Thater 4125 - 2 band vs 3 . fan vs bulb . sizes?

[jjl2008]

I've been eyeing a 4125 to exclusively use for face lathering with hard soaps. I know that YMMV, but I was wondering if anyone has tried a Thater two band and three band and can give their thoughts on the difference of the two. I am also eyeing the Thater in a fan brush since I'm interested in getting something different from my existing bulb-shaped Simpson Colonel. Any thoughts out there on fan vs bulb? Finally, I was thinking size 0 because I wanted a bit more control than my Colonel. I also own an Omega Mighty Midget for traveling and always feel like the handle, while fine for traveling, is too small for anything else. Is size 0 too small? Does anyone know the circumference of the handle?

Thanks in advance.

 

[njpaddy]

I have a 49125/0 3-band and 4125/2 2-band. Both are bulb. Not a big fan of Thater. I prefer my Rooneys & Simpsons. As for the Thaters, the 2-band is much better with soaps than the 3-band. The /0 is a small brush (not much bigger than a Duke 1) and I rarely use it with a hard soap. It just requires too much reloading for a 4 pass shave. However, pair it with a cream, especially a soft cream like T&H, and the /0 excels. The /2 does quite well with my glycerin soaps, SRD and Ogallala, but I usually pair my Rooneys or Simpsons with other hard soaps.

 

[jjl2008]

Thanks for the input. To be honest, a little over a month ago, I was eyeing a Simpson Duke and a Rooney Style 1 but then my Simpson Colonel started shedding and then I read somewhere that German brushes, while probably not reaching the same heights, probably have more consistency than Simpsons, Vulfixes, and Rooneys. I then started looking at Thater and Shavemac and liked the handle design of the 4125. It is, however, a little more than I wanted to spend right now. Maybe I'll take another look at the Style 1.

 

[jpmess]

I have a 4125/1 in a two band bulb, for me it's on the small side, its small enough that when the soap in my old spice mug gets used beyond half the depth of the mug it starts hitting the sides and fingers. That is really the only complaint I have about the brush. I couldn't personally see using a size 0, just to small of a handle for my taste. Like njpaddy, I also have a size 2 in a 3 band bulb, and for me, its a perfect size for soap, cream, croap, or whatever you want to throw at it.



I'm sold on Thater, for me, they are perfect all around brushes.

 

[MaxP]

The three band is far too soft for use with soaps IMHO.
I have it and a two band. Even the two band is a bit on the soft side for hard soaps. I recommend against the three band in your situation.

 

[oldtrout]

I have the 4125/1 in three band bulb and two band fan. These are favorites of mine. I have no trouble using soaps or creams, bowl or face lathering, with either brush. I like the three band just a little better, it is softer and I like soft.

 

[Danricgro]

I have a 4125/2 two band fan. It does not have much backbone at all but it lathers anything including hard soaps just as well as any brush I own. It has the softest tips of any of my brushes and the flow through is about as good as it gets. If you want more backbone get it in a bulb, that should help. If your looking for a scrubby brush look elsewhere. If you want a very soft brush that just works the Thater would be a good choice.

 

[mistercitizen]

I have a 4125/2 two band bulb. Great flow through, good backbone and extremely soft tips. The handle size is perfect for me. Although I've never used another Thater brush, I would imagine that the /0 or the /1 size in bulb would be too small. The /0 or /1 in a fan knot however could be a different story. Knot shape and the two band hair of my 4125/2 is equal to or better than any of my other two bands (Simpson, M&F, Rooney). I can lather anything, from creams to the hardest soaps with the 4125/2 two band.

Ben