Noob Brush Advice

[anyglenwilldo]

I need a brush.

Using the format proposed for noobs on another thread:


1. I currently use the Van Der Hagen boar brush that comes in the kit from W@l-Mart. (A guy has to start somewhere.)
2. I use mostly soaps, with the occasional cream, and I bowl lather
3. I want a brush that makes a good usable lather with less effort than I currently have to use with the VDH. Something that felt nice on the face would not be too shabby either.
4. Aesthetics are important, but I think each brush will need to be judged individually. As long as it does not look "cheap."
5. I am not opposed to spending as much as $100 dollars, but it would need to be an amazing brush.
6. Medium+ knot size, and medium+ handle size. I have large hands.
7. No where locally sells anything other than the VDH, so I have not really seen any brushes to offer up here as "this but not that."
8. While the purpose of this is to find "The Brush," I have no illusions that I will never buy another...too many options out there.

Thank you in advance for the advice.

 

[Futur]

I recommend that you take a look at the large Edwin Jagger brush in Best Badger quality. The quality and workmanship on EJ products are outstanding, as is the value for your money. The Best Badger hair is stiff enough to pick up soap effectivly from the puck and the tips are soft enough to feel luxurious and great on your face. The loft on this brush is long enough to make a very good bowl lather brush and short enough to not exclude face lathering.
http://www.theenglishshavingcompany...ger Best badger shaving brushes@b|0|user||27|

As a fellow soapman, I hope you'll not fall for the temptation to get a silvertip, as I did. They are just too soft and floppy for soaps. I found out the hard and expensive way that the Best Bagder hair are much better for soaps and works very good with cream also. I find Best badger to be superior to silvertip as allround brushes.

 

[huntmol]

I recommend a Rooney 3-1 in Super. Outstanding brush for a great price
http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=486&cat=156&page=1

 

[Sueto]

$100 is a lot of brush. My experiences are mostly with Rooney and the past month or so Simpsons. At the upper end you could maybe look at a Rooney 1/2 in Super. That would be a great brush. The 3/1 mention earlier is a nice one as well. I currently have that size, however I don't have large hands. I'll try to get a pick up later. For a Simpsons, maybe a Duke 2.

"medium" is a bit of a variable here. When I got an Emperor 2 it was the same size as a Rooney 3/1. So depending on manufacturer, it's going to vary. If you were holding an object you feel to be a comfortable size what would it be? Is the VDH handle about the size you want? Bigger or smaller than the VDH?

Since the only brush you have currently is the VDH, it might be good to get one good badger brush and a better boar. You might end up liking the boar more. Don't be afraid to call any of the vendors you see mentioned around the boards. They are more than helpful is getting something that works for you.

 

[Tha Baron]

As a fellow soapman, I hope you'll not fall for the temptation to get a silvertip, as I did. They are just too soft and floppy for soaps. I found out the hard and expensive way that the Best Bagder hair are much better for soaps and works very good with cream also. I find Best badger to be superior to silvertip as allround brushes.

I think your general thoughts on silvertips might be a bit misguided... Rooney "Super" Silvertip in small or medium sizes are GREAT soap brushes (3/1) as are Simpsons and Shavemacs.

I think the loft of a brush has a lot to do with how floppy the bristles may be, so I would try not generalize your experience with the one silvertip that didn't work well for soaps when there are clearly great silvertip brush choices for soaps.

 

[Futur]

I think your general thoughts on silvertips might be a bit misguided... Rooney "Super" Silvertip in small or medium sizes are GREAT soap brushes (3/1) as are Simpsons and Shavemacs.

I think the loft of a brush has a lot to do with how floppy the bristles may be, so I would try not generalize your experience with the one silvertip that didn't work well for soaps when there are clearly great silvertip brush choices for soaps.

I was not talking about specific brushes in my remarks about silvertip vs. best, I was on purpose generalizing in that paragraph. I have no doubt that there are good soap brushes in silvertip. But if you take two identical brushes, where one is silvertip and one is best, I don't think I'll get much arguement about which is best for soaps.
Silvertip is the softest grade of badger hair, so they would have to have shorter lofts to get the same backbone as a best. OP is a bowl latherer. I prefer taller lofted brushes for bowl lathering and shorter lofted brushes for face lathering. With this in mind, I think my recommendation to go for a best brush is sound

 

[anyglenwilldo]

Thanks for the advice Gents! I looked at the links and think both of them are great options. I actually saw something on the BST threads that caught my interest.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=136683

I opted for the Faux Horn. I am really excited to try out this amazing brush!

 

[Tha Baron]

But if you take two identical brushes, where one is silvertip and one is best, I don't think I'll get much arguement about which is best for soaps.

I think you should try more brushes before you start generalizing based on an isolated experience between the brush of a different hair grade... Your comparison might be valid for a large EJ, but may not be at all accurate for other labels and sizes.