I currently have the AOS Pure Badger, which I got off the BST. I'm finding it a bit large and would like to try a second brush that is smaller, but I'd like to know the knot and loft size on the brush I have so I can get an idea of how much smaller a brush I should try. Does anyone know the specs on the AOS brush, or have a recommendation for a nice size of small(er) brush?
Help with AOS brush sizing and picking a new brush
- Thread starter Emmett
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I don't have the answer to your question on the AOS brush. As long as the knot size leans towards the smaller end (21mm or less), I think the most important thing to keep the bloom manageable is a shorter loft. I had a 22mm brush with a very big bloom (at least in my estimation), and now use a 21mm brush with a very compact, dense bloom, simply because the loft is shorter.
If you're willing to pay for it, you can contact Bernd at Shavemac and have him build you a custom brush with a small knot and short loft. Several of the guys here have jumped on short loft finest badger brushes from Shavemac, because they give you a lot of the benefit of the D01 brushes Shavemac sells, without hogging the lather as much (I haven't experienced this much with my D01), and about half the price. This thread and this thread might be useful to you.
If you're willing to pay for it, you can contact Bernd at Shavemac and have him build you a custom brush with a small knot and short loft. Several of the guys here have jumped on short loft finest badger brushes from Shavemac, because they give you a lot of the benefit of the D01 brushes Shavemac sells, without hogging the lather as much (I haven't experienced this much with my D01), and about half the price. This thread and this thread might be useful to you.
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I doubt I have the budget for a custom brush at the moment, but those threads were very useful, thanks. The stickies suggest a small brush is anything below a 22mm knot and a 50mm loft, but it seems the size I might like is considerably smaller than that. I will do some searching for something in that range that I can afford. Thanks much.
That was going to be my other suggestion, but I wasn't sure if a 22mm knot would be too big. I haven't seen one of these in person, but it seems they have a nice compact bloom from pictures I've seen on the forums.
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I wanted to make an update to possibly help some (newer) newbies learn about brush sizing. I went with a custom brush from the BST, 20mm knot and 47 mm loft. It cost a little more than the Rooney recommended upthread, but I liked the looks of it. I may yet pick up the Rooney as a travel brush because the handle on this one is rather large. There are several pictures and a review in this post.
The new brush is on the left, with a 20 mm knot and a 47 mm loft. It is a UK Super Silvertip from the Golden Nib. The AOS brush is a pure badger with a 20 mm knot and a 55 mm loft (specs as provided above). This is pre-shave. I will be referring to the new brush as the B&O, for the handle colors black and orange.
A view from the top. The lighting is dark, but you can see how much smaller and denser the B&O is.
Nice long grippable handle.
This looks like a lot of cream, but remember the brush size. It is not much.
Ten swirls.
A few drops of water and thirty total swirls.
A few more drops and forty total swirls. I am using T&H Grafton cream. Note my fingers aren't covered in lather! Long handles are great!
Post shave bloom, such as it is. This is a luxuriously dense knot and I don't suspect it will bloom much more.
Post shave top shot.
Overall, the B&O brush was dense, small, and soft while still remaining slightly scritchy. The knot is top-notch, tight packed with no shedding. The handle is well turned, even and symmetrical. The handle was the perfect size and pleasant to grip, and I loved the density of the knot and how it didn't splay all over my face like the AOS brush tends to. I expect the tips may soften some more as it gets broken in. The reduction in loft made a huge difference in how the brush handled. The AOS brush requires long, light strokes to 'paint' the lather, while the B&O tends to suck the lather in a bit, so you have to scrub a little more to get the lather out of the brush. It also holds less lather because of its small size. I had enough for two passes but had to return to the bowl to pick up lather for a third. This is not something I find a concern. It also whips up lather like a storm. Overall, the B&O is a much better brush for my needs, and I can't wait to use it again tomorrow.
The new brush is on the left, with a 20 mm knot and a 47 mm loft. It is a UK Super Silvertip from the Golden Nib. The AOS brush is a pure badger with a 20 mm knot and a 55 mm loft (specs as provided above). This is pre-shave. I will be referring to the new brush as the B&O, for the handle colors black and orange.
A view from the top. The lighting is dark, but you can see how much smaller and denser the B&O is.
Nice long grippable handle.
This looks like a lot of cream, but remember the brush size. It is not much.
Ten swirls.
A few drops of water and thirty total swirls.
A few more drops and forty total swirls. I am using T&H Grafton cream. Note my fingers aren't covered in lather! Long handles are great!
Post shave bloom, such as it is. This is a luxuriously dense knot and I don't suspect it will bloom much more.
Post shave top shot.
Overall, the B&O brush was dense, small, and soft while still remaining slightly scritchy. The knot is top-notch, tight packed with no shedding. The handle is well turned, even and symmetrical. The handle was the perfect size and pleasant to grip, and I loved the density of the knot and how it didn't splay all over my face like the AOS brush tends to. I expect the tips may soften some more as it gets broken in. The reduction in loft made a huge difference in how the brush handled. The AOS brush requires long, light strokes to 'paint' the lather, while the B&O tends to suck the lather in a bit, so you have to scrub a little more to get the lather out of the brush. It also holds less lather because of its small size. I had enough for two passes but had to return to the bowl to pick up lather for a third. This is not something I find a concern. It also whips up lather like a storm. Overall, the B&O is a much better brush for my needs, and I can't wait to use it again tomorrow.
That B&O sure is pretty!
