I have been letting my BAD go wild the last few months, and I have acquired a decent collection of brushes, from the less expensive starters I picked up about a year ago when I first got into this hobby, to a couple of more recent pricier additions.
What I have so far is:
EJ Best Badger --(1ej947sds) ---don't know loft/knot but bigger then the duke 2
Parker 100% Silvertip Badger from Amazon (also don't know knot/loft, but must be around 25, biggest of my collection)
Semogue 620 Boar -- (21mm knot, 50mm loft)
Simpsons Duke 2 -- (21mm knot, 46mm loft)
Thater 49125/0 -- (22mm knot, 50mm loft)
Muhle 31k256 fiber --- (synthetic) (21mm knot, 52mm loft)
Left to right: Parker, EJ, Muhle, Semogue, Thater, Duke
I also have a few tiny AoS brushes given to me as gifts which I use for travel and gym, and which I like a lot.
I am not picky when it comes to brushes, I guess, because I really like all of these. Most of the newer, fancier ones are in the 21-22mm knot region, because I have been into face lathering lately, and I prefer this size -- although any brush works for me for face lathering. Also, I haven't had an issue with soaps, even with the bigger floppier Parker and EJ brushes-- they load fine.
I would like to round out my collection with a nice, high-end, big (but not giant) bowl latherer. I was thinking maybe the Kent BK8, but I have read complaints that it is floppy, and not too dense. Maybe that is good, I don't know. My Parker is actually a pretty nice brush, despite it's humble brand, and is super silky soft. However, it eats up soap, and flow through is meh. Also, it is not really that dense, so I don't know what causes it to retain the soap. Having said all that, it's still a fun brush to use, makes a great lather, and feels great on my face. But it was my 2nd starter (for me) brush, so I want to update it. My other starter is the EJ, which does a great job, but is not as much fun as the the Duke, Thater, Muhle or Semogue. The Muhle is amazing, btw-- super soft, loads up easy with every soap I have tried (MWF, AoS, Colonel Conk, Proraso), and the tips are really soft-- softer even then the Thater. However, although they get the job done, none of these are stellar at bowl lathering, at least in the giant lady bird scuttle I use. The best of the lot is the Parker, I think because of the know size.
So I'd love to hear recommendations for a decent sized, nice bowl latherer. Nothing crazy, don't want to spend $500 bucks on a brush, but a hundred, maybe two hundred if it is a super duper brush. Everything I have so far was under a hundred retail, except the Thater (which was worth it).
Btw, on a different topic (hijacking my own thread-- I'm allowed)-- I love the Semogue boar brush-- don't see too much about the 620 on the forums, but it is very stiff in terms of backbone, but plenty soft on the face when soaked and loaded. Great for face lathering, in my experience (which is not that much, but had about 10 shaves with it-- took about 3 or 4 to break in for me, maybe it'll get even better).
Thanks, and Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's! (I got a homemade breakfast of french toast with a banana cream topping, and a new Japanese maple tree in the front yard for Father's Day, yeehah!)
What I have so far is:
EJ Best Badger --(1ej947sds) ---don't know loft/knot but bigger then the duke 2
Parker 100% Silvertip Badger from Amazon (also don't know knot/loft, but must be around 25, biggest of my collection)
Semogue 620 Boar -- (21mm knot, 50mm loft)
Simpsons Duke 2 -- (21mm knot, 46mm loft)
Thater 49125/0 -- (22mm knot, 50mm loft)
Muhle 31k256 fiber --- (synthetic) (21mm knot, 52mm loft)
Left to right: Parker, EJ, Muhle, Semogue, Thater, Duke
I also have a few tiny AoS brushes given to me as gifts which I use for travel and gym, and which I like a lot.
I am not picky when it comes to brushes, I guess, because I really like all of these. Most of the newer, fancier ones are in the 21-22mm knot region, because I have been into face lathering lately, and I prefer this size -- although any brush works for me for face lathering. Also, I haven't had an issue with soaps, even with the bigger floppier Parker and EJ brushes-- they load fine.
I would like to round out my collection with a nice, high-end, big (but not giant) bowl latherer. I was thinking maybe the Kent BK8, but I have read complaints that it is floppy, and not too dense. Maybe that is good, I don't know. My Parker is actually a pretty nice brush, despite it's humble brand, and is super silky soft. However, it eats up soap, and flow through is meh. Also, it is not really that dense, so I don't know what causes it to retain the soap. Having said all that, it's still a fun brush to use, makes a great lather, and feels great on my face. But it was my 2nd starter (for me) brush, so I want to update it. My other starter is the EJ, which does a great job, but is not as much fun as the the Duke, Thater, Muhle or Semogue. The Muhle is amazing, btw-- super soft, loads up easy with every soap I have tried (MWF, AoS, Colonel Conk, Proraso), and the tips are really soft-- softer even then the Thater. However, although they get the job done, none of these are stellar at bowl lathering, at least in the giant lady bird scuttle I use. The best of the lot is the Parker, I think because of the know size.
So I'd love to hear recommendations for a decent sized, nice bowl latherer. Nothing crazy, don't want to spend $500 bucks on a brush, but a hundred, maybe two hundred if it is a super duper brush. Everything I have so far was under a hundred retail, except the Thater (which was worth it).
Btw, on a different topic (hijacking my own thread-- I'm allowed)-- I love the Semogue boar brush-- don't see too much about the 620 on the forums, but it is very stiff in terms of backbone, but plenty soft on the face when soaked and loaded. Great for face lathering, in my experience (which is not that much, but had about 10 shaves with it-- took about 3 or 4 to break in for me, maybe it'll get even better).
Thanks, and Happy Father's Day to all you Dad's! (I got a homemade breakfast of french toast with a banana cream topping, and a new Japanese maple tree in the front yard for Father's Day, yeehah!)
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