. For lots of members here, more density is better and bigger is better. I've found that I prefer medium density (they then to share lather better) and medium-sized (I can control them better) brushes. Also, high density can sometimes make an otherwise very nice 2-band hair become a little too scrubby and harsh for my skin and taste. That's why I decided not to get a Chubby 2 in Manchurian even though I love my T3 in Manchurian.

As a final note, I suspect the batch of Manchurian hair my T3 came from (early) might require longer break-in to achieve it's "best" state.

Hope this makes sense and helps a little.

 

[yellafella321]

- Face latherer
- Seeking dense brush
- Guaranteed soft tips...

A Rooney 2XL is for you! If I had gotten mine early on when I was in your position, I probably could have stopped at two brushes as well... good luck!

+

That or the chubby 1 2band

 

[AEIOU9]

Thanks all for the feedback. After a little more thought I decided to pull the trigger on a Chubby 2 Super. Looking forward to receiving it and posting my thoughts on it!

 

[vocalistbob]

Good choice! The Chubby 2 in Super has softer tips than the Manchurian and the high density knot will give you a solid backbone.

 

[Ralph Nord]

Thanks all for the feedback. After a little more thought I decided to pull the trigger on a Chubby 2 Super. Looking forward to receiving it and posting my thoughts on it!

Hope you made sure to get it in bulb, unless you want it to splay too much

Next up is a Chubby 2 in 2-Band and Manchurian, right

 

[Kevan]

A Vintage Blades Finest brush in 22 or 24mm would suit you. Two-band badger; gel-like soft tips when wet; dense; face-lathering machine. $45 shipped.

Oh, you already decided. Well, enjoy your Chubby.

 

[AEIOU9]

Hope you made sure to get it in bulb, unless you want it to splay too much

Next up is a Chubby 2 in 2-Band and Manchurian, right

No! I refuse to succumb to SBAD !

 

[Ralph Nord]

No! I refuse to succumb to SBAD !

What's wrong with SBAD

Just close your eyes and embrace your SBAD

 

[Teddyboy]

Rooney Heritage Stubby 2 OR Stubby 2XL are superb brushes that would fit your description. I have the Duke 3 and Chubby 2 both in 2-band, and they are excellent brushes. But for the money, I would go with the either of the Stubbies. Until I got the Stubbies I was a die-hard Simpson guy; now I know there is brush greatness aside from Simpson.

 

[Marcos1]

Rooney Heritage Stubby 2 OR Stubby 2XL are superb brushes that would fit your description. I have the Duke 3 and Chubby 2 both in 2-band, and they are excellent brushes. But for the money, I would go with the either of the Stubbies. Until I got the Stubbies I was a die-hard Simpson guy; now I know there is brush greatness aside from Simpson.

I have both the Stubby 2 and the 2XL as well and they are superb.

 

[htownmmm]

No! I refuse to succumb to SBAD !

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!!!!

Having said that, being the proud owner of a Chubby 3, Chubby 2, Duke 3 (all in Best) and a Rooney Stubby 2XL, i must say that as of right now, I prefer the Rooney over the Simpsons. I just recently received the Chubby 3 and love its size and heft. It does eat up lather, but I have to find the sweet spot for loading it and afterm only 3 uses, I know I'm not there yet.

The Duke 3 is a nice brush, but much too small for me-it rarely sees any usage at all or even gets thought about being used. The Chubby 2 was my go to brush-i used it for the majority of my shaves until I got the Canica Chubby.

The Rooney 2XL appears to be an excellent combination of the Chubby 2 density + the hair of the Canica. The only thing that would make it perfect is if it was a Rooney 3XL!

You will not be disappointed with the Chubby 2 in Super-all the good qualities of the Best with softer hair.


marty