Silvertip Brush

[colingohl]

So today in the mail I just got my silvertip badger brush and holy cow am I surprised.. I first started DE shaving about 3 or 4 months ago with a classic TAoS kit. It came with an alright but not the best - best badger brush and I've been using it since. About a week ago I ordered this silvertip out of pure curiosity and I just wanted a more luxerious lather - so fast forward a week and now it's in my hands. It's by far the most soft thing to ever touch my face. The lather is absolutely wonderful and it loads really really well. I think I got a steal for about only $35 when I see most other 24mm Silvertips listed at like $50-$100. What brush are you guys shaving with? What's your favorite knot size?

 

[Jeff_H]

I too just recently received my first silvertip brush and indeed it is amazing. I shaved with a cheap boar brush from Walgreen's for almost 2 years. Did a lot of research, decided on my brand and bought my brush when a great deal presented itself. My brush of choice was a Kent brush. I bowl lather exclusively. I have tried face lathering and it just isn't my cup of tea.

I don't know a ton about brushes, but am learning. Typically the shorter the loft (length of the hair) the stiffer the brush. This is true whether the brush is boar, best badger or silvertip. So even though silvertip is the softest badger hair, it can have good backbone with a short loft, yet still be soft to the touch. Conversely, the same silvertip hair with an extremely tall loft can feel like a mop on your face. These examples don't even take into account density of the hair and other factors. Needless to say, there is a lot that goes into a brush and many variables that can change the way a brush feels and performs, even if you're talking about the exact same hair quality from the same maker. It's all about what you want out of a brush, and what you like.

Here is what I ended up with, and I love it. I wanted a soft, dense brush for luxurious face lathering. That's what I got. The brush sells for between $150 and $200, depending where you buy it. I got it from our own BST for $90 shipped.

Before use and bloom

 

[colingohl]

Beautiful! I'll post before and after pictures of mine tomorrow!

 

[Jess2940]

I got a chrome parker brush for about 35 dollars. I bought a couple of chinese silver tip badger brushes for 10 bucks a piece off ebay. The Chinese badger brush work just as good as the high dollar parker. Same animal same hair.

 

[AABCDS]

Which silvertip brush did you get for $35.00?

 

[colingohl]

Which silvertip brush did you get for $35.00?

I bought it from Whippeddog.com
I bought the knot which was $22, than the handle that was like $6 - and they epoxy'd it for me so I didn't have to buy any epoxy. So really it was only about $28...

 

[AABCDS]

I bought it from Whippeddog.com
I bought the knot which was $22, than the handle that was like $6 - and they epoxy'd it for me so I didn't have to buy any epoxy. So really it was only about $28...

I've never tried a whipped dog brush before. I have tried several TGN knots and ended up selling all of them.

 

[Jeff_H]

I keep hearing really good things about Whipped Dog. I "think" they are in Austin, TX, just down the road from me, but I'm not sure I remember that right. I really like the look of his handles, and his knots seem really well done. If I decide to get another brush, I may just get one of his. I have my dream brush, but it might be fun to have a smaller silvertip just to mix it up.

WD has some really cool handle colors too....what color handle did you get? Would love to see pictures.

 

[Chadao]

I am now mainly using a Simpson Special Pure Badger. I liked it well enough to buy a back-up. I went through 4 other badger brushes, three of them being Silvertips. They were all nice brushes, but just not for me. I bought two Whipped Dog Firehouse brushes before I knew enough about buying a badger brush. The knot was lovely and the handles superb. But I did not understand loft. Both WD brushes came with a 65mm loft. When I used them, they felt floppy. Not enough spine or backbone, methinks, but of these things I knew nothing. I acquired two B&B Essential Boar brushes. They were too scritchy and too stiff, and never did break in to my satisfaction. My WD brushes were a 22 mm knot and a 24 mm knot. I travel a lot. These brushes were not comfortable to me when I was using my Dirty Bird Travel Scuttle. So, I decided to try another badger with a small knot and loft of 40mm. I bought the Pure Badger as I was testing the loft and knot size. The brush was skritchy but quickly softened up. The 19mm knot is still too big to comfortably use my travel scuttle. I am rethinking that part. But otherwise it is perfect. It broke in so nice I decided I did not need the silvertip.

 

[colingohl]

I keep hearing really good things about Whipped Dog. I "think" they are in Austin, TX, just down the road from me, but I'm not sure I remember that right. I really like the look of his handles, and his knots seem really well done. If I decide to get another brush, I may just get one of his. I have my dream brush, but it might be fun to have a smaller silvertip just to mix it up.

WD has some really cool handle colors too....what color handle did you get? Would love to see pictures.

I got the marble handle! Pictures incoming tomorrow .

I also bought from him 2 strops for $27 and I bought a DE, Soap, Blade, and another Silvertip Brush from him for $42. He is based out of TX I know for a fact but I can't remember exactly where. I think his prices are absolutely great for the quality that you get! I'd definitley recommend buying from him.

 

[Big Jim]

I've never tried a whipped dog brush before. I have tried several TGN knots and ended up selling all of them.

Larry is in Arlington.

 

[Bcobu1102]

I picked up a wood handle parker silvertip for $68 after using a AoS best meself. I absolutely love it!

 

[colingohl]

I keep hearing really good things about Whipped Dog. I "think" they are in Austin, TX, just down the road from me, but I'm not sure I remember that right. I really like the look of his handles, and his knots seem really well done. If I decide to get another brush, I may just get one of his. I have my dream brush, but it might be fun to have a smaller silvertip just to mix it up.

WD has some really cool handle colors too....what color handle did you get? Would love to see pictures.

OP Delivers...
The one that isn't broken in I got for my grandfather (also came with DE, DE blades, and Soap for only $42)
Also, to my surprise the knots didn't smell at all! I shampoo'd mine because I do it in good habit but there was no animal odor lingering around and even when I got it wet there was no animal odor. It's safe to say I'm pleased with my purchase .
http://imgur.com/a/e2GwS

 

[ironfisted]

That WD is a nice looking brush. I have a few restorations lined up and I plan to test out both TGN and WD. I have one TGN now, but it sheds so I don't use it a lot. It was my go to until I picked up a Wet Shaving Products High Mountain White. That is a wonderful brush. Very soft. However, I suspect that it may fall out of use once my Chief arrives.

 

[colingohl]

That WD is a nice looking brush. I have a few restorations lined up and I plan to test out both TGN and WD. I have one TGN now, but it sheds so I don't use it a lot. It was my go to until I picked up a Wet Shaving Products High Mountain White. That is a wonderful brush. Very soft. However, I suspect that it may fall out of use once my Chief arrives.

New brushes are always the best!

 

[Jeff_H]

That is a great looking handle, especially the white marbling on the back of your brush. I'm not usually much of a black guy any more, but that is very nice looking. The knot looks really really nice too. That should give you many fine, enjoyable shaves. Congrats.

I think for a backup brush I may try one of the WD brushes, instead of spending $80-$90 on the Kent BK4.

 

[Starkicker]

I have had a WD silvertip, a WD black/pure and a WD synthetic; Larry makes great brushes. The silvertip is super soft, with very little backbone; if you want a cloud like shave the silvertip is where it's at. If you like a little more firmness, get the knot sunk a little bit deeper (additional fee). The black/pure was too prickly for me; I had to get rid of it. The synthetic was great; nice and soft tips with very firm body. I personally found the loft too long.

Larry is a top tier gentleman and an all round nice guy.