Rooney 3/1

[Toucan]

I'm considering buying this.
Is it better to face lather with this or bowl lather with this?

Also, how does the Rooney 3/1 Super Silvertip compare with the Shave Mac in finest.
And what about the Kent BK8 or BK4? Simpson? Semogue?

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

It's a super soft pillow of a brush. Not floppy, just luxurious. I prefer it more for creams than soaps. Can't give you any comparisons with those others you listed.

 

[jazzguy]

It is a rather small brush to bowl lather with though it could be done. The super badger hair is very soft. I don't bowl lather but those who do seem to like the Kent brushes.

 

[tezza]

I have the 1/1 and yes, as Dirk said, it's a pillow soft knot, like heaven on your face but not floppy. I face lather with mine but have also used it for bowl lathering too. the 3/1 has a longer handle and I think a similar loft if not the same. longer handle though so it would be easier to bowl lather in a deeper bowl or cup but you could use it for both, regardless. I have 3 other brushes - 2 small bulbs - a Simpson tulip 22mm and a TGN finest 20mm I'm currently using to bowl lather, and a 24 mm rooney 1/2 fan, i use to as an all rounder. (I find the 24mm quite big in comparison to the others.) the small rooney is a lot more luxurious than my others which have different degrees of density softness, and scrub. If you want scrub than the 3/1 is not for you, otherwise, I say go for it - you'll look forward to using it every day and it will be a good all rounder. You'll be very happy, I'm sure.

 

[Mick]

It should be versatile enough to bowl and face lather.

Rooney makes a very good brush

 

[Kevan]

The Rooney 3/1 in Super was my first "good" brush. It's still one of the best brushes you can buy for the price. It's small but not too small. It's versatile. Perfect for face lathering. Back in the day, Rooney size 1's were regularly recommended for face latherers; now for some reason they are considered borderline floppy by the guys who want super-dense and spiky 42mm finest knots for a face scrub. It's not really true though. The 44mm loft on the Rooney is perfect for the task and very versatile for creams or soaps. For $80 you can't do much better in terms of badger with similar specs, UNLESS you get a custom job or one of the Vintage Blades Finest badger brushes (finest hair is like broken-in boar hair since it has backbone and softness when wet).

Rooney Super hair is better than Simpson Best. Semogue boars are awesome, but of course are different than any badger you will be looking at. The only consideration I think you might be concerned about is the small loft on the Rooney 3/1. But for what it's worth, I used one almost exclusively for a year and a half and loved it. I have brushes I like better, but again, it depends on what you're looking for in terms of face feel. Rooneys "mushroom" out a lot. It feels like a wet mop scrubbing your face. Not floppy at all but they don't have the backbone some guys like.

Rooneys aren't like other brushes. If you don't get one you might kick yourself later. The hair tips hook as they break in, resulting in a Finest-like "gel" sensation. Unless you specifically prefer bulb knots, the 22/44 fan should be perfect.

 

[lt114]

The 3/1 is perfect for face lathering for me. I use it with hard soaps, croaps, and creams and I've yet to find a soap yet that it couldn't handle.

 

[bkflyfisher]

See my post which includes the Rooney 3/1 here

I've been rotating through these 4 brushes(Rooney 1/1, 3/1 Simpsons Colonel and Duke 2) comparing them and for the most part I agree with whats been posted above as well as my initial thoughts in my post.
The 3/1 is the softest of the bunch and has a wide bloom and doesn't have the dense scrubbiness of the Simpsons. Not necessarily a bad thing, just a different experience. Is incredibly soft for face lathering (I haven't bowl lathered with it yet). Between the 1/1 and the 3/1 I think I'm preferring the 1/1, mainly because of handle shape and prefer the knot variation on this particular 1/1 which has a little more backbone. Of these 4 brushes for me personally the Duke 2 probably gives me the most "wow factor" when using - one of the best face latherers I've used so far, and the one I would be most hard pressed to give up if forced to keep only one. Thankfully I don't have to make that decision any time soon

 

[Kevan]

Yeah the Duke 2 is one Simpson I have been wanting to try for ages, but it's presently more expensive than the Rooney size 1, even if it is comparable specs-wise. Simpsons are more dense for sure, but is it worth the extra $13? Especially considering that the next size up in Rooney is only a little more than a Duke 2 (yet is still more expensive than a Commodore X3, a directly comparable brush to a Rooney size 2).

 

[Danricgro]

Yeah the Duke 2 is one Simpson I have been wanting to try for ages, but it's presently more expensive than the Rooney size 1, even if it is comparable specs-wise. Simpsons are more dense for sure, but is it worth the extra $13? Especially considering that the next size up in Rooney is only a little more than a Duke 2 (yet is still more expensive than a Commodore X3, a directly comparable brush to a Rooney size 2).

Depends on what you like in a brush. I had a Duke 2 in best and gave it to my nephew. Way too scritchy for me. I also have a Chubby 2 in best and I like it a lot. Not much scritch in the Chubby at all.

 

[Kevan]

Depends on what you like in a brush. I had a Duke 2 in best and gave it to my nephew. Way too scritchy for me. I also have a Chubby 2 in best and I like it a lot. Not much scritch in the Chubby at all.

Yes, typical Simpson unfortunately. The "Best" grade is a box of chocolates.

 

[ChiefBroom]

The 3/1 was my first good badger hair brush too. I exclusively bowl lathered with it for several months, and when I finally started buying other brushes, it wasn't because the 3/1 left me wanting in any respect.

It's a terrific brush for the price.

 

[Oscroft]

I'm another lover of the Rooney 3/1 - I have it in silvertip, best and pure, so I have different degrees of softness/scrub to suit my mood.

I have a Simpson Duke 2 in best, and though it is very good, I prefer the Rooney. The Duke is denser, but the Rooney lathers easier and feels better on my face.

The only Semogue badger I have is the SOC 2-band, and it's not really comparable - the 2-band hair is much firmer. I've heard people say other Semogue badger brushes are a bit floppy.

 

[ChiefBroom]

The Pooney is a 3/1.