silver tip synthetic - SERIOUSLY

[**Bingo_Bob**]

I have been around the block with the finest Badger brushes (Omega, Simpsons, Plisson, Pils) but seriously, the synthetic brush I just got has some serious lather power. I don't know much about synthetic. This is the first one I have tried and I can only reference it as something I descided to tack onto an order from Tony at pen works... that is, I don't know who it's made by.

This synthetic has ultra soft tips... softer than any badger hair can get. Not floppy, and it made some very rich lather. It hurts to say it (with all the money I've spent on brushes in the past) but this relativly cheap synthetic brush out performs by finest badger brushes. This begs me to question... why aren't synthetic brushes taken more seriosuly?

 

[thirdeye]

That is a pretty bold statement. How long have you been using Badger brushes? And do tell more about the brush you find so enjoyable. I'm interested as I am always wondering about the best brush out there.

 

[calcustom]

Now that you have my attention, which brush is it?

 

[aquilla]

although i havent tried the particular brand of brush the op talks of i can definately say that my TOBS synthetic has rendered all my other brushes obsolete, it took a little time to get the water right again but it does hold a fairly decent amount, just different to the badger and boar brushes id tried before.

 

[Wil Dorenbos]

This begs me to question... why aren't synthetic brushes taken more seriously?

Good question. As I am against using badger an alternative (or supplement) to boar is always welcome. I started with the Bamboo Blush Brush. That was good. As I am now into shave sticks I turned to boar, and have not used my synthetic brush since. Should try it again tho.

 

[SRock]

I can attest to having used some amazingly soft synthetics. The tips are great. However, the biggest problems I've seen is that they simply do not hold water or more importantly lather that well at all. They also fail to retain heat.

The boar I kept in my den is far superior to the lone synthetic I've decided to keep (just for comparison) and every badger I've kept in my rotation far out performed the boar.

In short: Badger > Boar > Synthetic

YMMV

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

That is a pretty bold statement. How long have you been using Badger brushes? And do tell more about the brush you find so enjoyable. I'm interested as I am always wondering about the best brush out there.

I've been using badger brushes for 4 years or so. I can't point you to a brand because it is a synthetic knot that Tony imports for his custom handles. The knot looks very similar to the Men U brush.

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

Now that you have my attention, which brush is it?

It is a knot I got from Tony at Pen Works. I got just the knot from him and I outfitted it to this C&E travel brush handle:

It is a small knot but it is travel size.

Here is it next to my silver tip omega:

 

[Sueto]

The 23mm nylon knot? It looks fuller than the Rooney Nylon that I use for travel. It has been really great with creams, just so long as I don't try face lathering with it.

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

I can attest to having used some amazingly soft synthetics. The tips are great. However, the biggest problems I've seen is that they simply do not hold water or more importantly lather that well at all. They also fail to retain heat.

The boar I kept in my den is far superior to the lone synthetic I've decided to keep (just for comparison) and every badger I've kept in my rotation far out performed the boar.

In short: Badger > Boar > Synthetic

YMMV

This brush lathers excellent for me. I haven't tried it with soaps... only creams. It is excellent at mug/bowl and hand lathering. I got a very rich lather from it, and as I said (sadly) outperforming my badger brush.

Don't get me wrong, I still love badger, I just plan to get a larger sized synthetic to use in my regular rotation of brushes.

 

[col conk]

My badger brush was getting a little to floppy -not enough scrubbing power. I was interested to try one of the soft synthetics that have been discussed in other threds.

I bought a synthetic 23mm knot from Golden nib and glued it into an old handle.
The ends are very soft and the brush has the stiffness I wanted . Lathers very well. IMO it is far superior to the Boar brushes Ive used. It is only slightly inferior to my badger in that it does not hold the lather in the brush head as well ( some lather comes out of the base and down the handle). But my badger has a bigger knot.

 

[Scissors]

This is interesting to me because I wanted to hear from people with experience with synthetic brushes. I don't mind animal products; I just remember reading a few isolated posts where folks were pleasantly surprised at the performance of the synthetics. Curious to know who the vendors are, and if there was a consensus on who among them had the best brush.

So:

• Rooney has a synthetic (didn't know that—can't remember seeing it for sale anywhere);
• Penworks offers a synthetic brush head;
• So does Golden Nib (but they're for the DIY brush makers, right?);
• I remember seeing synthetics from Muhle, Omega, and Simpsons

Did I get anything wrong? Leave anybody out?

 

[Jack-in-the-Green]

Two great synthetic brush threads:

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=20794&highlight=synthetic


http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=105486&highlight=synthetic

And I, too, have a vintage handle with one of Tony's 23mm nylon knots. Super-soft, nice backbone, but tends to hog lather. Really a nice knot. I wish he had one in a smaller size.

 

[aquilla]

This is interesting to me because I wanted to hear from people with experience with synthetic brushes. I don't mind animal products; I just remember reading a few isolated posts where folks were pleasantly surprised at the performance of the synthetics. Curious to know who the vendors are, and if there was a consensus on who among them had the best brush.

So:

• Rooney has a synthetic (didn't know that—can't remember seeing it for sale anywhere);
• Penworks offers a synthetic brush head;
• So does Golden Nib (but they're for the DIY brush makers, right?);
• I remember seeing synthetics from Muhle, Omega, and Simpsons

Did I get anything wrong? Leave anybody out?

taylors of old bond street sells one which i bought a couple of months ago, im finding it excellent so far

 

[**Bingo_Bob**]

My badger brush was getting a little to floppy -not enough scrubbing power. I was interested to try one of the soft synthetics that have been discussed in other threds.

I bought a synthetic 23mm knot from Golden nib and glued it into an old handle.
The ends are very soft and the brush has the stiffness I wanted . Lathers very well. IMO it is far superior to the Boar brushes Ive used. It is only slightly inferior to my badger in that it does not hold the lather in the brush head as well ( some lather comes out of the base and down the handle). But my badger has a bigger knot.

Oh yes, that is probably the same knot that I have. I forgot Pen Works is also the Golden nib. This is what I got:

http://www.thegoldennib.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_45&products_id=164

 

[ateace]

I've recently discovered the EJ synthetics. I now have the Chatsworth and Diffusion brushes, both in synthetic. The lathering ability of these brushes is impressive. I haven't had to change the amount of water compared to my badger brush, either.

FWIW, I started years ago with a VDH boar, and then switched to badger. Now, I'm trying synthetics and I am sold.

 

[delmonte]

Hmm... I like this thread because people are comparing boar and badger brushes to synthetics. In many other threads people are just comparing different synthetics to each other.