Help Design my Shavemac

[innerlogic]

SBAD is in full effect here. Started shaving not long ago with a $20 pure badger brush. Now I have a Rooney 1/2 super and a Emperor 2 two-band best on the way. And uh...maybe a Simpsons Case and Wee Scot too. Maybe.

But I really want a decadent, custom Shavemac. The reviews have me convinced, and frankly the bespoke details (buffalo horn handle, intitials stamped on the outside) are too great for my ego to resist.

I'm hoping to get a little advice on the specs for my custom. I don't have a whole lot of experience, but I think I have a general sense of what I want.

Soft (nay, LUXURIOUS), but with good backbone.
Usable with both soaps and creams, likely moreso creams though.
Mainly used for bowl lather

I feel that I want a fairly large brush, but from reading posts on here, I feel that few people end up happy with 26+mm brushes. So large, but not huge.

It shouldn't fill the same role as the others I have ordered (the rooney and simpsons, which I feel are good soap+facelathering brushes), but shouldn't be a "niche" brush either. I'd like to be able to use it most days.

Vague enough for everyone? Any input at all (even to the tune of "you're an idiot") is appreciated.

 

[BladeRunner001]

SBAD is in full effect here. Started shaving not long ago with a $20 pure badger brush. Now I have a Rooney 1/2 super and a Emperor 2 two-band best on the way. And uh...maybe a Simpsons Case and Wee Scot too. Maybe.

But I really want a decadent, custom Shavemac. The reviews have me convinced, and frankly the bespoke details (buffalo horn handle, intitials stamped on the outside) are too great for my ego to resist.

I'm hoping to get a little advice on the specs for my custom. I don't have a whole lot of experience, but I think I have a general sense of what I want.

Soft (nay, LUXURIOUS), but with good backbone.
Usable with both soaps and creams, likely moreso creams though.
Mainly used for bowl lather

I feel that I want a fairly large brush, but from reading posts on here, I feel that few people end up happy with 26+mm brushes. So large, but not huge.

It shouldn't fill the same role as the others I have ordered (the rooney and simpsons, which I feel are good soap+facelathering brushes), but shouldn't be a "niche" brush either. I'd like to be able to use it most days.

Vague enough for everyone? Any input at all (even to the tune of "you're an idiot") is appreciated.

From what you have described a standard 23-24mm Silvertip will fit your bill, without having to resort to custom. You can look at the 23mm 44140 here or the 24mm 224 here with Cocobolo wood. I have both and they have excellent backbone and extremely soft tips. The quality of the badger that Bernd uses in his brushes is unmatched.

Now, if you really wanted to customize beyond that, I would recommend looking into the D01 lines. They are "extra special" silvertip and is super dense (D01 has ~7 grams more silvertip than a regular 24mm)...that's a lot of hair. The density will make for a stiffer brush (but still luxurious tips). I have a customized 25mm of 235 like this one here.

If you like the wood of one and the size of another, shoot Bernd an email and he will come up with what you want. Whatever you end up getting, you will LOVE it. I would recommend not going bigger than that (especially custom D01)...they quickly become lather hogs and they are HUGE/Dense. Unless you are a relatively big guy with big face and hands, 23-24mm would work perfectly for you. Some would even say go with a 22mm. Your call on size

 

[innerlogic]

Those are the kind of specs I was leaning towards - though with my lack of experience, it's good to hear confirmation from someone else.

Wondering if anyone can comment on the horn handles Shavemac uses?

 

[huntmol]

Hm, let's see... Soft, but with decent backbone. Large, but not too large. I've got just the thing!

Head over to Shavemac and pick out your favorite looking handle. My favorites are these handles: One - Two - Three

Once you've got your handle picked out, email Bernd and tell him that you'd like a brush with that handle and these specs:

Hair: D01
Knot size: 24mm
Knot shape: Fan
Loft height: 48mm

(for a slightly smaller brush with a bit more backbone, you could drop the loft down to 46mm, and for a slightly larger brush with a bit less backbone, you could raise the loft up to 50mm)

Enjoy!

 

[huntmol]

Wondering if anyone can comment on the horn handles Shavemac uses?

They are really spectacular. Look great, feel great. Here's a review featuring two of those beauties:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?ltr=S&t=73417