My Rooney 3/1 has been a great brush, great quality, nice and soft. I have moved entirely to soaps now, and MWF is my favorite. I had trouble initially getting good lather with it. I then got a Semogue Owners Club, and it enabled me to get great lather with Mitchell's. I have since found I can get good lather with the Rooney too, but I prefer the firmer feel of the boar. I usually bowl lather, but I face lather a bit too, and I like the feel of a scrubby brush. I build my lather in the bowl, and then face lather a bit, I like keeping my brush in the bowl, as it stays warmer. The SOC is really nice, I've got about 15 lather cycles on it, tips are starting to split. I think I want an even firmer brush though! On my quest for a firmer brush, I have a "kit" from the golden nib on the way, featuring a 22mm finest knot with extra hair. I want to be able to try the knot at different lofts, to see if I can get the feel I want. I guess I'll know better after I try it, but I wonder if it will get scrubby enough. After that, would I need to go to pure badger? I have never tried one, and the clipped tips kind of put me off. Other than that, Semogue 620? I could build a custom boar, with a knot from TGN, are there any badgers that would compare?
I need something scrubbier....
- Thread starter filedog
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My guess, and I am by no means an expert, is that you can get best or super grade hair (be they three or two band) to be scrubby if the loft is some combination of shorter loft and dense knot. I would probably shy away from the pure knot for the reasons you mentioned.
Soft tips + dense/short loft = scrubby
Soft tips + dense/short loft = scrubby
I think a custom boar is the way to go. Oranges and apples = boar and badger.
Good idea.
Or watch the Custom Boar thread here.
That seems to fit your requirements perfectly!
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- #5
Ok, I got the parts today, and put it together. I set the knot at 48mm, handle is 50. Here's a pre-bloom pic. I need to take some better pics, it was getting dark, light was not that good. Handle is black, but up close is a very dark brown, nice. Also, a group shot with Rooney 3/1 and SOC.
Very nice brush! I love two bands with black handles, it just looks elegant.
I am sure people are sick of seeing me post about them, but it sounds like you might want to try a Simpson Classic/Duke/Chubby (depending on size preference). They are very scrubby with nice soft tips.
I have a couple short loft TGN's that are very nice too, though not quite as nice.
I am sure people are sick of seeing me post about them, but it sounds like you might want to try a Simpson Classic/Duke/Chubby (depending on size preference). They are very scrubby with nice soft tips.
I have a couple short loft TGN's that are very nice too, though not quite as nice.
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- #7
Loric, the color combination did come out nice, I was thinking the same thing about black on black. I have looked at the Simpsons, and the Duke 2 looks really nice. However, for almost TWICE as much.......I may not go for one. I actually have a "95/50" rule......if I can get 95% of the performance, for 50% of the cost, I go for the less expensive item. The custom has more backbone than the Rooney, but the tips are as soft. I am approaching the level of scrubbiness I want, this one is close. It will be interesting to try this brush. I am more interested in building a custom boar now, 22X50, in a butterscotch handle. 
I have a 26mm set at 53mm and it is a bit to floppy for me. It is still a good all around brush, but alas I cant go to dense or too short. My 24mm is set at 46 or 48mm and that is much better for me. My favorite is my 30mm set at 50mm loft, that thing is awesome.
I would love to read a report on the performance of your new brush. It certainly looks great!
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- #10
As a matter of fact, I have just been considering how the 3 are different. I have been lathering all 3 of them at the same time, so I can go back and forth. The first thing I notice about the TGN brush is the bulb shape. It's a relatively minor factor, but the other 2 are fan shaped, and give more contact with the face. I prefer the fan shape. I am doing more face lathering, mostly because it gives me more time with the brush on my face 
The knot on the TGN is not as dense as the Rooney. They are close though. I was hoping the TGN would be denser. It has a springier quality, but not firmer. Some of the TGN's tips, when dry are scritchy, but that's not noticeable when wet. It only has 5 or 6 cycles on it, so that may improve. The tips feel pretty similar in terms of softness.
My thoughts so far: when tried at the same time, I realize I like the smaller size of the badgers. I am also liking the feel of the badgers more as well. I am now able to get great lather from any of my soaps with badger, so boar may not be the answer I hoped it would be. I want a shorter, denser badger, I'm starting to think a Simpson Duke 3 may be in my future
The knot on the TGN is not as dense as the Rooney. They are close though. I was hoping the TGN would be denser. It has a springier quality, but not firmer. Some of the TGN's tips, when dry are scritchy, but that's not noticeable when wet. It only has 5 or 6 cycles on it, so that may improve. The tips feel pretty similar in terms of softness.My thoughts so far: when tried at the same time, I realize I like the smaller size of the badgers. I am also liking the feel of the badgers more as well. I am now able to get great lather from any of my soaps with badger, so boar may not be the answer I hoped it would be. I want a shorter, denser badger, I'm starting to think a Simpson Duke 3 may be in my future
I'm starting to think a Simpson Duke 3 may be in my future
+1
After falling in love with my Chubby 2 and 3, I picked up the Eagle G3 thinking it would be a great mini Chubby, the qualities are very similar but its a bit small for me. I think I might pick up Duke 3 too to see if its more to my liking.
- Thread starter
- #12
Well, that Eagle will go fast if you decide to sell. Who has the best price on a Duke 3, WCS?
The Superior Shave has the for $100 with free shipping. That is as cheep as I have seen.
I know the Eagle will go fast if I sell it, it is one hell of a brush. I just think I should keep one small one around in case my tastes change over time. As I only have this and my Rooney 3/1 finest left (at this size) its like choosing what kid to save from a burning building
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Interesting thread, gentlemen. I have the same problem Filedog is having: finding the ideal scrubby brush for my soaps. In my quest I ordered a Fan-shaped 2 band Superbadger Shavemac D01 in a 22mm loft. It has incredible backbone and super-soft tips. After 2 months of lathering with this little marvel I decided to try a cheap Omega boar (1/10th of the price of the Shavemac!). I love the boar, although it is quite a bit scratchier than the badger. So I alternate, depending on the mood. Sometimes, on the third pass I find the boar to be a little too scratchy, though, whereas the superbadger never lets me down....
I'm looking forward to your review of the new brush, Filedog!
I'm looking forward to your review of the new brush, Filedog!
- Thread starter
- #15
I used them all this morning, face lathering with AOS sandalwood soap. My favorites were the two badgers, but they are closer than I thought. The bulb on the TGN gives better control of the lather, and there seemed to be a difference in the amount of lather they both made. I think the Duke 3 would be too big for me, now looking at the 2,
Sounds like you have a bad case of SBCD! Shaving Brush Choice Disorder, I know I agonize over choosing just one for a shave too...at least 2 days a week I end up using 2 brushes for two passes each
- Thread starter
- #17
Well, it has been really interesting, using them all during one shave. I had never tried this with any products before, but it give me the best comparison. With all my other stuff, it has been a "weeding out" process. I am down to 1 razor, etc. Have made great use of the BST.
The Semogue 620 boar might be the scrubbiest brush you'll find.
My Shavemacs are the scrubbiest badger I own or have ever used. And they're lovely brushes, one having my initials tastefully monogrammed on as a paean to my vanity.
When I want a scrubby brush, my Shavemacs are what I go to.
Chris
When I want a scrubby brush, my Shavemacs are what I go to.
Chris
- Thread starter
- #20
I haven't been considering Shavemacs, due to the bulb shape. The models I have seen all seem to have this. I have that knot shape in a 22mm TGN finest/extra hair that I built, and I don't like it as well as a fan.
