Recommend a 2nd Brush - Currently Using AOS Brush

[AndroiDad75]

Everyone,

I am thinking I may pick up a second brush. I was hoping that the fine folk here would help me to pick my second brush. I am thinking I would like to stick with badger, but will take advice on all.

I currently am using my AOS brush that came with the starter kit. It has been ok, but it seems like the hair is easily splayed (sp?) apart and not sure it has what I keep seeing described as "backbone". I have seen a lot of mention about Rooney, Whipped Dog, etc... but it's all got my head swimming. I am not sure I am ready to spend >$100 on a brush, but again will take all advice seriously. Ok, on to some info to help me make a decision:

1. I bowl lather
2. I have hard water (well water)
3. I currently am using creams (AOS and KMF), but would also like to venture into soaps
4. I am open to learning, teach me oh jedi masters...

If there are any other questions I can answer to help make an informed suggestion/decision, please let me know.

I realize that it's probably going to come off as YMMV and it's all personal, but some guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks!!!!!

 

[mblakele]

From what I understand of the AoS starter kit brush, almost anything will be an upgrade. What is your budget?

 

[u2u]

Horse of course....

I have a wide range of badger brushes starting with the most basic mixed through to luxurious manchurians. Recently added a blonde Vie-Long horse, from Fendrihan, model 14080. $36.00 and it works great. I have been using it in a bowl with assorted creams. I do two passes but the brush easily holds enough for three. It has reasonable backbone while being as gentle on the face as a Somerset era Duke 2 in best that is in my rotation. Friendly when adjusting the consistency of my lather. Don't know how it will hold up in the long term but I now wish I had considered trying a horse decades ago. Good luck with your selection of brush number two. There will be more...

 

[Eeyore]

Boar or badger?

If you want boar, Vero brushes are very good, provided that you can find them over there (they're made in a Dutch factory that already makes all kinds of brushes for more than 100 years).

 

[AndroiDad75]

From what I understand of the AoS starter kit brush, almost anything will be an upgrade. What is your budget?

I would like to keep it under $100. Would feel really comfortable between$50 and$75, but can go up to $100 if that is what it takes.

 

[GA Gator]

At 35-43 (shipped) the 22 mm from vintage blades is a great value.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Player-in-the-Brush-Biz-Vintage-Blades-Brand

 

[patten1969]

The Golden Nib (TGN) all the way.

 

[NCJack]

I'd like to suggest a Semogue 1305, a quality boar with length enough for bowl lathering, good for harder soaps, and inexpensive. www.wetshavingproducts.com now has a boar with higher loft, and one of their badgers along with it would be under $100. I have one of their silvertips, very dense

 

[AndroiDad75]

At 35-43 (shipped) the 22 mm from vintage blades is a great value.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-Player-in-the-Brush-Biz-Vintage-Blades-Brand

Thanks for the link. I will take a look.

The Golden Nib (TGN) all the way.

What do you do? Do you buy a knot and then use someone else to create the brush? Or do they sell full brushes, and I just missed it?

I'd like to suggest a Semogue 1305, a quality boar with length enough for bowl lathering, good for harder soaps, and inexpensive. www.wetshavingproducts.com now has a boar with higher loft, and one of their badgers along with it would be under $100. I have one of their silvertips, very dense

Jack, which badger do you use? I guess it would be good to have a boar in the collection as well.

Keep 'em coming guys. I am making myself a pro/con document.

Would love to hear some good choices from Whipped Dog, Rooney, Kent, etc... for a 2nd brush.

Also, if you could give a reason as to why you suggest a particular brush, that would be great. For instance, I suggest "x" because it handles hard water, soaps and creams really wells. Has a nice backbone, but is still nice feeling for the face. That would be very helpful. Not that I don't mind the "you should get this" post, but the reason really helps me understand why you are saying that.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Mason_07]

I bowl lather as well. I recently picked up a Simpsons Duke 3 from another member here for $89. It's been a great brush so far and I am quite happy with it. The "3" size from what I read online made it a good candidate for bowl lathering since it was a bit taller than the other sizes. It makes a very nice lather and is a quality brush.

 

[NCJack]

My WSP is the "Prince" (or a like predecessor), 3Band with shortish loft, a sweet face lathererer, bit short for a bowl, but usable. As to feel, I don't see a lot of difference in boars and finest or best badgers: silvertips do feel some softer, but usually at the expense of backbone. I like some scrub in my brushes. At present, www.leesrazors.com is having a sale ($50) on the Semogue 2012 SOC LE badger/boar combo brush, and this is an excellent tool

 

[bassopotamus]

You've got a ton of options under 100.

First, I'd start at the BST forum. There are some great deals there (I just let a Simpson commodore go for probably too little money, given that it sold in 5 minutes). I've bought there before, and it was a good experience. Lots of shavers are picky, and what might not be their cup of tea might be yours.

Right now, One of my favorites is this
http://www.truefittandhill.com/detail_00276__19.html (although mine is white). Excellent for both face and bowl lather.

There are a number of Simpson brushes for under 100, although I would have to defer to others for which model.

For that money, you could also talk to Rudy Vey. I just ordered one of his brushes, and am pretty stoked. It came in on your budget, but that will vary by size, materials, etc. He was super helpful in the ordering process.

 

[AndroiDad75]

All this is wonderful information. I really do appreciate it everyone. Keep it coming

 

[Head Rigger]

The Semogue Owners Club boar (SOC) in either cherry or ash wood handle.

https://www.westcoastshaving.com/Se...istle-Shaving-Brush-Cherry-Handle_p_1513.html

I started with a badger as I'd read a lot about boar being scritchy. I won the SOC in a very generous PIF in February of this year and it really has become my favorite brush for performance. Soaps, creams, face, bowl, it doesn't matter, it's a great brush.

 

[Moondancer]

After being a dedicated badger user, I'm going to say give the Semogue SOC a shot. I absolutely love mine.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have the aforementioned SOC, a Rudy Vey two-band in a vintage butterscoth Klenzo, an Omega Silvertip 636, an Omega Mighty Midget mixed, and my original Rooney 3/1 in Pure. I have no "high-end" brushes for comparison.

 

[DrAwkward]

From what I understand of the AoS starter kit brush, almost anything will be an upgrade. What is your budget?

+1

I bought a Simpson's Best Commodore X2 and thought I had died and gone to heaven. Any of the low-end Simpsons will be similar. $70. Well worth every penny. Quality, do-it-all brush that does not cost $200.

http://thesuperiorshave.com/Simpsons_Brushes.html#X2

 

[studawg]

I was in a simar situation and I settled on a Simpsons Colonel 2XL in best badger. Phenomenal brush for the price, it can do it all. It's especially good at bowl lathering since it has a longer handle.

 

[dreadpirate]

Try a boar's hair brush; Semogue 830. They are much softer than you think; cost effective, but are scrubby enough to whip up a lather with hard water. In any case though, you are going to have to use more soap than most of us due to that hard water. I used a Rooney 1/2 silver tip for years and switched with no regrets.

EDIT: A lot of folks also like the Semogue SOC; probably a great choice as well.

 

[Mick]

$50-75 really is a tight number for a good bowl lathering brush (I mean a good one).

Commodore X3: http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Commodore-X3-Best-Badger-Shaving-Brush-X3B_p_768.html

sort of pops your budget by a couple bucks but you will be pleased with it.

 

[AndroiDad75]

$50-75 really is a tight number for a good bowl lathering brush (I mean a good one).

Commodore X3: http://www.westcoastshaving.com/Simpson-Commodore-X3-Best-Badger-Shaving-Brush-X3B_p_768.html

sort of pops your budget by a couple bucks but you will be pleased with it.

Thanks turtle. I could go up to $100, was just trying to stay in that range if at all possible. So what are the good aspects of the commodore? Does it do well with bowl lathering, soaps/creams? Does it have some backbone? If I ever move to face lathering, can it do that too, or would I need a brush specifically for that? Just trying to learn all I can.