I have a couple of nice Silver Tip Badger Knots from TGN that I have stuck into a Couple of vintage Rubberset handles, but recently I have been finding the need for something with a bit more Back bone to use on harder Artisan soaps. I've got a budget of 75.00 and I want something thats scrubby and has a back bone.. Suggest away!
Recomend New Brush For Hard Soaps
- Thread starter Icemanxxxv
- Start date
Depends if you need to stick with Badger or are willing to try Boar Brushes. The Finest 2 band badger brushes by different manufacturers tend to have more backbone. Vintage Blades has a new line that has come out that is very reasonably priced and there has been some really good buzz about. WSP also has a finest 2 band brush that is well received but does cost a bit more. I really like the Semogue brushes for their price/performance factor. I am awaiting an SOC 2 Band myself but I already own the SOC in Boar and I love it. I find it soft tipped and yet lots of backbone for my hard soaps. Also the Semogue 620 is said to be very good for hard soaps. I'm sure you will get many good suggestions but these are mine.
If you want the MOST backbone get any of the Simpsons brushes in Pure (Special, Beaufort, or Berkeley).
If you want something with good backbone get a Duke 2 (blows your budget unless you get one off of BST)
I really like my Simpsons Beaufort B4 but it has TOO MUCH backbone to use every day. Every other once in a while it is great!!!
If you want something with good backbone get a Duke 2 (blows your budget unless you get one off of BST)
I really like my Simpsons Beaufort B4 but it has TOO MUCH backbone to use every day. Every other once in a while it is great!!!
Your pictures kill me Turtle...I have stop looking at them. They always make me want to buy more stuff... 
- Thread starter
- #5
Who or what is SOC? I'm searching for a Boar Brush. I have two trusty Badgers on the rack and I'm wanting to give them a little pig company!
Semogue Owners Club boar brush
No recommendation from me for a boar. All mine are well broken in so they are soft and supple
Rooney 1/2 in best badger http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/2053630/2182680.htm
But even better; Semogue 830; will lather up a hard soap like no tomorrow.
But even better; Semogue 830; will lather up a hard soap like no tomorrow.
Last edited:
The SOC (Semogue Owner's Club) has the same shaped handle for both boar and two band badger. It is a wood handle and you can get it in cherry or ash. Do you face lather or bowl lather predominently? It sounds like you're in the spot that I was in a few weeks ago. You have a couple badger brushes that you are happy with and you want a brush that will tackle the hard soaps. I like to face lather and bowl lather about equally so I ended up getting the SOC boar with a cherry handle and a Semogue 830 boar at the same time. My thought was to use the SOC boar for bowl lathering and the 830 for face lathering (the SOC has a longer handle than the 830). I feel that the 830 is a more versatile brush and can be used for bowl and face lathering. It's a more versatile brush than I expected really.... so I ended up getting a Semogue 620 as well for face lathering hard soaps exclusively. Really, you can't lose with any of them for hard soaps.... but if I had to pick one to recommend to you I would pick the 830.
Ben
My favorite brush for face lathering hard soaps (Harris & GFT) is a Simpson Rover. It's the Deal of The Day today at WCS ($30 off). It's still a little over your price range but worth it. Other brushes I like using with hard soaps include:
Rooney 3/1 Super - an older model that's a bit moppy, but still lathers up a storm
Rooney 1/1 Silvertip - a newer model with a shorter loft and more backbone than my older 3/1
Simpson Duke 1
Simpson Duke 2 - I sold mine because it was too similar to the Rover and I liked the Rover better.
Simpson Berkeley - I sold mine because I got away from brushes with scritch, but this one (44mm loft) had incredible backbone for the price
Rooney 3/1 Super - an older model that's a bit moppy, but still lathers up a storm
Rooney 1/1 Silvertip - a newer model with a shorter loft and more backbone than my older 3/1
Simpson Duke 1
Simpson Duke 2 - I sold mine because it was too similar to the Rover and I liked the Rover better.
Simpson Berkeley - I sold mine because I got away from brushes with scritch, but this one (44mm loft) had incredible backbone for the price
My go to for lathering hard soaps and face lathering is the Vie Long Bullgoose LE 2012 Beehive Horse/Badger mix. Phil seems to be sold out of them, but he offers a the J.L. Petree which I remember him stating in a post was the same knot with a different handle. At $50 it comes in a little under budget, but that knot is amazing.
I bought a Simpsons Case in Pure. Which got lost in the mail for months. Then appeared day before yesterday. It's a soap-eating machine.
It is indeed a bit "scritchy", but I find that's fine. And I just use a bit less pressure on my face with it, I don't even notice. I can't believe how much the price difference is among the different grades of Simpsons badgers, given how good this brush is.
I got it on B/S/T, so even cheaper than new, but it's not an expensive brush. And it is really perfect for hard soaps. (It's a smaller brush, which turns out just fine in the using. But if you need a large brush, the Case won't do at all. Mostly the point is... I just learned what turtle is talking about with the recommendation for a brush in "Pure").
It is indeed a bit "scritchy", but I find that's fine. And I just use a bit less pressure on my face with it, I don't even notice. I can't believe how much the price difference is among the different grades of Simpsons badgers, given how good this brush is.
I got it on B/S/T, so even cheaper than new, but it's not an expensive brush. And it is really perfect for hard soaps. (It's a smaller brush, which turns out just fine in the using. But if you need a large brush, the Case won't do at all. Mostly the point is... I just learned what turtle is talking about with the recommendation for a brush in "Pure").
EVREYONE needs at least one Simpsons brush in Pure Badger.
You ain't got backbone if you ain't got a Simpsons brush in Pure... That's for sure
TGN Finest and use the savings for other shaving stuff
- Thread starter
- #14
I'm liking this idea.... I have a handle that's been waiting for for a knot for quite some time. IIRC it's a 22mm. I'm thinking about installing TGN 22mm Finest Badger XH. Just not sure what loft to finalize it at. I guess I'll wait till I get the knot and size it up from there. I'm also thinking of getting a TGN 24mm Bristle knot(boar)to try too. I found out that Santa is getting me a brush for my stocking but for the life of me I can't remember what one it is! Pretty sure it's a boar brush. I think it's a Omega 81052?
+ 1 on the SOC boar.
I'd also suggest trying a boar though I use my silvertips with hard soaps.
