Golden Nib silvertip vs. silvertip grade A

[DavidB]

Can anyone contrast the Golden Nib standard silvertip and silvertip grade A knots? So far I've just used the grade A, which are wonderfully soft and nicely packed. I think I might want to try something slightly different, but still want super-soft tips.

Dave

 

[PozzSka]

The Grade A is softer than the standard. However, I don't find the standard silvertips to be scratchy in anyway, but the Grade A are noticeably softer and more densely packed. Very fine knots, both of them.

 

[DavidB]

Thanks, very helpful input. I may try the standard silvertip. I have three restore with the grade As, and I think it'd be good to have some variety. I am intrigued by the two-band finest. I don't mind good backbone, but I want soft tips with little to no scritch. If the two-band finest is similar to a well broken-in, high-end boar, then I'd give that a try.

Dave

 

[Snargle]

Thanks, very helpful input. I may try the standard silvertip. I have three restore with the grade As, and I think it'd be good to have some variety. I am intrigued by the two-band finest. I don't mind good backbone, but I want soft tips with little to no scritch. If the two-band finest is similar to a well broken-in, high-end boar, then I'd give that a try.

I'm a huge fan of the TGN two-band Finests. Wonderful knot for face-lathering...plenty of backbone with nice, soft tips. I've tried both the bulb and fan-shaped knots and like them both.

 

[DavidB]

I'm a huge fan of the TGN two-band Finests. Wonderful knot for face-lathering...plenty of backbone with nice, soft tips. I've tried both the bulb and fan-shaped knots and like them both.

I've seen a few posts that said the two-band finest knots break in after a few weeks. True? I had thought that badger doesn't break in.

Dave

 

[edgerunner]

My 'standard' Silvertip needed break in. It was somewhat prickly in the beginning. Now, it has a little scritch, nothing unpleasant though. Grade A and Finest are way softer. I didn't sense any change in softness in my two Finest brushes.

 

[TnutsShave]

I'm a huge fan of the TGN two-band Finests. Wonderful knot for face-lathering...plenty of backbone with nice, soft tips. I've tried both the bulb and fan-shaped knots and like them both.

This. Get the Finest...DOOO IT! I've got three of them a various sizes and shapes and they really are nice.

 

[Snargle]

I've seen a few posts that said the two-band finest knots break in after a few weeks. True? I had thought that badger doesn't break in.

Dave

If they need a break-in period, I'm not aware of it. It might get a little softer after the first few lathers, but nothing like breaking-in a boar brush. I usually give a badger brush a couple of "clean-up" latherings to remove some of the funky badger smell, but that's about it.

 

[Redstickjohn]

I have 15 restores done with TGN knots--just about everything that they make--but I think my favorite brushes are those with the standard Silvertip knots. They're soft, and wonderfull.

 

[DavidB]

I have 15 restores done with TGN knots--just about everything that they make--but I think my favorite brushes are those with the standard Silvertip knots. They're soft, and wonderfull.

What is it about the standard silvertips vs., say, the silvertip grade A?

Dave

 

[QuarkVI]

I've seen a few posts that said the two-band finest knots break in after a few weeks. True? I had thought that badger doesn't break in.

Dave

My TGN finest took a couple of months to "break in" in the sense that the prickliness dissappeared - I don't think it became any softer but I didn't feel the pinpricks anymore when "scrubbing" my face. Whereas a boar changes significantly in feel and behavior during break in terms of feel and how it lathers - the badger didn't change in any of these ways.

 

[edgerunner]

I have 15 restores done with TGN knots--just about everything that they make--but I think my favorite brushes are those with the standard Silvertip knots. They're soft, and wonderfull.

I like MY Silvertip too but MY (three) Grade A and Finest 2-band brushes are much softer.

 

[FlyingCostello]

I've done 2 brush restorations using TGN 2-band, and they have both been fantastic. In fact, I'm having a hard time reaching for anything else in the morning. Here is a pic of a 20mm 2-band in an old Simpson handle. I also recently did a 26mm soap-killer in a Rooney 3/3, but I don't have any pics of that at this time.

 

[taco8slo]

If you want variety (and the nicest hair they have IMO) then it has to be the finest.

 

[taco8slo]

FlyingCostello: Best choice for a very nice handle.

 

[Pkrankow]

TGN's offering of regular silvertip is several steps down from their Finest as far as tip softness goes.

Phil