TGN premium silvertip.

[kiwimike]

Hey all.
I see one of TGNs latest brushes is labeled as 'premium silvertip'.
Has anyone tried these and if so what is your opinion?
I have a 24mm grade A Silvertip and overall I am satisfied with it.
However, I am a facelatherer with sensitive skin and I find my brush gives me a bit of burn on occasion.
I have the loft set quite high at 55mm and I still find the grade A to have a fair bit of backbone and is not all that soft either.
So I am wondering if the premium silvertip has less backbone and is softer than the grade A?
Many thanks- Michael.

 

[Alphonse]

I'd send an email or call TGN. They will happily help you with this question.

 

[Useless shaver]

I'd send an email or call TGN. They will happily help you with this question.

+1

And tell us, please!

 

[shaverjoe]

I have used the Premium ST knot and find it does have less backbone than the Grade A but I am not sure it is significantly softer. To be completely honest, if I were blindfolded and asked to use brushes containing Grade A Silvertip and Premium silvertip knots, I don't think I could tell the difference.

 

[Doc226]

I have 8 brushes.

Three production and 5 custom

The three production
Rooney Herritage-gel tips, very soft
SOC-my only boar brush. Great all around brush. Mine is nicely broken in.
Simpson duke 2, great brush, nice back bone, a bit of scrith to it (I like that)

The five custom are all Shaverjoe brushes. All I believe with TGN knots with grade a and premium silver tips. All great. Not sure I can tell the difference between all of them.

I think they all set at different lofts and all have different degree of backbone but the actual "feel" of the tips on the face is very similar

 

[kiwimike]

Many thanks for all your replies guys.
Im not sure emailing TGN will help.
I didn't get very informative answers when I got my brush made the last time, so I am wanting to hear from the experience of others.
Less backbone is good to hear but I also want softer tips as well.
I love to face lather hard soaps, so I am not sure if wanting less backbone and softer tips is asking for too much?
Other option is Whipped Dog.
Anyone know the comparison between the Grade A and the WD silvertip?
Or do I need to consider a completely different brush to get the characteristics I want?
Thanks-

 

[Jarick]

Whipped Dog silvertip was a little softer than Grade A, so I would assume the new Premium knots would be similar to Whipped Dog.

 

[h22o999]

Many thanks for all your replies guys.
Im not sure emailing TGN will help.
I didn't get very informative answers when I got my brush made the last time, so I am wanting to hear from the experience of others.
Less backbone is good to hear but I also want softer tips as well.
I love to face lather hard soaps, so I am not sure if wanting less backbone and softer tips is asking for too much?
Other option is Whipped Dog.
Anyone know the comparison between the Grade A and the WD silvertip?
Or do I need to consider a completely different brush to get the characteristics I want?
Thanks-

Have you tried the TGN Finest brushes?

Justin

 

[kiwimike]

Hi Justin.
No I haven't tried the finest due to most saying they have soft tips but good backbone.
I'm wanting less backbone.
The other option I guess it's to choose what I think might be the best knot for me, remove the grade A knot from the handle I already have, and play around with different lofts with the new knot before setting it with epoxy.

 

[trza]

Perhaps you can PM Rudy Vey. People love his custom brushes. I'm sure that he can help you get what you are looking for.

So, you want a new shaving brush but cannot decide which one? You like a certain handle style, but it is not offered in the hair quality, size, or loft you like.
For any custom work contact me and we can discuss your needs. My goal is to fulfill the needs and wishes of my customers. I have made brushes from woods, resins, acrylics, antler, horn and even pre-ban ivory. Some of my work included removing boar knots from simple, light plastic handles and set them into new handles turned from custom cast butterscotch resin or faux ivory.
Restoration work is also a specialty of mine. I have revived 30+ year old brushes with high sentimental value, into like-new ones that will see another 30 years of usage.

 

[Zeppelinkarte]

Hi Justin.
No I haven't tried the finest due to most saying they have soft tips but good backbone.
I'm wanting less backbone.
The other option I guess it's to choose what I think might be the best knot for me, remove the grade A knot from the handle I already have, and play around with different lofts with the new knot before setting it with epoxy.

I think the best knot for a brush bar none is the TGN 2 band finest. Good at face lathering and the bowl. Just great.

 

[h22o999]

Hi Justin.
No I haven't tried the finest due to most saying they have soft tips but good backbone.
I'm wanting less backbone.
The other option I guess it's to choose what I think might be the best knot for me, remove the grade A knot from the handle I already have, and play around with different lofts with the new knot before setting it with epoxy.

Michael,

I have sensitive skin as well, and like you got some irritation from the TGN Grade A brushes. Rudy suggested I try a TGN Finest and I was a little hesitant at first, but after trying it I can tell you that out of all of my brushes I use a TGN Finest fan that is 22mm set at 48mm most days. It has just the right amount of backbone with extremely soft tips, no scritch from mine at all!

Good luck with you search, let us know what you decide on.

Justin

 

[kiwimike]

Hi Justin.
Thanks for your input.
I will consider that option.
I am also looking at a whipped dog silvertip in one of larrys handles.
I am just waiting for him to reply to my email- xmas time and all.

 

[shaverjoe]

I will second the recommendations for the TGN Finest knot. It is a fantastic knot, particularly for the price.

 

[deruitem]

It can be more confusing. I have an older Grade A that is super soft, just as soft as the whippeddog and has more backbone. I have also made several Grade A brushes that are not near as soft as mine. When I asked TGN about it he said that they do differ from batch to batch. Good luck, FYI the Finest are always great IMO. Lots of backbone and just a touch of scritch

 

[kiwimike]

Oh well its good to know I'm not a complete wuss then! Ha! Yeah when I first got my grade A I emailed Anthony at TGN because to me it didn't feel very soft and it was quite stiff.
The knot is certainly very tightly fitted into the handle.
He said that is the softest knot they offer and to use it and see how I like it.
So Deruitem, you're another thats just confirmed that the whipped dog silvertips are both softer with less backbone than theTGNs.
That might be a good option for me.

 

[kiwimike]

Hey all.
I've had a couple of email conversations with larry and decided on a WD 24mm silvertip in a black resin handle set to 53mm loft.
Larry was really great at answering all my questions.
Thanks for all your input.

 

[LeftyT]

Yeah, I have a couple 2-band finest knots kicking around, and they are firm, but have really nice tips, when wet. Don't let the knot fool you when dry. They feel completely different when wet.

 

[kiwimike]

Just got shipping confirmation.
Larry has made and sent my brush already!
Man, that is some great service, especially at this time of the year.
Im blown away.