Merkur brush

[Dustinl]

Does anyone own or have any experience with the Merkur Futur brush? I am thinking about purchasing one to go with my Vision and Futur razors and having an acrylic stand made to hold all three. I'd like to know what you gents think of this particular brush.


DL

 

[Dustinl]

Do I need to do IT?

Do I?


Do I need to do a poll?





Should I or shouldn't I? Because I'll do it if I have to.


DL

 

[dpmtherrien]

Hey go ahead and get it, you know you want to.

I've never used the Merkur brushes, but I do like their razors, and they do make a quality product.

 

[Sueto]

I just couldn't make myself do it for the price. I ended up with a Rooney instead. Maybe down the line when I think I need to complete that set with the Futur I have and see one come across BST..

 

[bjh618]

This is the only brush I own (bought it as part of the Futur set) and although I a m no expert, I have found it to be quite decent.

My only criticism is that it is quite 'floppy' and I have to work a bit harder to get a decent lather forming.

 

[Yonjuro]

... I have one that came with my Vision set. It seems very nice; soft, not too floppy and well made. I soak my brush and bowl in a sink of hot water while I shower. THe metal is a very good conductor of heat. I normally hold the brush it a sort of pencil grip. Last week I gave myself a decent burn due to the way I held it when bowl lathering.

The set looks great though, but I will probably sell it as I have only used it 3 times and after the burn just prefer my Rooney or Simpson - and I have the B&B on order - One out may make it easier to justify to SWMBO???

 

[Scissors]

I bought it as part of the Futur set with stand and bowl. Unlike bjh618, I found it lathers pretty well. Not as well as a Rooney or a Kent (both of which I also have: the 3/1 and BLK4 respectively), but pretty darn close. Applies the lather pretty well, although not quite as well as the Rooney or Kent again. It's also a comfortable brush; I don't find mine floppy at all, but my idea of floppy is the Kent BLK4, which I think is generally regarded as a soft, floppy brush.

Here's the thing, though: after using it regularly for a bit more than four months, the knot separated from the handle:

This was easily fixed by roughing up the surfaces and gluing them back together—one B&B member recommended marine epoxy; the hardware store clerk recommended a product called either Marine Goo or Marine Goop as just as good as a regular epoxy for my purposes—and the internet vendor from whom I bought it, royalshave.com, say they've filed a warranty replacement w/Merkur/DOVO, so I could end up with two of these brushes (except mine will be in the polished chrome finish.)

In the end this will be no big deal. It may even be that I got a brush that slipped by Quality Control, and my troubles won't be significat for the great majority of folks owning and using this brush, but I figured I'd lay it out for you. So take with salt as necessary and remember that YMMV.

 

[drumana]

I had one. It lathered well, and felt nice and also was a shedder like no other. I think your money can be put to much better use.

 

[Dustinl]

Gents, thank you for your replies!

I suppose there is only one way to find out if I really want one, and that is to purchase it. It won't be my primary brush, I just want to make a set with my Futur and Vision. Again, thanks!!!


DL

 

[Scissors]

Gents, thank you for your replies!

I suppose there is only one way to find out if I really want one, and that is to purchase it. It won't be my primary brush, I just want to make a set with my Futur and Vision. Again, thanks!!!


DL

If you want it for a set and it won't be your primary, that's probably best. I bought the Futur set because I thought it looked sharp and was happy with the performance until the knot came flying out of the brush. FWIW, mine only shed two or three hairs the first time I used it, and nothing after that. So when and where they get it right, they do it pretty well; the problem is being able to count on Merkur/DOVO to get everything on their brushes right all the time. So QC must be very uneven for brushes there.

 

[Sueto]

I think I am going to go the other route and sell off the Futur so I don't get tempted to buy the set heh.