Rooney 1/2 vs. Shavemac 23mm

[slather]

Rooney 1/2 vs. Shavemac 23mm, both in Silvertip

The Rooney 1/2 has a 24mm knot and I'm concerned of the size when it blooms. I used a Shavemac 23mm and find it borderline big, not sure if the Rooney will feel smaller or bigger when bloomed.

Could someone who used or uses both please compare the two in terms of stiffness, size when bloomed, harshness (or lack of) on the skin, lathering power, etc.?

 

[AFG]

Both soft but the Rooney fan shaped knot will bloom larger than the Shavemac bulb shape and probably feel like a larger brush. The bulb shape is likely to have more backbone. I've had each but its been some time ago. That's the way I remember them though. If you find the Shavemac borderline large the Rooney will likely feel even larger to you.

 

[slather]

Any other thoughts on the topic? Maybe this thread fits better in the "Brush Wars" sub-forum.

 

[rm71]

I've just bought a Penworks finest in a 22mm knot. It bloomed beautifully. Nice soft bristles with good backbone. It lathers creams with ease. I have yet to try it with soaps, but my suspicion is that is will do a fine job of that as well. Tony's brushes perform just as well as brushes 2 or 3 times the price IMO.

 

[pezdaddy]

I've just bought a Penworks finest in a 22mm knot. It bloomed beautifully. Nice soft bristles with good backbone. It lathers creams with ease. I have yet to try it with soaps, but my suspicion is that is will do a fine job of that as well. Tony's brushes perform just as well as brushes 2 or 3 times the price IMO.

Do you mind if I ask which one you got? I'm looking at the Penworks brushes but am having a hard time deciding.

 

[Bertilak]

Rooney 1/2 vs. Shavemac 23mm, both in Silvertip

I've had both of those brushes, assuming the Rooney in consideration is the "Super". The Rooney was a bit firmer feeling.

I ended up selling both and going for the smaller Rooney 1/1 Super and find that to be just about perfect for me.

 

[rm71]

Do you mind if I ask which one you got? I'm looking at the Penworks brushes but am having a hard time deciding.

This one ( FB2-22mm Finest cream on the website). BTW this is what Tony recommened when I asked for a good soaps/creams brush. Hope it helps.

 

[slather]

I ended up selling both and going for the smaller Rooney 1/1 Super and find that to be just about perfect for me.

I tried my Rooney 1/1 Super for the first time this morning. Great brush. I'm afraid I also prefer the smaller size. I thought bigger was better when I first started DE shaving and ended up with a 26mm brush - felt like I had the whole badger against my face! 23mm still feels a little too large.

I'll give the Rooney 1/2 a try, if it is not for me, then I'm sure it will find a loving home on B/S/T.

 

[pezdaddy]

This one ( FB2-22mm Finest cream on the website). BTW this is what Tony recommened when I asked for a good soaps/creams brush. Hope it helps.

Yep, it does, thanks. That is one that I was considering, and if you say it works equally well for soaps and creams, I'm almost sold on it.

 

[sanfranciscian]

i just got that exact penwork brush today and cant rave enough about it, i used it with soap and it was excellent, i do bowl lather and ditto on soft and plush! but great backbone, like you needed more choices sorry.

 

[strat1117]

I own and use both. The Rooney is perfect for hard soaps, the shavemac for creams. IMO, they are ideal complements for one another. I do not find that the Rooney shaves "bigger" than the shavemac. The shavemac is much softer, which is why it lends itself better to creams. The Rooney is denser and has more backbone (without any scratchiness), which is why it is so well-suited to soaps.

Enjoy!

 

[johsa]

I had the same questing before and bought the Rooney and a couple of weeks ago I also bought the Shavemac.

The Rooney is much denser and is the better soap brush of the two. If you primarily use cream or want this brush as a creme brush the Shavemac is excellent.

So I would go for the Rooney, but if you want two brushes both are excellent.