Rooney 3/1 Pure or EJ Best

[cf1]

I've been searching through the posts and can't find any specific comparisons. Any help would be appreciated! Or links.

I am new to DE Wet shaving and have used a Tweezerman and it split in 8 uses. I am looking for something a bit better and durable. The feel and size was good - a bit softer would be nice but not necessary.

I am new and am currently bowl lathering and intend on using creams and soaps. It would be nice if it fit by the handle in my Brush stand which the Col Conk one - so it's 25mm or 1 inch wide.

I have been looking at the 3/1 Best or EJ Best Med both around $40 or so

I have seen alot of positive stuff on the 3/1 Super but am not sure if it is worth it ... or even the EJ Super or the Shavemac Finest. If there is that much of a difference I may pay more. Honestly, I'd like this to be my last brush ... or at least for a long time.

I am looking for the best bang for the buck. Any other suggestions are welcomed.

 

[Ignatius]

cf1,

Do you have any preferences for density? The 3/1 will have more of that than the EJ. If you're lathering creams in a bowl a lot perhaps a less dense brush?

As for whether the Super is worth it...it is if softness (of tips) is important to you.

Hopefully someone who has a Tweezerman and a Rooney or EJ best will post and let you know how their softness compares.

 

[cf1]

Thanks for the reply -

I am not sure if I need a less or more dense brush - since I am currently lathering in a bowl? Which one works better?

Softness isn't a big deal - could be comparable to the Tweez or a little bit softer. I've looked a bit more and can see ALOT of people like the Rooney Super but mention face lathering ...

 

[dreadpirate]

Rooney for sure. If you don't mind spending the money - the silver tip is real nice. And as dense as the Rooneys are, you will not find the silver tip too soft or floppy. The style 3 should be fine for bowl/mug/face shaving with soap or cream. Can't go wrong with Rooney.

 

[muskokabrian]

I'm kind of going through a similar debate. I'm using a boar brush now and fairly happy with it but would like a badger... thought the 3-1 in best was a good price (40 bucks) and don't really want to fork over twice that much for the super. The question is, how nice is the best and would I regret not getting the super? The EJ Best gets all kind's of kudo's, much for the price point, but little mention is made about the Rooney BB, it's always the silvertip.

For me, if the Rooney was as good as the reviews are of the EJ Best, I'd take it because I like the shape of the handle, the colour selection and the history of the company.

 

[andrew98]

I'm not the only one that will say this: Get the Rooney. Buy it today. Get it. Get it. Get it. You won't regret it. It works wonderfully for both bowl and face lathering, especially with the Style 3 handle. Rooney Super and EJ Best are light years apart, and yes, the Rooney is worth the extra bucks! You'll buy the EJ, wait a month, wish you'd bought the Rooney, then you'll buy the Rooney. Save yourself the time and, in the long run, money and just get the Rooney. It's the only brush you'll ever need (your AD will tell you otherwise one day, but it will be wrong).

Get the Rooney... today.

-Andy

 

[cf1]

Thanks

Any others out there that have both the EJ Best Medium or Roony 3/1 Pure that can comment on the differences and ability to bowl lather?

 

[andrew98]

Honestly, if you're looking to stay in the $30 to $40 range, I would suggest brushes other than the EJ BBB or Rooney Pure. That is, unless you're looking to buy a scratchy badger brush. Some guys like scratchy brushes. A Semogue 830 (boar), for instance, will be wonderful for bowl and face lathering creams and soaps, and it will be far softer than either the EJ or Rooney that you're considering. It also costs less.

-Andy

 

[richmondesi]

I feel qualified to comment on this thread

I have a Rooney 1/1 in Pure, a EJ BBB Medium, and a couple of Boar brushes (1305 Semogue and '09 LE Semogue)

I'd rate them Semoge LE, Rooney 1/1 Pure, EJ BBB, and 1305.

I really really like that little Rooney brush

 

[andrew98]

I feel qualified to comment on this thread

I have a Rooney 1/1 in Pure, a EJ BBB Medium, and a couple of Boar brushes (1305 Semogue and '09 LE Semogue)

I'd rate them Semoge LE, Rooney 1/1 Pure, EJ BBB, and 1305.

I really really like that little Rooney brush

I would expect the Rooney to have more backbone and be more densely packed than the BBB. Does the Rooney have softer tips than the BBB?

-Andy

 

[richmondesi]

I would expect the Rooney to have more backbone and be more dense than the BBB. Does the Rooney have softer tips than the BBB?

-Andy

Actually, yes and no... There are literally 2 or 3 really scritchy hairs but the rest are softer. When I showed it to a friend, he thought it was a 2 band finest brush. And, while he's a self-proclaimed brush snob (we're talking Rooney Finest/Plisson/Simpson 2 bands only), he said he could not bash that brush at all (although he admittedly probably couldn't embrace it). It's really a great value brush

 

[andrew98]

Actually, yes and no... There are literally 2 or 3 really scritchy hairs but the rest are softer. When I showed it to a friend, he thought it was a 2 band finest brush. And, while he's a self-proclaimed brush snob (we're talking Rooney Finest/Plisson/Simpson 2 bands only), he said he could not bash that brush at all (although he admittedly probably couldn't embrace it). It's really a great value brush

That's really interesting to hear. Thanks for the info, Paul. Sounds like the Rooney is the way to go.

-Andy

 

[openhelix]

I haven't seen many vendors selling Rooney online? Any favorite stores?

 

[richmondesi]

I haven't seen many vendors selling Rooney online? Any favorite stores?

the only vendor that I'm aware of that carries the Rooney Pure is Classicshaving.com

 

[muskokabrian]

I'm looking at a large EJ super now and wondering how they stack up. They are very reasonably priced and I like the shape of the handle. I recall some favourable comments about their super badgers before.. anyone have one?

 

[chrislols]

I was just going to make a thread asking this same question.

They're relatively in the same price range, so I'm wondering wether to get a EJ BBB, or a Rooney 3/1 Pure.

Which is better?!

 

[huntmol]

I personally would recommend that anyone looking at a $40 Rooney Pure save up a bit more and get the $75 Rooney Super. Even though it is more money, I think that the Rooney 3-1 in Super is one of the best value in shaving, and is such a great brush that it's definitely worth it.

 

[richmondesi]

I personally would recommend that anyone looking at a $40 Rooney Pure save up a bit more and get the $75 Rooney Super. Even though it is more money, I think that the Rooney 3-1 in Super is one of the best value in shaving, and is such a great brush that it's definitely worth it.

That's a fair point, but I didn't notice a significant enough difference in the pure and super to make that recommendation personally. I actually traded a 1/2 in Super for my Pure and some swag, and I'm extremely pleased with the transaction

 

[cf1]

Cool - so you had both the Rooney super, Rooney pure and the EJ. Did you bowl lather with creams and soaps? The Rooney isn't too dense for the bowl lathering?

If the RP is only a little softer as you say - it doesn't seem worth it to me at this point to get the R Super.

So it seems the Rooney pure 3/1 is the best bang for the buck?


Thanks for all the input - if there's more slap it up here.

That's a fair point, but I didn't notice a significant enough difference in the pure and super to make that recommendation personally. I actually traded a 1/2 in Super for my Pure and some swag, and I'm extremely pleased with the transaction

 

[richmondesi]

Cool - so you had both the Rooney super, Rooney pure and the EJ. Did you bowl lather with creams and soaps? The Rooney isn't too dense for the bowl lathering?

If the RP is only a little softer as you say - it doesn't seem worth it to me at this point to get the R Super.

So it seems the Rooney pure 3/1 is the best bang for the buck?


Thanks for all the input - if there's more slap it up here.

Mine is extremely dense (1/1) but it works great. I'd assume that the 3/1 would be better. From what I have read, Rooney's are not as consistent as we'd like so I really hate to say definitively Pure over Super (and to be safe I'd personally buy the super), but I would personally by the RP over the EJ
BBB.

All I'm saying is that my Rooney Pure brush is quite the value

EDIT: I bowl and face lather with soaps typically and CF creams on occasion