How long ago was this hair around? 14 months?
Gel tip Rooney dating
- Thread starter bmilcs
- Start date
This is a great question that I am curious about myself. I have two of them and have no idea when the original batch was.
The original batch was produced at the end of 2010, I bought all three sizes and love them!!!
I'm actually looking for another 1XL so I can have the knot extracted and placed into a RV handle of my liking.
Justin
I'm actually looking for another 1XL so I can have the knot extracted and placed into a RV handle of my liking.
Justin
Thank you Justin. Makes a lot of sense.
As far as putting the 1XL in a better handle, I understand that as well. My 1XL is the tiniest wall of badger I've ever met. It's the most amount of badger in the smallest handle possible. Kind of cool really, I probably wouldn't change mine though.
As far as putting the 1XL in a better handle, I understand that as well. My 1XL is the tiniest wall of badger I've ever met. It's the most amount of badger in the smallest handle possible. Kind of cool really, I probably wouldn't change mine though.
As Justin stated, late 2010.
Here is one of the first posts I recall reading when they were released.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...y-XL-The-sawed-off-shotgun-of-the-brush-world
Here is one of the first posts I recall reading when they were released.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...y-XL-The-sawed-off-shotgun-of-the-brush-world
- Thread starter
- #6
I noticed that people were noticing the new 2XLs weren't gel like in late 2012. So 14 months could be the right period of time? Hopefully 
I can say for sure that in Q4'11, Rooney was still shipping gel-tipped brushes. I think they stopped between Q2/Q3 2012.
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- Thread starter
- #8
That works out to be right in the time period I was hoping thanks.
I have to ask; why are you wondering about the timing of the gel-like tips of the Rooney XL's?
Thanks,
Justin
Thanks,
Justin
Im pretty sure he is on a hunt 
This brush was purchased 3 months ago (on the right):
Can we get some good shots of the hair that was sold during the hay-day of the gel tips?
Can we get some good shots of the hair that was sold during the hay-day of the gel tips?
Here is my first batch 2XL pictured with my Rooney Finest 1/2, 1/1, and MF Stubby 1XL with Rooney Finest knot.
I have an M&F L7 that has hooked tips. It was the first brush I bought directly from Lee. That was last November, or thereabouts. At the time Lee said it was made from the tail end of a batch of older hair. But I don't have a clue about whether or not it shares identity with the legendary Rooney Heritage hair with gel-like tips.
In any case, I think it's highly unlikely that there's a phenotype of badger running around China with gel-like tipped hair. It seems to me far more likely that the characteristic results from post-harvest processing. It may be positive from a brush user's perspective, but I'm inclined to think it's some type of damage from the hair's perspective. Just my opinion, though.
In any case, I think it's highly unlikely that there's a phenotype of badger running around China with gel-like tipped hair. It seems to me far more likely that the characteristic results from post-harvest processing. It may be positive from a brush user's perspective, but I'm inclined to think it's some type of damage from the hair's perspective. Just my opinion, though.
I would not dispute that hooked hair is the result of some kind of processing: bleaching or the like. But I like the results. TGN has also sold hooked hair. I bought this knot almost exactly a year ago, and paired it with a handle that is identical to a Rooney 3/1.
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And I wouldn't disagree with you. I have several brushes, including a Simpson M7 with Super 2-band knot, that have curled tips to varying degrees. One of them also has a different texture: it feels slick, almost greasy toward the top of the knot when wet. I think maybe it got scorched with something. But it's a spectacular performer. Lathers like a beast. No scritch. I've noticed the hairs clump differently in it than in comparable knots (presumably from the same batch of hair). What I'd say, however, is that the tips seem to break easily. I ran a comb through the top once when the brush was dry and noticed a few end fragments flying off, so I stopped. My inference from that experience is that, all else being equal, knots with so-called gel-like tips might not have the longevity of brushes with non-gel-like tips.
Interesting topic.
BTW, I need to get a microscope like yours for use at home. What is it?
I have a Kent, Shavemac, SR, WD, TGN, Thater (sold) and Rooneys with hooked tips. They all perform well, zero scritch or scrub. Some are 2 bands, some are 3 bands.
Dry:
Wet:
Dry:
Wet:
It is an Aven 26700-300 ZipScope. I suspect there are better tools out there, especially for blade edge photography. But it works reasonably well.
Just bought a 1xl off BST and I got fingers crossed it has geo tips, but I'm happy with the purchase either way.
Classic Shaving Sale? - NOS
This brush was purchased 3 months ago (on the right):
Can we get some good shots of the hair that was sold during the hay-day of the gel tips?
I believe so. I bought it used. The previous owner purchased it new and used it very few times as he found he preferred his Thaters.
After the first use today, I have found that it is a wonderful feeling, but the flow through quality just isn't where I want it to be. It's a bit of a lather hog. No where near as much of a lather hog as the 2xl I used earlier is though, so the Stubby will certainly remain in my den for the next year or more. I feel very lucky to have found this brush before it landed on the BST with such light use. A randomly timed PM asking the owner if he had any Heritage brushes he would consider selling resulted in a gold strike
After the first use today, I have found that it is a wonderful feeling, but the flow through quality just isn't where I want it to be. It's a bit of a lather hog. No where near as much of a lather hog as the 2xl I used earlier is though, so the Stubby will certainly remain in my den for the next year or more. I feel very lucky to have found this brush before it landed on the BST with such light use. A randomly timed PM asking the owner if he had any Heritage brushes he would consider selling resulted in a gold strike
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