Time for another brush under the tree

[aeonius]

Hello gents,

I am again looking at the next brush to buy. I'll just move on to the check-list right away.

1. I have a Rooney 1/1 Super and a nameless DOVO silver tip brush. What I like about them is the density of the Rooney and the softness of the DOVO. What I dislike about them is the small size (of the handle) of the Rooney along with it feeling to prickly on my face. The thing I don't like about the DOVO is that it splays too much.

2. I am at this moment in time, mainly using creams. But I cannot say that that is the whole truth as I tend to whip up a Superlather most of the time. I've tried lathering in a bowl, in my hand and on my face (using a Tabac shave stick). The method I like most is lathering in a bowl or in the palm of my hand (better feedback).

3. What I'm looking for in my next brush is a lather machine. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to build up a nice creamy, slick, lather (I am trying to minimize the time of my shaving routine without removing any of the luxury). I do not want a painter brush. I would prefer a brush with soft tips that isn't floppy but at the same time does not feel prickly or scratchy on the face. I've read about brushes being described as giving the feel of using a sponge on your face and I must admit that I kinda like the way that description sounds. I don't want the knot to be too large (I think).

4. When it comes to the aesthetics of the brush, I am very open minded. For example I find the B&B 2009 LE to be hideous (i.e. girly and not at all masculine with that classic look that is typical of traditional (manly) brushes; heresy, I know). BUT if it turns out that that hideous handle is actually a good thing when taking into account the performance of the brush, then I wouldn't mind considering one.

5. When it comes to the upper monetary limit set by SWMBO; that matter is still negotiable. Of course I wouldn't dream of spending more than $200 on a thing such as a brush. I mean let's be realistic; it doesn't even cook

6. As a said earlier, I find the handle of my Rooney a bit too small. A handle with a height at about 50mm is always nice IMO. When it comes to the knot I think I prefer brushes at around 19-22mm (knot size) x 45-52mm (loft). My Rooney is 22x44mm and my DOVO is 22x55mm (not 100% sure about the DOVO).

7. The bushes I've been considering include the Rooney Heritage Stubby 2:

http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=668&cat=173&page=1

and the Shavemac 177:

http://www.shavemac.com/shop/products/Shaving-Brushes/Traditional-Lines/Shaving-Brush-SB1-177.html

When it comes to the Shavemac I cannot deside which hair grade to choose; Finest, Super or D01. The handle on the 177 seems to be very comfortable. I managed to get my hands on an EJ-brush with a similar handle an thought it felt *awesome*

Now of course you can suggest other brushes as well (like Simpsons) as long as the softness of tips (combined with the massaging sponge feeling) and lather machine criteria are met.

Oh and I almost forgot:

8. This will be my last brush as "SBAD hasn't really gotten ahold of me."

Thanks in advance
/aeonius

PS. Is there any point in considering the Men-U synthetic brush?

 

[aeonius]

Hello gents,

I don't want to come across as pushy but I am still awating your comments.

The list of brushes I am considering now has managed to grow into the following:

Simpsons PJ2 super 2-band
Rooney Heritage Alibaba (1 or 2 (probably 1))
Shavemac 177 in silvertip or D01 (around 20mm x 45-48mm)
Rooney Heritage Stubby 2
B&B 2009 LE (Is this brush good for creams? Has anyone even tried it? What does butterscotch (the color) look like?)

As I said before I find my Rooney 1/1 Super a bit prickly (and I feel its handle is too small). I mostly use creams but occasionaly turn to soaps too. I would like my next brush to have a good backbone and not to splay much but at the same time not feel scratchy on the face. I also do not want a painter brush but rather a brush that can give a massaging feeling with soft tips.

Thanks in advance

/aeonius

 

[beginish]

Aeonius,

In my experience, the Rooney Heritage brushes have a great combination of backbone/density and soft tips. IIRC, the size 1 Alibaba has a 20 mm knot, which may be a bit small as a brush primarily for creams (it will do fine, but you won't get the luxurious feeling on your face that you will from a larger knotted brush). I think the Stubby will have a small handle as well, so if you're not completely satisfied with the 1/1, the Stubby may not fulfill expectations either. I would suggest checking out either the Emillion or Victorian, which have the same higher loft, high density 24 mm knot. I use the Victorian regularly, and it is a luxurious beast with creams. Both are in the $150-175 range at Vintage Blades.

I have also used the Shavemac 177 Super Silvertip, and it is an outstanding brush, doing a very fine job with creams. It is not as dense as the Rooney, and the tips are slightly more prickly (the Heritage's use a special grade of Super Silvertip), but it has a larger knot and provides a great lathering experience. I think it runs in the $125 price range.

I hope this helps,

 

[DirtyDave]

I have good results with a brush from Superior Brushes. You can have a handle custom made. I have two of their 25mm super badger brushes which I use for creams because of their size and one of their 22mm in super badger, which works well with either creams or soaps. If you have any questions, call Matt or Randy. The customer service is very good.

 

[Hreafn]

http://www.handicraft-vn.com/shop/n...ull-natural-horn-shaving-bursh-c-168_167.html Nice and dense, different I dont know how many guys on here have this brush.

 

[aeonius]

Aeonius,

In my experience, the Rooney Heritage brushes have a great combination of backbone/density and soft tips. IIRC, the size 1 Alibaba has a 20 mm knot, which may be a bit small as a brush primarily for creams (it will do fine, but you won't get the luxurious feeling on your face that you will from a larger knotted brush). I think the Stubby will have a small handle as well, so if you're not completely satisfied with the 1/1, the Stubby may not fulfill expectations either. I would suggest checking out either the Emillion or Victorian, which have the same higher loft, high density 24 mm knot. I use the Victorian regularly, and it is a luxurious beast with creams. Both are in the $150-175 range at Vintage Blades.

I have also used the Shavemac 177 Super Silvertip, and it is an outstanding brush, doing a very fine job with creams. It is not as dense as the Rooney, and the tips are slightly more prickly (the Heritage's use a special grade of Super Silvertip), but it has a larger knot and provides a great lathering experience. I think it runs in the $125 price range.

I hope this helps,

Do you know how the Shavemac D01 hair grade compares to the Rooney Heritage? Whould the same size (24x50mm) on a Shavemac with D01 make it a floppy brush? I am also wondering if a Shavemac is packed denser than a Rooney given their knots and lofts are the same?

 

[beginish]

Do you know how the Shavemac D01 hair grade compares to the Rooney Heritage? Whould the same size (24x50mm) on a Shavemac with D01 make it a floppy brush? I am also wondering if a Shavemac is packed denser than a Rooney given their knots and lofts are the same?

I have never tried the D01 grade on the Shavemac, so I can't comment. My Rooneys feel like they are packed more densely than the Shavemac was. The Shavemac was not floppy by any means, but I do prefer the Rooneys. YMMV.

 

[Frowzy]

I would say that Rooney's heritage line are the densest brushes on the market, but only beat out Shavemac D01s by a small margin. A 21mm / 50mm Shavemac D01 that I have I pretty much the opposite of floppy. It does not splay at all on the face; in fact, it is difficult to "part," or stick your finger in between the dry hair, since it is such a high quality, dense knot. Very soft tips.

 

[aeonius]

I would say that Rooney's heritage line are the densest brushes on the market, but only beat out Shavemac D01s by a small margin. A 21mm / 50mm Shavemac D01 that I have I pretty much the opposite of floppy. It does not splay at all on the face; in fact, it is difficult to "part," or stick your finger in between the dry hair, since it is such a high quality, dense knot. Very soft tips.

Which one of the two brushes do you prefere, and why? Is a 21mm / 50mm Shavemac D01 better suited for creams than a 24mm / 50mm Emilion Heritage?

PS. Thanks for all the feedback so far. I really appreciate it.

 

[Frowzy]

Which one of the two brushes do you prefere, and why? Is a 21mm / 50mm Shavemac D01 better suited for creams than a 24mm / 50mm Emilion Heritage?

PS. Thanks for all the feedback so far. I really appreciate it.

Hmm... I think that, hands down, the Rooney is a soap brush, and, as such, has good performance with creams, but not nearly as good as its performance with soaps.

A shavemac D01, I think, handles creams a better than a Rooney does, but is also great for soaps, because of its relatively short loft, backbone, and dense knot.

I think that the difference between a shavemac and a rooney at the end of the day, is that most grades of rooney hair will give you a scrubbier sort of sensation, in some hair grades, slightly scritchy or prickly. Great for loading up soaps. The shavemac d01, however, has some of the softest tips on the market, resulting in zero prickle. It varies across hair grades and YMMV.

 

[chris456]

For what it is worth, I have pretty sensitive skin and a Rooney 1/2* in super was too dense and prickly for my face. I recently traded it for a Shavemac 177 in silvertip and it has been a perfect all around brush for me, soaps and creams, bowl and face, in all combos.

*I have never used the heritage line though and I am aware that it is supposed to be of higher quality than the regular line.

 

[aeonius]

Hello again Gents,

So to sum things up a bit:

A Shavemac is generally a bit less dense than a Rooney. (right/wrong)

A Rooney tends in general to be more scrubby than a Shavemac. (right/wrong)

When comparing a Rooney (i.e. the Heritage Emilion) to a Shavemac (i.e. 22x50mm, D01); which brush releases the lather more willingly?

Do both brushes mentioned above require the same amount of product to create the same lather?

Thanks for the feedback thus far; keep it comin'.

Regards
/Aeonius

 

[Cloning Jeff]

I have been using a Savile Row Best badger (like finest grade in that system), and love it. Dense and lathers both soaps and cream great. I have a 24mm knot, which may be a bit big, but I wouldn't trade it for any other brush. They are at QEDusa.com. Best of luck in your search.

 

[Frowzy]

A Shavemac is generally a bit less dense than a Rooney. Yes, but only a bit. Rooney brushes are the densest on the market.

A Rooney tends in general to be more scrubby than a Shavemac. Depends on the grade of hair. But a Super Rooney is scrubbier than a Shavemac D01, in my experience. The Shavemac is pillow soft, but still has a lot of backbone.

When comparing a Rooney (i.e. the Heritage Emilion) to a Shavemac (i.e. 22x50mm, D01); which brush releases the lather more willingly? Hmm. I wouldn't say either are "Lather hogs." It really depends on your technique. About the same, I'd say.

Do both brushes mentioned above require the same amount of product to create the same lather? I would say yes.

 

[sombra]

Couldn't wait till Christmas. My fiancee let me open it early and take it for a swirl today. It's awesome. I admit, though, that this is my first real luxury shaving brush, so I don't have a particularly good frame of reference. I had used a Provence de Sante redware handled badger brush for about 5 years. This was a whole different experience. The bristles were much firmer (maybe because it's brand new) and yet SO SO SO much more dense. I need a couple of weeks to break it in and get a better feel for how to best use it. But it's great. One (uneducated) vote for the Heritage Stubby 2.

 

[aeonius]

Two more questions:

1. Does anyone know if the Rooney Heritage hair is more scrubby than the Shavemac D01 hair given the brushes have the same knot and loft size?

2. I understand that a regular Rooney Super is less dense than a Rooney Heritage. With that in mind, is a Shavemac D01 more (or equally?) dense than a regular Rooney Super (again given that the brushes have similar knots)?

Regards
/Aeonius

 

[andrew98]

It sounds like you need a custom Shavemac in D01 or a B&B LE. They're a great value as high end brushes go. That said, I haven't tried a Rooney Heritage or Finest. I can't afford/justify them and my two custom Shavemacs and Rooney 1/1 Super Silvertip haven't made me feel a need to try the high end Rooneys. The B&B '09 LE is the last brush I'm going to buy until one of the 5 in my rotation wears out. Mountaineering gear is my new AD, so no more brushes for a while.

See my signature below if you want some more Shavemac info.

-Andy