Im looking at a new silvertip brush but dont know if I should go with 50mm or 55mm loft on a 24mm knot. So what do y'all think is better? Im dont do much face lathering, Im just tired of my current 24/60 swallowing my face.
Loft Height
- Thread starter TxShaver
- Start date
I'm a fan of shorter lofts myself. I would probably go for a 48 or a 50 but I don't have that much experience and it depends on what type of lathering you do, bowl or face. Face lather fans seem to like a shorter loft. I bowl lather myself but prefer the shorter loft anyway.
I'm a face latherer and I would prefer a 50 out of those choices.
without a doubt....50mm
I have two brushes at 50 and love them.
50mm for me
That being said it also depends on the brush/hair....
That being said it also depends on the brush/hair....
Short, dense lofts for me. But I suppose a 25-30mm knot would be suited for a taller loft.
2:1 loft mm to knot mm seems to work...
Most of my brushes are in the 48-52 mm range.
yep - 50mm
50 mm
I like silvertips in that 24x48-52 range, depending in stiffness.
I like silvertips in that 24x48-52 range, depending in stiffness.
This. So, 48 mm knot in your case.
Depending of the density, type of hair... 55 mm would be too long for facelathering IMO. I have some 23 mm knot/50 mm loft brushes that work very well, but I prefer shorter lofts, as said.
I'd go 50 mm or lower for face lathering and 55 mm or higher for bowl/scuttle lathering.
Loft height is relative to many factors, the most important of which is how you intend to use the brush, for face lathering or for building a lather in a bowl. Longer loft for bowl lathering. Longer lofts of softer hair typically do better creating lather in a shaving bowl. Shorter or stiffer seem to work better as face lathering brushes
equally important is the ratio of the knot size to the loft. to maintain the same feel. As the knot increases in size so must the loft otherwise the brush becomes stiffer.
The knot shape is also a factor. Fan knots are by nature a little firmer than bulb knots so can be shorter loft than a bulb knot of the same diameter
The type of hair that is used will effect what the loft dimension is. Stiffer hair like Pure badger can be longer and still retain firmness, Two band is firmer than three band, silver tip and finer hairs need to be shorter than coarser best to maintain the same feel. There are also variations in quality between the same type of hair.
there are so many variables that "Pick this or that" is way to simplified.
Brush designing should be left to those who know what they are doing when putting together the knot so that they know what they need to set it at.
This is why I don't restore or design shaving brushes. My trash can is just to small to hold all of the trial and error necessary to develop a high quality shaving brush
equally important is the ratio of the knot size to the loft. to maintain the same feel. As the knot increases in size so must the loft otherwise the brush becomes stiffer.
The knot shape is also a factor. Fan knots are by nature a little firmer than bulb knots so can be shorter loft than a bulb knot of the same diameter
The type of hair that is used will effect what the loft dimension is. Stiffer hair like Pure badger can be longer and still retain firmness, Two band is firmer than three band, silver tip and finer hairs need to be shorter than coarser best to maintain the same feel. There are also variations in quality between the same type of hair.
there are so many variables that "Pick this or that" is way to simplified.
Brush designing should be left to those who know what they are doing when putting together the knot so that they know what they need to set it at.
This is why I don't restore or design shaving brushes. My trash can is just to small to hold all of the trial and error necessary to develop a high quality shaving brush
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40mm!! 
Loft height is relative to many factors, the most important of which is how you intend to use the brush, for face lathering or for building a lather in a bowl. Longer loft for bowl lathering. Longer lofts of softer hair typically do better creating lather in a shaving bowl. Shorter or stiffer seem to work better as face lathering brushes
equally important is the ratio of the knot size to the loft. to maintain the same feel. As the knot increases in size so must the loft otherwise the brush becomes stiffer.
The knot shape is also a factor. Fan knots are by nature a little firmer than bulb knots so can be shorter loft than a bulb knot of the same diameter
The type of hair that is used will effect what the loft dimension is. Stiffer hair like Pure badger can be longer and still retain firmness, Two band is firmer than three band, silver tip and finer hairs need to be shorter than coarser best to maintain the same feel. There are also variations in quality between the same type of hair.
there are so many variables that "Pick this or that" is way to simplified.
Brush designing should be left to those who know what they are doing when putting together the knot so that they know what they need to set it at.
This is why I don't restore or design shaving brushes. My trash can is just to small to hold all of the trial and error necessary to develop a high quality shaving brush
Great info here!
Depending on the density - I prefer 45-48mm 
Loft height is relative to many factors, the most important of which is how you intend to use the brush, for face lathering or for building a lather in a bowl. Longer loft for bowl lathering. Longer lofts of softer hair typically do better creating lather in a shaving bowl. Shorter or stiffer seem to work better as face lathering brushes
equally important is the ratio of the knot size to the loft. to maintain the same feel. As the knot increases in size so must the loft otherwise the brush becomes stiffer.
The knot shape is also a factor. Fan knots are by nature a little firmer than bulb knots so can be shorter loft than a bulb knot of the same diameter
The type of hair that is used will effect what the loft dimension is. Stiffer hair like Pure badger can be longer and still retain firmness, Two band is firmer than three band, silver tip and finer hairs need to be shorter than coarser best to maintain the same feel. There are also variations in quality between the same type of hair.
there are so many variables that "Pick this or that" is way to simplified.
Brush designing should be left to those who know what they are doing when putting together the knot so that they know what they need to set it at.
This is why I don't restore or design shaving brushes. My trash can is just to small to hold all of the trial and error necessary to develop a high quality shaving brush
Nice job. However, in my experience, bulbs are stiffer than fans.
That said, I voted 50.
I voted 50mm but almost all of my badgers are in the 40-46mm range and I wouldn't want them to be any longer. Of course it also depends on knot-size and density as well.
