I must confess, I'm not in love with my Rooney 1/1 yet

[PaulL]

I got a Trufitt & Hill 1/1 (rooney) for my birthday.
I've shaved with it three times so far. I am ashamed to admit today I switched back to my floppy black badger no-name.

The Rooney does okay on the first pass, but I can't get a drop of lather for a second pass. I tried to use more product, but the darn thing is a bottomless lather sponge. The floppy old no-name seems to keep me in shave happiness. Same for the Crabtree BBB. The black one is certainly a bit more scratchy, but who cares. It's about the lather.

I am a failure. I wanted to love the better brush. Maybe a few more tries on the weekend.

 

[Jim]

It can take a while to just break in a dense brush, Creams or soaps?

Use more product and give it a good two/three weeks.

 

[PaulL]

I use soaps. Mostly vintage Old Spice, which I love. Once a week I use Trumpers Violet, I like the scent, but it's not as slick as the Old Spice.

I have a puck of Tabac but I haven't worked up the enthusiasm to get past the scent.

 

[Dpflaum]

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of mine either. It does hog all the lather, whether I use soaps or creams. And mine is well over a year old and well broken in.

Sometimes dense is too dense. I bought a Simpsons Duke 1 in Best (basically the same size and shape) and the flow is much better. It doesn't hold on to lather to it's dying breath.

Cheaper too.

 

[xriley]

Brushes do take time to break in. I had the same initial reaction to my Emperor 2 in 2 band. After about a month of use it really is starting to get a lot better.

Thank goodness there is a BST forumn.

 

[Jim]

I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea of a lather hog brush, if a brush is properly loaded it will provide you with copious amounts of lather.
A few passes on the soap puck will not do.

 

[dwestenk]

I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea of a lather hog brush ...

+1 I've never felt any of my Rooney brushes have been stingy with lather!

 

[alabamalawyer]

I spend a good bit of time completely loading my 1/1. When done I have plenty of lather for my 3 pass straight shave.

 

[Ignatius]

Paul,

I'm not keen on the lather hogging of my Rooney. A good tip I read was to lather (with dense brushes) far more gently than you usually would; don't bear down, it seems to push the lather into the knot, never to be seen again.

 

[texbilly]

I am afraid I have to disagree with the idea of a lather hog brush, if a brush is properly loaded it will provide you with copious amounts of lather.
A few passes on the soap puck will not do.

This was one of my most valuable lessons. Adequate loading will change your opinion quickly, even with a new brush. I now load a minimum of 40-60 seconds, regardless of soap.

 

[PaulL]

Things are improving. I had a five day trip this week and at the last minute I decided to take the Rooney with me. Make or break.

So after using it for five days I am getting better and the brush is getting better. I'm soaking it a bit longer and lathering it a bit more on the soap before I shave. Now the problem is when it's fully loaded there is so much lather it slides down and makes the handle slippery. We are much better now!

 

[jhclare]

I found the 1/1 too small.... I preferred my 3/1 as it had a much more useable handle and the knot was pretty much identical.

After buying and selling quite a few brushes, I found that I prefer a mid-size brush for face lathering. They hold more lather, keep it warmer, and the larger handle (and your hand!) stays lather-free.

I'm really wishing I never sold my Stubby 2....


John

 

[PetersCreek]

I found that I prefer a mid-size brush for face lathering.

I'm not a face latherer but +1 anyway. I've had my 1/2 for a couple of months now and we're getting along famously.

Glad to see it's turning around for you, Paul.

 

[huntmol]

First off, I'm in your camp when it comes to Rooney Super - I had a 3/1 for about a month and I just didn't love it, so I sold it.

That said, a brush needs to be used for 3-4 weeks to break in and for you to get used to how it lathers. Keep at it, but if you still don't care for it in a few weeks, sell it on the B/S/T.
There are other great brushes out there for you to enjoy.

 

[Trendkill]

+1 on everything Jim said. You have an awesome brush. Just break it in and you'll see.

 

[Jim]

Things are improving. I had a five day trip this week and at the last minute I decided to take the Rooney with me. Make or break.

So after using it for five days I am getting better and the brush is getting better. I'm soaking it a bit longer and lathering it a bit more on the soap before I shave. Now the problem is when it's fully loaded there is so much lather it slides down and makes the handle slippery. We are much better now!

Great News. If the lather is sliding down the handle it may be too wet a mix.

 

[DSB]

This was one of my most valuable lessons. Adequate loading will change your opinion quickly, even with a new brush. I now load a minimum of 40-60 seconds, regardless of soap.

+1.

More soap, more soap, more soap!

If you have not already tried a shave soap stick, you may want to give it a shot. I think applying a soap stick directly to your face helps teach how much soap you actually want/need. My personal recommendation would be a stick of Speick. It's tallow, it's cheap, and it's an excellent soap! Of course, you are already using two excellent soaps, so there's no need to buy something new unless you want to experiment.

 

[SteelCity]

I have a T & H silvertip 1/1 that was lousy with cream the first 5 times I used it I tried it with soap, Kent, after soaking the brush and shaking it until NO water was dripping and applied brush to soap that had steaming hot water on it for a few minutes. (Dumped the water from the puck). Swirled the brush for less than 60 seconds, paint brushed on face then swirled over again on face and lather nirvana. Easily enough lather for 2-3 passes.
Love the brush.

I also have a T & H 1/2 that I have yet to use-I'm enjoying the 1/1/ so much.

For creams I'll stick with my no name vintage silvertip.

 

[PaulL]

Update: The Rooney 1/1 is now my favorite brush. Maybe it broke in. I find it easily holds enough soap for two or three passes. I still like my Omega boar a lot, but the Omega gives me a great one pass, but never a good second pass.
Now I see why people like Rooney so much.

 

[Vlad]

Update: The Rooney 1/1 is now my favorite brush. Maybe it broke in. I find it easily holds enough soap for two or three passes. I still like my Omega boar a lot, but the Omega gives me a great one pass, but never a good second pass.
Now I see why people like Rooney so much.

Rooney! Glad you're enjoying it. Lathering up is the best part, isn't it?