OMEGA Brushes

[ThomasB98908]

Hi. Looking to upgrade from my Tweezerman badger brush and have been checking out some of the other options out there. I can't believe some of the riduculous prices on some of them. Have to take out a loan to buy a brush <G>. I found the OMEGA best badger and silvertips on WCS that were pretty reasonable. Are these pretty good bushes? Would they be a step up from my trusty ol Tweezerman (which give me great shaves)?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
(would like to stay within the $40-$50 price range)

 

[pcumby]

If you want to stay with Badger you can't go wrong with a Simpsons Berkley
The simpsons hair is as good as any silvertip

If you'd consider a boar, you could get just about any boar out there, for well under your price range.

 

[Mandina]

You might want to take a look at the website for the vendor Superior Shave, which displays the proprietor's in-depth evaluations of the brushes he sells. These include a good range of Omega brushes. He begins with a helpful overview of the Omega brushes in general.

 

[sgtd]

If you're looking for a badger, you should try a custom handle from Rudy Vey or Bob Farvour and a TGN finest knot. That will allow you to stay within your price range (or maybe just a bit higher, depending on material for the handle) and the TGN finest knot is the best bang for your buck. That will also allow you to have something that no one else has. Just one man's opinion though. YMMV

 

[celestino]

If you're looking for a badger, you should try a custom handle from Rudy Vey or Bob Farvour and a TGN finest knot. That will allow you to stay within your price range (or maybe just a bit higher, depending on material for the handle) and the TGN finest knot is the best bang for your buck. That will also allow you to have something that no one else has. Just one man's opinion though. YMMV

+1 You could also try Semogue boar. These are fantastic brushes as are Vie-Long natural horse hair brushes. Frank Shaving synthetic 24mm brush is a lather monster and for $20 shipped, it is a fantastic deal! Good luck.

 

[ThomasB98908]

Thanks for replies. I love to face lather with creams and my experience with cheap boar brushes has been dissapointing to say the least. My boar brush is a VDH green handled one I got at grocery story and I have a Barbasol brush (not sure what it is - but it sucks big time). I have considered a better grade boar brush, but like the way my Tweezerman pure badger brush lathers. Would another pure badger brush really be any different( I.E. upgrade) from the Tweezerman?
Thanks

 

[ShavingApprentice]

If you haven't the coin for silvertip you could try a Super badger brush. I have a 19mm Vulfix 660 in Super and it's a great little brush, lathers up soap and creams like a champ and was a marked improvement on my previous badger which was a Muhle pure. I've yet to sample the delights of a quality silvertip but I'd definitely recommend the 660. I would also say that you can get good lathers from cream using a boar if you have a decent one and use a little extra cream (I started with a cheapo Wilkinson Sword boar and now have a much better Omega one).

 

[Vivasanti]

you could get a TGN Knot with a cheap handle aswell as an Omega and get the best of both worlds, you would be a very happy camper.

 

[merkur59]

You can customise your own whippeddog silvertip for less than USD30

 

[Mick]

For a first good badger brush I would steer you into any of the entry level brushes by Simpsons

Berkley
Colonel
Case
Commodore
Special

these are all right around your $50 max/limit

West Coast Shaving has a 10% discount for B&B members.

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson_c_34.html

Enter the coupon code BANDB at checkout

If you can stretch the envelope I would push you towards a Simpsons Duke 2 but that would longer stretch for you. You will find that the Duke 2 is one of the best face lathering brushes on the market regardless of cost

I've always found it best to bite the bullet and go for the best product I can find regardless of cost (within reason of course). I find that this saves money in the long run as I am not off looking for a replacement to the new purchase within a few weeks. Buying the right brush the first time and you won't have a lot of "why did I do that" brushes sitting around unused. Get a Duke 2. You will thank me for pushing you into it.

 

[nemo]

If you want to stay with Badger you can't go wrong with a Simpsons Berkeley

Another vote for a Berkeley (with best hair), arguably the best brush in that price range.

 

[ThomasB98908]

The Simson Berkeley (46B) intrigues me. Just might have to pull the trigger on that one. Is the handle on that resin or just molded plastic? How bad do the Simpsons shed at first?

 

[pcumby]

Mine didn't shed at all...not a a hair
According to the wiki entry the handle is resin

This is a pretty good blurb on Simpsons Brushes
http://www.shaving101.com/index.php...he-anatomy-of-the-simpsons-shaving-brush.html

I'm a boar guy generally but the berkley has never let me down soap,cream or whatever you have

 

[brother cavefish]

i have this brush and it is absolutely perfect--------http://theimperialshave.com/black-badger-hair-brush-nawiat-white/
25.00---------- also the other are great, lathe turned handles

 

[sychodelix]

I'd go with a WD silvertip. I did, and it's a killer brush that can take on anything you throw at it.

 

[Galhatz]

I'd go with a WD silvertip. I did, and it's a killer brush that can take on anything you throw at it.

+1 . I got the 24mm silvertip but opted to set it lower than the default 55mm loft at 45mm (extra $5). It gives it great backbone which I like for face lathering.
the whole thing was $29 shipped within 3 days. Larry would drill it at any depth you want so if you are not sure just give him a call.
I have not tried any of the "big names" but given how well this one works for me, I find it hard to justify buying another brush (hard != impossible ).
You would be amazed at the difference between a good brush vs the tweezerman (which I regard as overpriced for what it is).
The frank shaving synthetic is an excellent brush as well, I can't fault it for anything really, it is just I like the gentle facial massage I get with the WD silveritp.
It also dries very fast which makes it an ideal travel/gym bag brush.

 

[BallisticBurrito]

Hi. Looking to upgrade from my Tweezerman badger brush and have been checking out some of the other options out there. I can't believe some of the riduculous prices on some of them. Have to take out a loan to buy a brush <G>. I found the OMEGA best badger and silvertips on WCS that were pretty reasonable. Are these pretty good bushes? Would they be a step up from my trusty ol Tweezerman (which give me great shaves)?
Any suggestions?
Thanks
(would like to stay within the $40-$50 price range)

Omegas are awesome. I own a Omega 636 Silvertip and a tiny omega boar. Love them both.