I recently got a Shavemac with the DO1 knot. The backbone isn't a problem, but I do find it is too scritchy scratchy for me (moreso than boar). I'm wondering if anyone who owns both the DO1 and the regular 2 band can comment on how much softer the 2 band is? So far I'm leaning on solely switching to synthetics, and I'm not sure if it's worth it to spend so much again on another badger? I've heard that some badger knots are treated with gel tips? Not sure if I remember which brands... maybe SV, Declaration Grooming? That might be a path to explore?
Should I try Shavemac again?
- Thread starter taiga
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I can only vouch for the 2 band but mine has zero scritch.
I have nearly all their grades and never experienced any scritch. The regular 2Band is definitely a crowd pleaser and very versatile. What dimensions are you looking for and do you bowl or face lather?
My latest purchases were all fans and not overly large (24mm max.).
My latest purchases were all fans and not overly large (24mm max.).
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- #4
I have the 24mm DO1. Great size, I prefer smaller sizes now. I only face lather nowadays.
So I would go with a 22mm Fan. Bernd is usually going by a 2:1 ratio which should be fine for the 2Band. I haven’t checked the site since he closed the configurator.
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- #6
Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for this combo. I'm disappointed in myself that I didn't get into Shavemac before they closed the configurator.
Don’t wonder if you see a 22/46 or even 22/48 dimension. Bernd is measuring the knot size form the bottom part but the visible part when exiting the handle is already a 1mm or 2 wider and this is where the 2:1 ratio counts.
Not usual for a Shavemac at all.
My new Shavemac 2band ST was significantly rougher on my face than my broken in manchurians and my last couple of fancy hand me downs (purchased with ninja speed on the BST
) from @SgtCrppls. They do break in after a while and are wonderful brushes. I might not use it daily however I tried to hand lather that brush a few extra times a week with a day rest minimum. Great brush.
) from @SgtCrppls. They do break in after a while and are wonderful brushes. I might not use it daily however I tried to hand lather that brush a few extra times a week with a day rest minimum. Great brush.
I have a D01, a regular 2 band, and a silvertip from Shavemac. I find the D01 has the most backbone, but nothing I would call scratch, the tips are still very soft. I'm not into splaying a brush onto my face, however, so that might have some effect on the feel.
There was a thread a while back where folks were saying they don't soak their badger brushes. IMHO, that's just silliness. The badger hairs won't be their softest unless fully soaked. This goes for a boar as well. And with a boar, the split ends are likely to break off when the hair is dry and brittle. So hopefully you're soaking your brush.
Having said that, I'm not that familiar with badger knots, especially high-end badger knots. But it just so happens I have two Shavemac 2-band silvertip 24mm bulb knots. One a D0-1 and the other regular (D0-1 on the left). And both set at the same loft, 52mm.
While painting, I can sometimes feel a random hair poke me with either brush. But not to the point that it annoys me.
The D0-1 is the softer of the two. But it's different -- it's more laser focused. The extra density may just exaggerate the focused softness when splaying. ... I don't splay much, just enough to generate the lather.
The regular is soft but does not feel so centralized.
Both knots are lathering machines. They don't just make lather, they make perfect lather. They both have leveled up my lathering experience.
But here's where one is better than the other. They both have great flow through. But the D0-1 flings lather everywhere, while the regular holds on to the lather.
If I were to get another Shavemac, it would be another regular 2-band silvertip bulb. But considering how much lather the one I have makes. I may consider getting one smaller, like a 22mm.
Having said that, I'm not that familiar with badger knots, especially high-end badger knots. But it just so happens I have two Shavemac 2-band silvertip 24mm bulb knots. One a D0-1 and the other regular (D0-1 on the left). And both set at the same loft, 52mm.
While painting, I can sometimes feel a random hair poke me with either brush. But not to the point that it annoys me.
The D0-1 is the softer of the two. But it's different -- it's more laser focused. The extra density may just exaggerate the focused softness when splaying. ... I don't splay much, just enough to generate the lather.
The regular is soft but does not feel so centralized.
Both knots are lathering machines. They don't just make lather, they make perfect lather. They both have leveled up my lathering experience.
But here's where one is better than the other. They both have great flow through. But the D0-1 flings lather everywhere, while the regular holds on to the lather.
If I were to get another Shavemac, it would be another regular 2-band silvertip bulb. But considering how much lather the one I have makes. I may consider getting one smaller, like a 22mm.
I have read that the DO1 (3band) do have a tendency to be scratchy, but break in over time. I have five 2band and four DO1 2band Shavemacs with the softest tips and great backbone. FWIW I only face lather using swirling and paint brush strokes.
I have noticed some breaking in when using these brushes early on.
I have noticed some breaking in when using these brushes early on.
I found that for face lathering the Shavemac was to rough for my skin, probably if I was only using it once every 4 shaves it would have been fine.My new Shavemac 2band ST was significantly rougher on my face than my broken in manchurians and my last couple of fancy hand me downs (purchased with ninja speed on the BST
If you are willing to spend $240.00 I would have Rudy make you a handle and use Londshaving’s knotting service
I have a few regular two bands and one two band DO1 made right before the configurator closed. On Rudy's advice since I wanted a DO1 in bulb 24 he suggested a loft of no less than 54 which was higher than Bernd offers I had to email him to let him know what I wanted. Now to scritch. I have a Beagle in fan that is regular two band that I find slightly scritchy. I bought it used and have not used it much as right after buying it I got my DO1. The Do1 I use face lathering only. It is a bulb and I do both swirling and painting strokes. At first there was some scritch, but, I use it often and towel strop it every time I am done with it. Painting it is very soft. Swirling it is getting there. It kind of depends on my lather. I use it mostly with old Valobra Czech and Speake and the lather is slick thick and creamy. The more I use it the better it gets. Now if you want a DO1 I would go through Rudy and talk to him about loft. I hope this helps.
I have several Shavemac brushes/knots with different configurations. My experience is as follows.
- D01 2-Band: extreme backbone and moderate scritch, even after 40+ uses.
- 2-Band: mid to high backbone with soft tips and no scritch; my favorite.
I would place Simpson Manchurian between Shavemac D01 2-Band and 2-Band regarding both backbone and scritch.
- D01 3-Band: good backbone and soft tips; no scritch.
Reminds me of a dense Simpson Super.
- 3-Band: low backbone (not floppy though) and very soft tips.
Since I read different reports on Shavemac D01 2-Band regarding softness of tips and presence of scritch, I'm wondering if this is just a matter of YMMV or there are also some differences between batches?
- D01 2-Band: extreme backbone and moderate scritch, even after 40+ uses.
- 2-Band: mid to high backbone with soft tips and no scritch; my favorite.
I would place Simpson Manchurian between Shavemac D01 2-Band and 2-Band regarding both backbone and scritch.
- D01 3-Band: good backbone and soft tips; no scritch.
Reminds me of a dense Simpson Super.
- 3-Band: low backbone (not floppy though) and very soft tips.
Since I read different reports on Shavemac D01 2-Band regarding softness of tips and presence of scritch, I'm wondering if this is just a matter of YMMV or there are also some differences between batches?
Rudy re-knotted two handles for me, one with a 26mm Two-band Silvertip and the other with the 28mm Two-band Silvertip.... They both give me nice face feel.... I can just barely feel the bristles through the softness.... That is my prefered face feel... As always, YMMV, and all that.
- Thread starter
- #17
I also saw the thread where it wasn't clear whether you should soak badger or not. I've only used the brush 2 times and I haven't properly soaked it (like boar). I'm going to go ahead and try it out, maybe that will stop the scritch...There was a thread a while back where folks were saying they don't soak their badger brushes. IMHO, that's just silliness. The badger hairs won't be their softest unless fully soaked. This goes for a boar as well. And with a boar, the split ends are likely to break off when the hair is dry and brittle. So hopefully you're soaking your brush.
Having said that, I'm not that familiar with badger knots, especially high-end badger knots. But it just so happens I have two Shavemac 2-band silvertip 24mm bulb knots. One a D0-1 and the other regular (D0-1 on the left). And both set at the same loft, 52mm.
While painting, I can sometimes feel a random hair poke me with either brush. But not to the point that it annoys me.
The D0-1 is the softer of the two. But it's different -- it's more laser focused. The extra density may just exaggerate the focused softness when splaying. ... I don't splay much, just enough to generate the lather.
The regular is soft but does not feel so centralized.
Both knots are lathering machines. They don't just make lather, they make perfect lather. They both have leveled up my lathering experience.
But here's where one is better than the other. They both have great flow through. But the D0-1 flings lather everywhere, while the regular holds on to the lather.
If I were to get another Shavemac, it would be another regular 2-band silvertip bulb. But considering how much lather the one I have makes. I may consider getting one smaller, like a 22mm.
- Thread starter
- #18
Thanks for the reply. I've only used it twice so maybe when it breaks in it will be softer? Will see...
- Thread starter
- #19
Thanks for this info... to clarify I have the DO1 2 band which I forgot to mention in my OP.
The 2 band D01 knots take some time to loosen up. This doesn't mean it will 100% disappear.
I've got a flat top 2 band D01 that still has a bit of scritch swirling but fine painting. My 2 band fan is very soft with enough backbone to face lather.
I've got a flat top 2 band D01 that still has a bit of scritch swirling but fine painting. My 2 band fan is very soft with enough backbone to face lather.
