I have been calling my Rooney Heritage 3XL (Stubby) the best brush in the world ever since I got it, but I may have spoken too soon.
My new Thater 4292/6 2-band brush arrived today. The brush measures 30mm x 54mm x 112mm OAH (nominal knot size is 28mm, so i got lucky). Unlike most Thaters, it's fan-shaped, so the size & shape make it a direct competitor with my Rooney Heritage 3XL Stubby (30mm x 53mm). The bloom on the Thater is significantly larger than the Rooney. It's a high-density brush with plenty of backbone and soft tips - in other words, a typical Thater. The Thater is still wet in the pic, so the bloom will be even larger when it dries. I did my standard comparison test - I loaded each brush with identical soap for 45 seconds and then whipped it up for 60 seconds. The results were about the same as far as lather consistency and volume. Heat retention may have been a tad better with the Rooney and the face-feel was better (softer) with the Thater. The workmanship is outstanding on both brushes. The Thater was positively stunning right out of the box with its big shock of light, light tips. Based on overall size, the Thater 4125/3 2-band is a more direct competitor to the Rooney, and it is available as a fan, but I like the slightly larger 4292 handle because I bowl-lather and have big hands.
My new Thater 4292/6 2-band brush arrived today. The brush measures 30mm x 54mm x 112mm OAH (nominal knot size is 28mm, so i got lucky). Unlike most Thaters, it's fan-shaped, so the size & shape make it a direct competitor with my Rooney Heritage 3XL Stubby (30mm x 53mm). The bloom on the Thater is significantly larger than the Rooney. It's a high-density brush with plenty of backbone and soft tips - in other words, a typical Thater. The Thater is still wet in the pic, so the bloom will be even larger when it dries. I did my standard comparison test - I loaded each brush with identical soap for 45 seconds and then whipped it up for 60 seconds. The results were about the same as far as lather consistency and volume. Heat retention may have been a tad better with the Rooney and the face-feel was better (softer) with the Thater. The workmanship is outstanding on both brushes. The Thater was positively stunning right out of the box with its big shock of light, light tips. Based on overall size, the Thater 4125/3 2-band is a more direct competitor to the Rooney, and it is available as a fan, but I like the slightly larger 4292 handle because I bowl-lather and have big hands.
