Efficient every-day badger brush for under $100

[B19Wh33l5]

The Intro
Hello everyone. I am looking for a new brush and seek your wisdom. I have provided an over-view and detail so you don't have to subject yourselves to my long-windedness unwillingly. Thanks in advance, I love this forum!


The Over-View:
I am looking for a highly efficient work-horse of a badger brush for every day use with soaps and bowl lathering. Efficiency and functionaly take presedence over luxury for this brush. My price limit is $100 and I like the shape and size of the Rooney 3/1's.


The Details:
I have been wetshaving for a few months now with the brush I got in this kit (I believe it is this brush) and I figured Christmas would be a perfect time to capitalize on an upgrade.

I have been somewhat satisfied with my current brush. When I tried to measure it with a ruler I got a knot size of around 20-22mm and loft of around 52-53mm. I feel like I am able to produce a decent lather, but I also feel like there are two issues. First, the brush doesn't seem to hold much water. I usually have to add 2+ tbsp of water to the lather while I am mixing it so it isn't too dry. Second, it usually takes me about 5+ minutes to make a decent lather with this brush. I am only a few months into wetshaving so these issues may just be user error, but I feel like acquiring a new brush anyway to jumpstart my sbad

I have been using mostly soaps so far, and probably foresee myself continuing on this trend, although the occasional cream is probably not out of the question. I like to lather in a bowl since this seems to give me the most control over the consistency.

I think the most important things in a new brush for me are going to be efficiency and functionality. I want a brush that is going to produce a quality lather quickly and distrubute the lather and prepare my whiskers for the closest and most comfortable shave possible. In other words I am looking for an every day work-horse of a brush and will gladly sacrifice luxury if it is going to add to the overall efficiency and functionality. I can always pick up another brush later for a long relaxed Sunday shave

I have been looking at a few brushes and the Rooney 3/1's have caught my eye. They seem to have a good size and shape for the lathering methods I use according to what I have read (correct me if I am wrong). The super silvertips look nice and are within my price range (under $100), but after reading this thread ("but truth be told - the "scrubbing" action of the best badger brush above will actually do a superior job exfoliating, and lifting the hair on your beard to be cut. From a practical purpose - the best badger brush is superior, however from a luxury standpoint, the silvertip has no equals") I wonder if the best badger would better fit my criteria. I also don't want to over look the Simpsons, Vulfixs, Shavemacs, etc... if they better suite my purposes as well, but I do like what I have read about the density of the Rooneys.

Thanks again in advance for all your help

 

[Spivey]

I have a Rooney 1/2 Super. From what I can tell, it seems to be safe to say that Rooney and Simpson brushes are packed more tightly than anything else on the market. Sure, the tips are (or get) soft (sooo soft), but the backbone provides a kind of scrubbiness without the scritchiness of a best badger.

I have a couple of boar brushes that I use (and like very much), but if you're looking for a really solid, versitle workhorse, you can't go wrong with a Rooney. If I had to choose again, I'd make the same choice. Rooney 1/2. Super.

 

[Bertilak]

My price limit is $100 and I like the shape and size of the Rooney 3/1's.

You answered your own question and saved $25 in the process.

 

[Hanzo]

Rooney 3/1 Super is excellent but even the instructions say " Lather lightly without pressure" which makes me think its possible to break the bristles if you cowboy the brush. Just speculating as I haven't had mine long, but it is a great brush. Both the 3/1 Super and the one in Pure llather creams like crazy, no effort needed. I face lather soaps and I don't know if they can stand the punishment of the way I lather a soap because I do apply pressure.

 

[Spivey]

BTW, I was not trying to steer you to a 1/2, just saying that I'd buy it again if given the chance and that you will likely be happy as a clam with any Rooney you get.

 

[theperfectstorm]

You answered your own question and saved $25 in the process.

Good catch, Bob. I was thinking exactly the same thing.


Another plug for the 1/2 as well.

 

[strat1117]

Good catch, Bob. I was thinking exactly the same thing.


Another plug for the 1/2 as well.

I love my Rooney 1/2, although I don't use it for creams -- hard soap special*st!!

 

[Mr. Igg]

You answered your own question and saved $25 in the process.

Yep.

 

[B19Wh33l5]

It looks like the Rooney 3/1 gets the fairly unanimous node of approval here

The only thing I wonder about is which grade to get it in. If my main interest is an every-day work-horse of a brush that is going to truly do the best (and fastest) job building a lather in a bowl from soap and preparing my face for a shave, and I am willing to set luxury aside for efficiency if needed, do I want to go with the super or down-grade to best?

The only reason I ask is because of this thread (which also happens to be a sticky under the shaving brushes section) which states:

"but truth be told - the "scrubbing" action of the best badger brush above will actually do a superior job exfoliating, and lifting the hair on your beard to be cut. From a practical purpose - the best badger brush is superior, however from a luxury standpoint, the silvertip has no equals"

 

[wimbouman]

Ah... Rooney....
But did you guys check what you can get for 100 bucks at Muhle?

I would seriously consider that!


.

 

[mdunn]

my vote is for that muhle brush!!!!!!

holy cow, thats pretty!

 

[mmack66]

Rooney 3/1 Super is excellent but even the instructions say " Lather lightly without pressure" which makes me think its possible to break the bristles if you cowboy the brush.

not possible

 

[poppi]

I have a Rooney 3/1 silvertip that is just wonderful. Use it with both soaps and creams and it does a bang up job with both.

I vote for the Rooney 3/1 with no hesitation

 

[andrew98]

not possible

+1. I have a 1/1 in Super Silvertip. It's amazingly efficient, soft, and gives me the impression it's built like a tank. Go with Super Silvertip. You won't be sorry.

-Andy

 

[Ookla The Mok]

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest a rooney 3/1. That coral one at vintage blades sure looks good.....

 

[beginish]

+1. I have a 1/1 in Super Silvertip. It's amazingly efficient, soft, and gives me the impression it's built like a tank. Go with Super Silvertip. You won't be sorry.

-Andy

+1. The Super Silvertip Rooney is a tremendous value.

 

[thunderball]

I normally recommend the Shavemacs in finest but mine has been shedding a bit of late....

 

[Scissors]

I'll join the stampede and recommend the Rooney 3/1 in super silvertip.

As for the claimed superior exfoliating powers of best badger, I think you have to ask whether you want or even need a strongly exfoliating brush. For example, I think folks with dry and sensitive skin may want to avoid brushes like that—assuming best badger really is dramatically more exfoliating than silvertip, of course. The actual difference may not be that substantial; the best badger may feel scruffier without removing any more skin cells than the silvertip....

Finally, I don't foresee you getting the silvertip and then wanting the best down the line. But I do think it's possible you could get the best badger and find yourself wanting to try a silvertip brush after a while. Best to nip any SBAD in the bud...or, in this case, knot.

 

[DSB]

Mmmmmm. . . I wonde why no one has suggested the Rooeny 3/1 Super Silvertip?

It IS a great brush!

 

[ambrose]

The Intro

I think the most important things in a new brush for me are going to be efficiency and functionality. I want a brush that is going to produce a quality lather quickly and distrubute the lather and prepare my whiskers for the closest and most comfortable shave possible. In other words I am looking for an every day work-horse of a brush and will gladly sacrifice luxury if it is going to add to the overall efficiency and functionality. I can always pick up another brush later for a long relaxed Sunday shave

For what you are saying I would highly recommend a rooney stubby medium in pure badger. This brush will eat and load your soaps like crazy, which in return will yield a faster uber rich dense lather. It will however be a little bit prickly only when you try and splay the bristles out on your face. It feels just fine and dandy when you use a paint brush stroke.

The specs I believe are 48 loft 24 knot pure badger. To me it sounds like in your gut you want something more like this beast of a brush. Yes it is too in your price range at $79

picture taken from classic shaving.

http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/6986598.htm