I used it today and the handle is definitely comfortable!
First Shavemac Synthetic has landed in the USA!!
- Thread starter Rudy Vey
- Start date
I used it today and the handle is definitely comfortable!
Being a Badger kinda guy, I have tried to like and find a nice synthetic and have found a couple that are"ok" but still fall behind a good badger. Granted I know that they are going to be different but I would like to find one that's close in feel . For you is it close ?
Both the Muhle Silvertip Fibre and Shavemac Synthetic are the closest to Badger brushes of all the synthetics I have tried. They have some backbone and do a good job of loading soap. In fact, I shaved with the Shavemac today. For me, they don't surpass a good badger brush - but they are fairly close.
Any recent feedback on the Shavemac synthetics? What I've heard is mostly positive, but there's not a lot of talk.
I know they're a newish offering. Maybe I can add to the discussion? I just put in an order for a 26mm synth in tortoise beehive. Sort of an impulse buy, but I'm encouraged by the comparisons to the STF.
I know they're a newish offering. Maybe I can add to the discussion? I just put in an order for a 26mm synth in tortoise beehive. Sort of an impulse buy, but I'm encouraged by the comparisons to the STF.
I'm loving mine @Zen Shaver , super easy to load and make a lather.
Thanks, I'm glad to hear that. I'd always considered picking up a badger from them, but never got around to it. The price on the synthetics seems pretty reasonable for a customized brush.
Rhody
I'm a Lumberjack.
Nice looking. Did you keep ir?She finally landed, albeit it's the wrong handle design, I ordered a beehive and received this one. Not sure if I"ll keep it, or contact Shavemac.
26mm with 52mm loft
Im very confused about the loft heights.
How is 26/52 in terms of backbone?
Appreciate the advice. thanks
A
I did keep it, albeit it only gets used rarely. I've discovered I'm not particularly fond of fan knots. The loft definitely provides a good amount of back bone for sure. Overall it's a solid brush, it's just not my cup of tea.
Rhody
I'm a Lumberjack.
Thanks
I know what you mean about fans. Is that too ridged?
The fan simply doesn't splay well the way I use it compared to my other bulb style brushes. I wouldn't say it's too rigid, I just don't think the fan shape lends itself to the way I like to face lather.
Chandu
I Waxed The Badger.
I think it's always been the case that people will pay less than more for something they feel gives good value. It also occurs to me that many start out in synths right away and hence don't understand why they would want to pay more for a natural fiber brush. I think if they started with badger, they would find fewer of the low priced synths satisfactory.
If given a choice, I'd use any $100+ badger over any $20 synth because I've never found a top shelf synth for $20. I find most synths to lack backbone and that they would serve fabulously as a makeup brush and poorly as a shaving brush.
If it's strictly down to price and I only had $20 to spend, I'd sooner have horse or boar than any of the synths at that price point. I think to get decent badger the prices start at around $80 and quickly move north.
YaQi Tuxedo or Synbad/Mew Brown synthetic brushes. Cheaper, faster & better with "backbone".
garyg
B&B membership has its percs
Yea this nails it. I like my badgers, but once in a while use the snths. They leak water & don't do as well, but serve admirably when traveling. I agree, for $20 I'd go boar
Chandu
I Waxed The Badger.
I'm sure they will improve over time and probably already are, but a lot of the synths use overly large knots to my taste. 22x50 is right around my sweet spot.YaQi Tuxedo or Synbad/Mew Brown synthetic brushes. Cheaper, faster & better with "backbone".
I wanted to give high end synthetics a fair chance. After I got a CH-2 synth and didn't like the performance - it has the softest tips ever, even when dry and produces a fantastic lather, it just doesn't splay well and then it's too pointy in my face - I thought, well maybe Shavemac it the way to go. Very different approach, the Shavemac fibers are not straight but kind of wavy in structure. Also this has a very different feel than my favorite 2-band badgers. I now know how these synthetic fibers perform and for face lathering I don't like them. Both are for sale for someone else to try...
@Icebear I tend to agree with you concerning high-end synthetics. I will say though that if you haven't tried the more economical synthetics such as Plissoft I would definitely give one of them a shot. My favorite brush to date is my Razorock 400 Plissoft, it splays perfectly, face lathers better than any other brush that I have, and doesn't hog any lather.
My 2-band badgers (M&F, Shavemac, TGN, SOC) do give me a pleasant experience. I appreciate a kind of "solid scrub" in my face that does require a certain amount of backbone. Still I like soft tips. I assume this combination is not possible when you have fibers that have the same structure throughout except some treatment of the tips. I just wanted to see what the fuss is about the latest synthetics. For what they cost (at a lower than CH-2 pricepoint) they do deliver a great value for money. However they can't compete with a top quality natural badger hair. Just my personal view as a face lather guy.
Do you like boars?
I have tried boars (SOC) and well dialed in brushes are also nice to use. I ventured into custom horse brushes (Vie-Long) as well. They fell out of my regular rotation. They have a few very sturdy hairs that give you a real good poke.
After quite a few years with BAD and an expanding brush rotation, I think I have settled with a variety of nice badgers. This short visit into synthetics land was just to reconfirm that I'm not missing anything.
After quite a few years with BAD and an expanding brush rotation, I think I have settled with a variety of nice badgers. This short visit into synthetics land was just to reconfirm that I'm not missing anything.
