Shavemac or Rooney or Kent???

[Raffaele]

I have an anonymous brush of pure badger. Knot 23 loft 48 and handle 45.
I use it for soaps and creams, foam cup.
Now, I want to buy a new brush: larger (I have big hands) more luxurious, soft but not floppy, especially for use with the foam cup cream, but also on the face.
I am very undecided between the following models:
Shavemac traditional line (serie 102) knot 26
Rooney 3 / 2
Kent BK8
They are all in silver tip, they are all luxurious, but I'm very indecisive!
What do you think?


P.S. I apologize for my bad English I hope you understand.

 

[infotech]

Shavemac. I have a 23mm Silvertip that is soft, but not floppy and quickly made its way to my number one brush.

 

[Bulldawg]

I have an anonymous brush of pure badger. Knot 23 loft 48 and handle 45.
I use it for soaps and creams, foam cup.
Now, I want to buy a new brush: larger (I have big hands) more luxurious, soft but not floppy, especially for use with the foam cup cream, but also on the face.
I am very undecided between the following models:
Shavemac traditional line (serie 102) knot 26
Rooney 3 / 2
Kent BK8
They are all in silver tip, they are all luxurious, but I'm very indecisive!
What do you think?


P.S. I apologize for my bad English I hope you understand.

I think you just described a Savile Row Silvertip

 

[Raffaele]

I think you just described a Savile Row Silvertip

yes but where can I find Savile row in Europe?
I have not found any vendor that sells

 

[Bulldawg]

yes but where can I find Savile row in Europe?
I have not found any vendor that sells

Good point...I didn't even pick up on that I've tried Rooney and Shavemac and both are excellent brushes. Good luck

 

[andrew98]

The Kent will probably be on the floppy side. I recommend a Shavemac or Rooney. I favor Shavemacs, but a Rooney would be great too. You can get a bigger Shavemac for the money, if you're thinking about a 23mm knot or larger. I would also recommend Shavemac's Finest grade of hair. It's amazing and can save you a lot of money.

-Andy

 

[Raffaele]

Andy, thanks for the suggestion (nice your review about D01 vs finest!)

Well, the candidates for my next brush are:

1 - Shavemac (silvertip or finest?): 2 votes
2 - Rooney 3 / 2: 0 votes
3 - Kent BK8: 0 votes

Please, vote and suggestion me!

 

[ScottVTS]

I've got the Kent BK8, works very well with either soap or creams, makes a great lather. Its a nice big brush, I've had it a long time, hasn't fallen apart! I know sometimes Rooney's can have a problem!

Never used a Shavemac so I can't compare the two!

 

[kooshman7]

I think I frequent the brushes board a bit much maybe.

Okay for my vote:

Shavemac!

I have a Shavemac with the same handle you were considering for the shavemac, and I can say that I love that handle. Very good grip to it. I think it'd be cool if they made some taller handles especially for those with big hands. It's a very nice handle design!

I would choose silvertip for the hair type. Nothing against finest, I just havent tried it. I have two Shavemacs, a custom 45mm D01 hair Shavemac, and a standard Shavemac 177 which has the silvertip. I gravitate to brushes that are densely packed, and strong backbone. Now this isn't like my custom Shavemac, but I like to have this also. There is something when I use it it just screams luxurious. Pretty happy medium for me for that something different than the same old thing again brush.

You can e-mail the owner at Shavemac and ask questions I hear and he will be very helpful in helping to find that brush just right for you. Get the bristle length just right, handle you want, hair type, all the good stuff. But my vote go with a Shavemac, and shoot him an email and talk it over. Oh and make sure you consider the bloom on the brush you get. That can be a bit tricky. Best is see if you can get picks of the same brush you want compared to what you have or compared to something similar to what you have. Best of luck Raffaele!

 

[English]

I have tried many brushes, but silver tip is naturally floppy.

Brown (best) and black badger hair tends to be springy and not as luxuriously tipped and not as floppy.

High mountain and Finest or the black banded badger hair with the true silver tips is springy and a bit spikey.

Shavemac I believe use a cone in the brush head construction which gives a rigidity to the silver tip hair. From all the reviews I have read, it works and they have a good reputation.

If you want the least floppy, I would go for the Shavemac.

 

[SRock]

I own one of each so I'll give one vote to each. You can't go wrong with any of these three.

 

[deshaveman]

yes but where can I find Savile row in Europe?
I have not found any vendor that sells

Rumor has it that the Savile Row brushes are made by Shavemac.

I vote Shavemac, D01 hair if you want to spring for it.

 

[Raffaele]

Thank you all!
As I thought, the winner is .... Shavemac!
... but which one? finest, silvertip or D01? and to what size for my hand ?
I think I follow the suggestion of Kooshman7 and I will write to shavemac.

Thanks again to everyone and if you want to continue to recommend!

 

[kooshman7]

Post when you get that new brush!

 

[SRock]

Thank you all!
As I thought, the winner is .... Shavemac!
... but which one? finest, silvertip or D01? and to what size for my hand ?
I think I follow the suggestion of Kooshman7 and I will write to shavemac.

Thanks again to everyone and if you want to continue to recommend!

I have a Shavemac in Silvertip and another in D01. I think D01 really amounts to nothing much more than bragging rights, or perceived bragging rights. My Silvertip is just as nice/functional as my D01.

Personally I would say if you are going to go with Shavemac go with Silvertip. knot size is totally your preference, but I would recommend a shorter loft to ensure adequate backbone so that your new Shavemac will perform with both soaps and creams. If your loft is too high it may be a little floppy when you are trying to load/lather soaps.

Be sure to let us know what you decided and post pics once it arrives!

 

[Raffaele]

Post when you get that new brush!

Of course



SlagleRock: In your opinion, is a 60mm loft(silver tip) acceptable for soap too?

 

[SRock]

Of course



SlagleRock: In your opinion, is a 60mm loft(silver tip) acceptable for soap too?

In my opinion (and only my opinion) and in reference to Shavemac 60mm is about as long as I'd be willing to go and still hope to get good results with soaps (especially harder soaps). I think 50mm is about a perfect loft for a soap brush. 21mm knot x 50mm loft would make for a fantastic soap brush. The shorter loft would give it a great backbone. However the bigger the knot the longer you can afford the loft to be. For example if you go with a 23mm knot or larger you'd probably still be OK with a 60mm loft but I think much more than that would be pushing it and you may end up with a brush that would be relegated to cream primarily.

The 2008 B&B LE is a 20.5mm x 48mm if memory serves me and it is an amazingly soft yet rigid (great backbone) soap brush and still works well for creams. One of the best I own.

Also, the Shavemac 585 (Silvertip) below is another favorite of mine. It is a 20mm x 55mm and also works fantastically.

 

[kooshman7]

I would agree at the 23mm knot you wouldn't want to go past 60mm. That's the loft on my 23mm knot, and it's very close to where I might not want to use it for soaps. Takes longer but can be done. If I could reduce the loft I would put it at 57mm. 55 seems a bit too short for me. Part of that luxurious feel I like to this comes from it being a bit longer in loft and a great balance of density.

I was looking at the serie 102 that you mentioned and if you click on that picture of the brush there's an image, second one to the right that you can view the brushes with a chart under it from 30mm to 18mm and you can get the loft of the brushes.

The 23mm knot has a 56mm loft, and the 26mm knot has a 59mm loft. I think that they have a great balance there and all their other brushes. Whatever you do get Raffaele I'm sure that you're going to be happy. Going to have to use my 177 for my next shave for all my thinking I'm doing about it.

I got this brush on sale when Vintage Blades were clearing their stock out, and this brush was a huge bargain, nay I say a steal, at the price I got it at! One brush I will always keep. When I'm thinking of a luxurious shave this one always comes to mind first.

 

[Raffaele]

... I am very undecided between the following models:
Shavemac traditional line (serie 102) knot 26
Rooney 3 / 2
Kent BK8
They are all in silver tip, they are all luxurious, but I'm very indecisive!
What do you think?


P.S. I apologize for my bad English I hope you understand.

SlagleRock & kooshman7: Great comments!

So you confirmed to me my first choice (unconscious) that is Shavemac 102
26mm knot
51mm handle
59mm loft (silvertip)

I think it seems the best compromise between luxury and functionality.
Anyway I will use this brush especially for soft soaps and creams (80% of the time)

However, now I have written to shavemac and I await your reply after the holidays.

 

[professorchaos]

One of each. Seriously.