Good/Great brush for bowl lathering

[rider4life]

Hey All,

I've looked around the forum and found a lot of info about bowl lathering, but not really what brushes are best for it. I've read the Wiki that says get a bulb brush and I think I'd like to go that route. Money is a bit tight but I can probably do a max of $150, plus tax and shipping. What are your suggestions/recommendations? I know it's a subjective thing with a lot of YMMV, but I'd like to hear opinions. If you could give a reason why you think the brush is the best option I'd appreciate that too!

Thanks so much!

Cheers,

M.

 

[Edinburgh]

I too am about to get a new brush for the same purpose. My Simpsons finalists were: Polo 8, M7 and Emperor 2 and 3. The winner? Emperor 3.

Go to West Cost Shaving and use the BANDB discount code.

 

[shave~extacy]

Simpson Polo in best. Great handle, awsome grade of hair and a great price.

 

[mistercitizen]

I've got a Simpson Emperor 3 that does a fabulous job. Smaller than a Simpson Polo. The handle looks nice and is comfortable.... perfect for a bowl or scuttle. Been thinking about a Rooney Heritage Urn for some variety lately though. I haven't seen much discussion on the Urn here.... but I love my Rooney Heritage Stubby 1XL for face lathering.

Ben

 

[JoshuaNY]

Hey All,

I've looked around the forum and found a lot of info about bowl lathering, but not really what brushes are best for it. I've read the Wiki that says get a bulb brush and I think I'd like to go that route. Money is a bit tight but I can probably do a max of $150, plus tax and shipping. What are your suggestions/recommendations? I know it's a subjective thing with a lot of YMMV, but I'd like to hear opinions. If you could give a reason why you think the brush is the best option I'd appreciate that too!

Thanks so much!

Cheers,

M.

It may help the brush suggestors if you can supply them with some info.

Do you have any other brushes? What is the knot and loft, hair type? What do you like and dislike about it?

I honestly think that all sorts of brushes can be used for bowl lathering, big brushes, small brushes, brushes who climb on rocks.
Some may take some extra effort, but I would get one you like how it performs when you apply the lather to your face

 

[Edinburgh]

I've got a Simpson Emperor 3 that does a fabulous job.

Is it a 2 Band or 3 Band?

 

[Mick]

For the past year (or so) my top bowl lathering brush has been a Kent BK8.

It just seems to put everything else to shame as far as building lather from creams in a shaving bowl/scuttle. I have a number of, what I would call, "decent" bowl lathering brushes; Polo, Da Vinci, Rooney, but the Kent seems to be the one I reach for 90% of the time if I am going to build a lather from cream in a bowl or scuttle. It just seems to work better for me but as always YMMV

 

[SuperChris]

I have a Whipped Dog 24mm "fine" badger that is fantastic for creams and soft soaps, I use an Omega "best" badger brush for hard soaps. Both were under $50 and I am an exclusive bowl latherer

 

[sparco]

I just recently got my second brush. A Simpsons Commodore X3.
Specs: Weight 65g - Handle diameter 37mm - Overall height 104mm - Knot 24/25mm - Loft 53mm.

I have to admit; it was a close race between the Commodore, da Vinci Uomo 293 and Semogue Limited Edition 2011 Finest Badger size 2.

After going back and forth I ended up buying the Commodore. Mostly because I wanted to try a Simpson brush.
Now I have used it a week and I love the backbone, compared to my Muhle Silvertip best badger size 2 it appears a bit more scruffy , but the overall feeling, its ergonomic and backbone outweights that by a mile!

I warmy recommend it! Good luck with your search and decision.

 

[rider4life]

It may help the brush suggestors if you can supply them with some info.

Do you have any other brushes? What is the knot and loft, hair type? What do you like and dislike about it?

I honestly think that all sorts of brushes can be used for bowl lathering, big brushes, small brushes, brushes who climb on rocks.
Some may take some extra effort, but I would get one you like how it performs when you apply the lather to your face

Hey Joshua! I can't believe I forgot to include my current stable of brushes in my original post. Hope you're sitting down for the long list!! They are:

Omega Pure Setola Boar from Shopper Drug Mart

Phew! That took a while to write out, hope you're still with me! Ya, I'm still a newb and have just my first basic brush. This brush will be my second brush and, until money is less tight, my permanent daily shaving brush.

Thanks everyone so far for the recommendations!

Cheers,

M.

 

[ackvil]

My B&B 2010 Rudy Vey B&B brush does a great job of bowl lathering. It's the butterscotch one on the far left.

 

[jay67212]

Rudy's brushes are very good, as are Whippeddog.com
Have you considered...a boar brush? (Gasp!) I joke, I swear. I've got a few tall boars that bowl lather great. I'm an exclusive bowl lather and I love my boars. (Plus you can buy a couple and still have $$$ left over for more goodies!)

 

[JoshuaNY]

Hey Joshua! I can't believe I forgot to include my current stable of brushes in my original post. Hope you're sitting down for the long list!! They are:

Omega Pure Setola Boar from Shopper Drug Mart

Phew! That took a while to write out, hope you're still with me! Ya, I'm still a newb and have just my first basic brush. This brush will be my second brush and, until money is less tight, my permanent daily shaving brush.

Thanks everyone so far for the recommendations!

Cheers,

M.

Noted. That was a long list, I almost stopped reading it


My Rooney 3/1 works very well with a bowl. It has quite the bloom though, so a wider bowl helps

 

[edgerunner]

If you don't mind trying a big brush, I think Kent BK8 is the best bowl lathering machine. It's big but not moppy, and splays less than some much smaller knots.

 

[Acmemfg]

Bowl?? Vulfix 2235 is a great choice

 

[ThePatrician]

Simpson Duke 2. It's hard to go wrong with that brush, plus it's good for gosh darned near everything.

And a gigantic +9999999999999 for Rudy Vey.

 

[mistercitizen]

Is it a 2 Band or 3 Band?

Two band.

Ben

 

[beginish]

For the past year (or so) my top bowl lathering brush has been a Kent BK8.

It just seems to put everything else to shame as far as building lather from creams in a shaving bowl/scuttle. I have a number of, what I would call, "decent" bowl lathering brushes; Polo, Da Vinci, Rooney, but the Kent seems to be the one I reach for 90% of the time if I am going to build a lather from cream in a bowl or scuttle. It just seems to work better for me but as always YMMV

This. Turtle knows what he's talking about.

 

[rider4life]

For the past year (or so) my top bowl lathering brush has been a Kent BK8.

It just seems to put everything else to shame as far as building lather from creams in a shaving bowl/scuttle. I have a number of, what I would call, "decent" bowl lathering brushes; Polo, Da Vinci, Rooney, but the Kent seems to be the one I reach for 90% of the time if I am going to build a lather from cream in a bowl or scuttle. It just seems to work better for me but as always YMMV

Hey Turtle,

Thanks for this brush. I had looked at it previously but it's too expensive for me right now. I can't find it for less than $200 CAD which is way above what I'm allowed to spend. SWMBO likes the new clean-shaven me, but the bank accounts don't.

Thanks all for the other suggestions, keep them coming!! For those that asked, I have no issues with a boar brush, provided it works and works well. I don't have a big face but I do have a big head and being a head shaver too means I can make use of a slightly bigger brush. The Duke 2 seems to be a nicely recommended all arounder, as does the Rudy Vey.

Thanks again!

Cheers,

M.

 

[tfinch]

I haven't tried their larger brushes, but the Kent BK4 is quite a bit cheaper and is a bowl lathering monster. It does have a good bit of splay and is very soft but I haven't found that detrimental. Agreed with the recommendations on the Duke series from Simpson's as well. I have the Duke 3 and it never lets me down.