Redesigned Kent BK4?

[speedy123]

Hello,

I received a Kent BK4 for Christmas. I had read a lot of reviews about it here, so I was surprised when I first used it. Postings described it as almost floppy, and very soft tips. It is a lot stiffer than my Vulfix, probably in the range of my SR3122. Also, it's certainly not 'scratchy', but I wouldn't consider the tips being extra soft either. My wife bought it from Auravita - great price, sort of slow delivery - and I assume it's a newer model from the logo. It's the 'Kent' with the 'kb' dot to the left of the name, not the version usually shown with the somewhat oval border around the word 'Kent'. I really like it and it does a great job, but it's just not what I was expecting.

Another plus, that differs with some postings, is that there has been no hair loss.

Thoughts??

Speedy

 

[andrew98]

Photos?

-Andy

 

[Ignatius]

First thoughts; the bk4 IS quite a dense brush, it just has a tall loft and thus a different feel to the short lofted Rooneys that are all the rage. Seconds thoughts, its probaly the softest Silvertip I've used, so I'm a little surprised you didn't at least find it somewhat soft.

I'm also curious to see this brush.

 

[wizard]

I own the same brush as the O.P. I also bought mine from Auravita some months ago though. Same logo as described too. I find the tips on mine to be very soft. Not the softest of my brushes but it the second softest one! I only use mine for creams now as I have other brushes that I prefer for my soaps. I guess this all boils down to "YMMV"!
The brushes I use to compare with is my Rooney3/1, Simpsons Chubby 3, Shavemac D01, Shave Master, E&J BBB, Kingsley(My softest), A.O.S. Pure (This is as far away from soft as I think one could get!) & Omega boar brush.
I bought my Kent BK4 from reading all the reviews here & I still enjoy it in my current rotation. I hope you will enjoy yours as much as I do mine...

 

[speedy123]

Hi,

This isn't mine, but it's a good shot of the BK4 I received.

Speedy

 

[Aaron01]

Hi,

This isn't mine, but it's a good shot of the BK4 I received.

Speedy

Looks just like mine, which is rather floppy compared to my hoffritz chubby in finest and simpsons duke3 in best (not shaved with)

 

[speedy123]

I don't want to go on forever about this, but after every posting I read about a BK4, I'm convinced I received a BK2 - or at least a production glitch BK4. I know that sounds crazy, and the sticker on the bottom of the brush says BK4, but NONE of my brush's attributes match any of the B&B postings. But they do match the ones for a BK2. I have several brushes from several manufacturers and I've been using a brush for years so I'm familiar with the descriptions in the postings. My BK4 has absolutely no floppyness (is that a word?) and it's not especailly soft. It's not 80 grit sandpaper, but there is a 'scritchiness' when I'm applying lather. From the postings, I expected something closer to my Vulfix 2234, not my AOS best badger.

 

[Ignatius]

I don't want to go on forever about this, but after every posting I read about a BK4, I'm convinced I received a BK2 - or at least a production glitch BK4. I know that sounds crazy, and the sticker on the bottom of the brush says BK4, but NONE of my brush's attributes match and of the B&B postings. But they do match the ones for a BK2. I have several brushes from several manufacturers and I've been using a brush for years so I'm familiar with the descriptions in the postings. My BK4 has absolutely no floppyness (is that a word?) and it's not especailly soft. It's not 80 grit sandpaper, but there is a 'scritchiness' when I'm applying lather. From the postings, I expected something closer to my Vulfix 2234, not my AOS best badger.

Speedy,

Visually, the hair of the bk4 and bk2 are not THAT similar, so if you can upload a decent quality pic I'm sure one of the chaps here will be able to confirm or deny your suspicions quite quickly. Good luck and enjoy that bk4(?)

 

[dchasef]

Speedy,

Visually, the hair of the bk4 and bk2 are not THAT similar, so if you can upload a decent quality pic I'm sure one of the chaps here will be able to confirm or deny your suspicions quite quickly. Good luck and enjoy that bk4(?)

I agree. I purchased BK2's for my groomsmen in my upcoming wedding, and the pure badger hairs that are mixed in are quite obvious. You are the first person that I have ever heard complain about the softness of the BK4, so it makes me wonder if you simply got a bad brush. Pics would definitely help!

Good luck,
Chase

 

[speedy123]

Thanks guys. That's a good idea to post a shot of my brush. I was at work when I sent the one off of the net - just out of convinience. At that time, I was mainly thinking about the difference in the labeling, not a hair difference. I'll take a real one tonight and upload it.

Mike

 

[speedy123]

Hi,

Here is a shot of my brush 'panel'. My BK4 - not sure about the hair, SR3122 silvertip, and Vulfix 2234 super badger.

Mike

 

[Dr Jekyll]

I got my BK4 and Vulfix 2234 in December. My BK4 is very soft and floppy. The 2234 is a much better brush for face lathering. Here are photos of the brushes:

 

[wizard]

Hi,

My BK4 - not sure about the hair, SR3122 silvertip, and Vulfix 2234 super badger.

Mike

Wow that is so weird! I was also wondering if it was a BK2 but It looks like a normal BK4 to me? I've used mine the last 2 days so mine shows a large bloom in my pic. I see a lot posts of people getting rid of their BK4 after getting one but it is always for the opposite reason. Foppy & no back bone.
Your other brushes sure are nice! I really like your SR 3122 that's a sweet brush

 

[speedy123]

Hey Wizard,

NICE avatar!

Thanks, my SR is probably the brush I would take to the deserted island with me, but I enjoy all of them. As you know, they all have 'personalities'. Wow! You have a nice collection. Really neat handles. The BK4 hair isn't as light as my SR silvertip, and possibly less that Dr. Jekyll's too, but I'm sure there are enough natural variations to make identification based solely on color sort of tough. Whatever the case, I like my BK? a lot - LOL. I bought mine from Auravita. Has anyone else bought a Kent from them?

One more observation. Your BK4 bloom is quite a bit different from mine. Probably not significant, I just noticed it.

Mike

 

[wizard]

Ha Ha You beat me to the avatar comment Mike!
Those SR do have soft tips, Very, very nice.
I bought my BK4 from Auravita in March I think it took about 5 or 6 weeks to receive it. There was a thread here & a lot of people were buying them because of their prices. So I had to get one too.
Yea don't let that bloom fool ya! I wasn't really clear in my last post but I used it this morning & it was still wet (about 2 hrs.) when I took the picture. Your thread enticed me to use it the last 2 days.

 

[speedy123]

Hey Wiz,

Good things DO come out of these posts! Glad I could help - :^)

Mike

 

[Montecristo #2]

a little off topic, but I just mailed my BK4 back to Kent, because it was shedding. I haven't heard back from them yet, but their Customer Service seemed great and they were VERY appologetic. Has anyone else had an issue with this brush?

 

[dpmtherrien]

I've had my BK4 for about 9 months now. No problems at all with it, very nice brush.

 

[speedy123]

I haven't lost a single hair in about a month of use, but I'm still convinced that I have a BK2 with a BK4 sticker. Sounds crazy, I know, but all of the B&B postings describing the characteristics of each brush lead me to believe that. I'm still wondering what a really soft, a little floppy, lathering machine BK4 would be like.

 

[Montecristo #2]

Came home today and found a brand new BK4 in my mail box. What a stand up company Kent is!!