So say I wanted to go custom

[ptirmal]

But I have no idea what I want .

I currently use a Omega 63171 I picked up from amazon, it's pure badger but other than that I'm not sure how well it is for a badger brush: http://www.amazon.com/Omega-Stripey-Badger-Shaving-63171/dp/B000KJSVSE/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
I use this one every day and I find it fine, it takes a bit longer than I like to build lather and I think I'd prefer it to have a bit of a bigger head (and body) with softer hair.

I also tried out an Art of Shaving Pure Badger and found this to be too scratchy and not what I was looking for.

I've been primarily using the AoS Lavender soap which I think is a relatively soft soap and I bowl lather. I'm looking into getting a handle built and using a knib from the goldenknib but I'm not exactly sure what to get.

What I know I want is something springier and firmer than the Omega but I want it to be very soft and bigger than the Omega. I'm not sure how big the Omega knot is, does anyone know? From what I've read I think I want to go with a silvertip and I was leaning towards the UK-24mm just because it seems like it will be the softest but I'm not sure how dense/springy it would be.

So can anyone help me with choosing a knot? Are there any other sites to be looking at?

 

[ambrose]

go for a rooney 1/1 or a golden nib finest, they have the characteristics you are looking for.

 

[ptirmal]

From what I've read about the 1/1 is it seems like it'll be too scratchy because of the shortness and how tightly packed it is. I'm really looking for a soft brush so I'm thinking silvertip or super and maybe get a knot with extra hair for more firmness.

 

[ambrose]

its not scratchy at all its a rooney super silver tip. Its very luxurious with backbone. The super silver tip is much better than the regular silver tip, or that pure or best badger with the tips cut to shape that you had in your pervious brushes. Super silver is silver tip that has been resorted to remove imperfect hairs to make the overall result with a much softer higher quality knot.

 

[ptirmal]

Oh, what I was reading said the 1/1 was finest badger and I thought they were all finest, I now see that 1/1 is style and size.

I want to do get a custom handle so that leaves out the rooney but if I was trying to replicate super soft with backbone what would you recommend as far as knots.

I think 23mm is the smallest I'd want to go and 26mm the largest. I came across the UK-23mm Super which is 23mm x 72mm, not sure if that would be dense enough with that height when I compare it to other knots such as the regular 24mm x 67mm silvertip which is shorter and I'd assume would have more spring to it.

Maybe if I had the hole for the knot a little deeper which would place the knot further in and have it a bit tighter?

 

[ambrose]

Either uk super or the golden nib finest, I have no experience with the uk super but I do know that the golden nib finest is very soft and firm. The loft would depend on what knot you would get. I would vote golden nib finest knot 24 mm x 50 mm loft. Contact member Rudy Vey for a nice custom handle. YMMV

 

[ptirmal]

Thanks for your help, but I'm not sure I understand what you mean about the loft. I don't see any knots that are 24mm x 50mm, does that require it to be custom or are you referring to the final height when set in the handle?

 

[ambrose]

Yes sir its when you set the knot in the handle, loft = the height of the hair exposed.

 

[ptirmal]

In terms of softness and water retention it goes Pure<Fine<Silvertip<Super Silvertip right?

I'm trying to understand why the Finest is more expensive than the Silvertip on goldenknibs, maybe just more popular?

 

[heirkb]

In terms of softness and water retention it goes Pure<Fine<Silvertip<Super Silvertip right?

I'm trying to understand why the Finest is more expensive than the Silvertip on goldenknibs, maybe just more popular?

Not necessarily true. The goldennib finest badger knot with extra hair is very very soft. It's the softest knot I've tried (Kent B&B brush, Rooney Super Silvertip 1/1, Col. Conk's Pure, and Vintage Simpson's). The knot gets very very soft when wet, it's kind of surprising. At the same time, it has great backbone. Almost as good as a Rooney 1/1, maybe better depending on the loft.
When you get a brush made, the handle has a hole in it. The depth of the hole determines your loft. If your knot is 15mm by 67mm, you can get a 50mm loft, by setting it in a hole that is approximately 17-20mm (depending on the epoxy, etc.). Also, something to note with the goldennib extra hair finest knot is that it gets much wider very quickly after the plastic plug. If you by a 22mm knot (the plastic will be 22mm), right above the plastic, it will be 24mm and it will NOT compress any more than that. So if you want to buy a 22mm knot in extra hair finest and have a 47-50mm loft, you'd need a hole that is about 26mm-27mm. That's been my experience. If you have a smaller hole, the knot simply will not compress enough to be jammed in there. If you have a bigger hole, your knot will be too loose.
Good luck