First Timer: Two Brushes

[Jarick]

The last few months, I've established some preferences, and found that I prefer face lathering soaps. Of the brushes I've tried, I seem to prefer short loft fans with soft tips, somewhere between 22-24mm. I also really like the Whipped Dog resin handles for some reason.

So today, I ordered a pair of 22mm handles drilled to 20mm deep from Larry, as well as a pair of knots from TGN, a 22mm Finest Fan and a 22mm Silvertip Grade A Fan. Guessing the Silvertip will be set all the way down and the Finest would start there and maybe creep up a bit higher.

From what I understand, I can use just a bit of silicone adhesive for a somewhat temporary hold before I set the final loft, right?

 

[JaxJim]

A dab of silicone should do just fine for test lathering and dialing in the loft. Good luck!

 

[Jarick]

Thanks!

I'm kind of crazy that I'd love to have a matching "set" of brushes. So one silvertip, one finest, matching black handles. At some point in time, I might remove the shedding knot from my 24mm WD handle and put one of those TGN boards in. Or maybe the Super Silvertip.

 

[JaxJim]

Thanks!

I'm kind of crazy that I'd love to have a matching "set" of brushes. So one silvertip, one finest, matching black handles. At some point in time, I might remove the shedding knot from my 24mm WD handle and put one of those TGN boards in. Or maybe the Super Silvertip.

Based on the info you included in your OP, I think you're really going to like the Finest Fan. I put a 22mm TGN Finest XH Fan in a Ever-Ready R40 I restored some time ago. I ended up setting the loft at 50mm. It's a great performer.



Sorry for the subpar photo.

 

[Jarick]

How about this for service, placed my orders with both vendors Friday at Noon and they are at my house on Monday. Just need to find the glue!

 

[Jarick]

Okay, got everything in:





Squeezed the knots into the handles and they seem like a pretty good loft without messing around (WD 24mm set to 45mm in the middle):



They both whip up a nice lather:



When wet, the finest tips clump up and give the gel feel while the silvertip doesn't clump and has just a hint of scritch:



Post-bloom:





The Grade A seems pretty similar to the Whipped Dog silvertip, except maybe not as dense. The Finest doesn't have nearly as much backbone as the Vintage Blades 2-band that I have. But both of them seem like fantastic little face lathering brushes.

I put a drop of silicone adhesive on the bottom of each knot and stuck them in the handles to keep them from falling out yet still allow for removal if necessary.

 

[mattdenicola]

Great update. Valuable info.

 

[JaxJim]

Great update. Valuable info.

+1-- Thanks!

 

[Jarick]

Forgot to add, from the website they were listed as:

Finest = 22mm x 62mm
Silvertip A = 22mm x 65mm

But in reality, they both seemed to be the same height with the Finest being maybe one mm taller (which is fine and I actually prefer that).

Also, the Finest required just a bit of squeezing to fit into the handle while the Silvertip dropped right in. I'm not sure if that means the Finest is a touch denser or just the hairs themselves space themselves out a bit more (probably the latter).

 

[FL shaver]

Nice brushes! Enjoy 'em!