Synthetic Comparo - H.I.S. vs. Muhle Silvertip Fibre

[vocalistbob]

I have had my HIS for a few weeks. It's an odd brush; incredibly soft, very strong backbone, whips up lather quickly, etc. - but the loft is too high and the handle too big so I feel like I am applying lather by remote control. For a newcomer who wants to get into wet shaving and not spend a fortune on a brush, I think it's a good selection.

Now let's talk about the Muhle Silvertip fibre. The brush I bought is actually an Edwin Jagger, but the knot is the Muhle fibre. It looks pretty much like a real silvertip and feels like one as well. I tested it on cream and soap with excellent results on both. It whipped up an excellent lather (and seemed to use less product) in less time than other brushes. The face-feel is also like the softest of silvertips (in my collection, that's a Kent).

The Jagger/Muhle looks, feels and behaves a lot like a badger brush and I can see adding it to my rotation. The H.I.S. is ultra-soft, but it doesn't replicate the traditional badger brush experience as well as the Muhle does.

 

[BrookR1]

I found I had to smash the backbone a few times with my HIS brush to get a nice splay while I lather. It's a nice brush, but it feels kind of vague...like you said, like lathering via remote control.

 

[CHSeifert]

I have never tried the HIS, but I own the Mühle Silvertip Fibre brush in both 21mm:

and in 25mm:

And have had a spare 21 mm Silvertip Fibre from Mühle in black, which I have now donated to my brother - and that brush wipped up lather on my face very very fast, just like all the reviewers point out, and had a lovely soft luxurious feel - so I could see myself add a 23 mm Silvertip Fibre brush to complete my synthetic brush collection

 

[Samjax]

The H.I.S. brush is a floppy mop that I bought and quickly sold. For face lathering - it's a much poorer choice than a quality boar and not even in the same universe as a top shelf badger. If you whip your lather in a bowl, you may well like it - it's just WAY too floppy and splays way too easily to be considered a serious face lathering brush.

I haven't tried the Muhle - but I would assume the 25mm has to be better than the H.I.S. cosmetic brush with the big handle. I have a custom synthetic being built for me that should solve my synthetic frustration - 28mm knot stuffed tight with a 54mm loft. I may buy a Muhle just to get this over with - but I'm going to try one built to my own specs first and save myself $50 in the process.

 

[Loric]

The H.I.S. brush is a floppy mop that I bought and quickly sold. For face lathering - it's a much poorer choice than a quality boar and not even in the same universe as a top shelf badger.

I think your being a bit harsh calling it a floppy mop, mine flexes more than I care for, but I am not sure thats exactly the right way to put it. Mine is actually fairly difficult to splay out, especially for the height of the loft. I like to think of it as tall and shifty.

I will give you that it is large and creates some distance between the hand and face, but after one uses it enough you become used to it.

The loft is exactly why many dedicated face latherers dont enjoy this brush. It takes away so much from the face feel of what should be an amazing face lather brush. The angle feather soft tips and backbone are top shelf, but that "distance" and shifty face feel hold it back.

Why should we have to "get used to it", when there are clearly better alternatives for face lathering? If you mostly bowl lather, or want a low cost all around brush the H.I.S. is fantastic. However, that does not make it better face lathering brush than a properly tuned face lathering brush.

I haven't tried the Muhle - but I would assume the 25mm has to be better than the H.I.S. cosmetic brush with the big handle. I have a custom synthetic being built for me that should solve my synthetic frustration - 28mm knot stuffed tight with a 54mm loft. I may buy a Muhle just to get this over with - but I'm going to try one built to my own specs first and save myself $50 in the process.

I also ordered that same FS 28mm and a Muhle 25mm knot. I am going to set the Muhle deep and see how it is for face lathering. I'll make sure to post my findings in a couple weeks after I get a feel for them both.

 

[Samjax]

I stand corrected...I will change my position from floppy to either lifeless, lame or lackluster...not sure which.

 

[Loric]

I think your being a bit harsh calling it a floppy mop, mine flexes more than I care for, but I am not sure thats exactly the right way to put it. Mine is actually fairly difficult to splay out, especially for the height of the loft. I like to think of it as tall and shifty.

I stand corrected...I will change my position from floppy to either lifeless, lame or lackluster...not sure which.

lol very good sir. That I cant correct you on!

I'm keeping mine, I love/hate it to much to let it go. At worst it draws me in, taunting me to sort out my conflicting feelings...

 

[Samjax]

Okay...it's probably not the worst brush ever made...and indeed, if someone is looking to stick to a tight budget, it's probably not a bad one to go with. I had done a fair amount of reading however noticing more than a few claims that this brush was as good as the best badgers, etc...so, I bought one with high hopes. What I found was a decent $30 brush - what I did not find was something that was going to knock the very best badgers off of their perch.

In retrospect, I actually think the "cloud-like softness" of the H.I.S. brought out my feminine side...but I will leave that for another time.

Finally - probably a lot like the creams and soaps that go with these - it's very much a YMMV type of thing. I just didn't get the "mileage" that I had hoped for. Perhaps the FS 28/54 will be closer to my target for the synthetics.

 

[Loric]

My only point was that there have been many posts about how bad this brush...[].... I'm sure I would be duly impressed with a nice custom Rudy Vey, but this H.I.S. does the job for me, and does it very well, without me needing to skip a house payment to pay for it.

I'm pretty sure this brush has deservedly been received very positively.

As for a short loft brush making you skip a house payment, I think your exaggerating. With a $20 handle and a $15~20 TGN knot, you can build a brush that will compete with all but the best of the best. Sure its an extra $10 and an hour of your time (testing lofts), but its hardly blood money.

 

[mistervee123]

I have the Muhle silvertip fibre 21mm in horn. I like the tips, but when I'm using the brush and applying lather, I feel the entire brush "breaks," abruptly changing the direction of the brush hairs, giving a push and bump sensation which is entirely unsettling, especially compared to my good badgers which "flow" smoothly with each movement and change in direction and pressure.

I'm even thinking about putting the Muhle up on the B/S/T, because I keep avoiding it in the rotation, choosing Simpson, Thater, or Rooney badger brushes on either side of it. Poor neglected thing.

 

[GDCarrington]

The H.I.S. brush is a floppy mop that I bought and quickly sold. For face lathering - it's a much poorer choice than a quality boar and not even in the same universe as a top shelf badger. If you whip your lather in a bowl, you may well like it - it's just WAY too floppy and splays way too easily to be considered a serious face lathering brush.

I haven't tried the Muhle - but I would assume the 25mm has to be better than the H.I.S. cosmetic brush with the big handle. I have a custom synthetic being built for me that should solve my synthetic frustration - 28mm knot stuffed tight with a 54mm loft. I may buy a Muhle just to get this over with - but I'm going to try one built to my own specs first and save myself $50 in the process.

I have not experienced the floppy mop, mine has more than enough backbone to facelather without issue. The 25 mm Muhle that I have is extremely close in performance to the H.I.S. so they are tied as my #1 brush. One is less than $40 and the other is $110.

 

[Loric]

For what its worth I asked the vendor if they could sell a H.I.S. knot loose, and they are not available If anyone finds one, feel free to let me know how and where.

As for setting a not, if its not for you, its not for you. But it literally only takes a razor blade to cut the cork and some silicone adhesive. The beauty of the silicone is that its not really that permanent, you can always try again.

 

[canascrews]

I bought a H.I.S. brush and first thought was this thing is funky . Too big and splayed weird . After a couple days use , I love this thing . I think just about everything we talk about needs a couple days to get a fair shake . From blades to brushes .

 

[Loric]

According to Artist Brushstrokes website, the brushes are manufactured by the FM Brush Company (http://www.fmbrush.com/) in New York. Phone number is 718-821-5939 so they may be able to help. I don't know if that is who you contacted, but thought I would pass the info.

Thanks for the lead!

 

[Attila]

Just used my Muhle 33K 257 Synthetic (23 MM knot) for the first time yesterday. I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations. Fantastic at lathering, heat retention, releasing the lather and face feel. Easy maintenance and drying quickly is also a nice benefit. Honestly, I don't feel a need to purchase another brush. It's that good.