To owners of more than 5 brushes - how do you rotate them ?

[CHSeifert]

Now that my brush collection will be completed (for the year 2012 at least) mid to ultimo September, next month - I will have 12 brushes in my collection, and that makes me wonder - how do you brush-a-holics with huge brush collections rotate your brushes ?

Do you have certain favorites you use more than the other brushes or do you try to rotate them so that they all get equally much use ?

When September is gone, I will have these 12 brushes in my collection, and I believe I will try to rotate them so they used almost equally much (at least that is what I expect)

Simpsons Chubby 2 2-Band Super

Simpson Duke 3 2-Band Super

Mühle Sophist 3-Band Silvertip

Mühle Stylo Thuja Wood 3-Band Silvertip

Mühle Classic Silvertip Fibre Large

Rooney Heritage Stubby 2XL 2-Band Super

Morris & Forndran Stubby Medium 2-Band Finest

Morris & Forndran Medium 2-Band Blonde Badger

Kent BK8 3-Band Silvertip

Semogue Limited Edition 2 2-Band Finest Badger

Thäter 49125/2 2-Band Silvertip

Shavemac 233 Bruyers Wood D01 2-Band Silvertip

I'm also on the look out for a Chubby 3 in Manchurian and if Mühle ever were to improve on their Synthtic Silvertip Fibre hairs, I would also be all over one of these in 23 Medium size - but as it stands, these 12 brushes above are my collection from late September.

I have seen some of the collections people have in here, that will make my 12 brushes pale in comparison, but I'm proud of these 12 little guys, and probably think that even 12 brushes is a bit too much, since I don't shave more than 5 times a week - and having 12 brushes mens I will not get to use the same brush more than maybe twice a month, since I also 2-4 times a month use shaving gel applied by hand, when I'm in a hurry (I'm not perfect, so some times I sleep a little longer and only have 8-10 minutes for my shave, not enough to build a solid lather with a brush and do a 2 pass shave with cleaning the brush and tools afterwards)

What about you guys, who have huge brush collections - what do you do ?
Let me hear your story and points of view

 

[TonyN]

I randomly pick the brush I'm in the mood to use. No particular order. Some do get used more than others, but I do use them all.

 

[Teddyboy]

Do you actually like them all equally? If so, draw lots to set up a rotation order and stick to it.

If you find that you like some more than others, remove the less enjoyable and BST them.

 

[Samjax]

Those are some exceptionally nice brushes! I usually take 3 or 4 with me on the road to break the boredom. Do the same with my razors - take 5 of those usually and rotate daily.

 

[blantyre]

I have 12 brushes. The rotation is pretty random, I usually use the same brush for 2-3 days. The creams/soaps I tend to pair with a brush - spineless brushes don't work well with certain creams or soaps but can still be nice to use sometimes.

 

[njpaddy]

I have 9, but 6 see the most use. I pick 2 brushes to start each month and box up the rest. I rotate those 2 until I get bored. Sometimes the same 2 make it the whole month and sometimes I swap one or both out halfway through. In any case I try to have only 2 brushes out at a time.

 

[celestino]

Use my thirteen in order and just keep rotating the order, usually. Therefore, i use them all within two weeks, basically, but YMMV.

 

[cb91710]

I randomly pick the brush I'm in the mood to use. No particular order. Some do get used more than others, but I do use them all.

This.

I'll generally avoid using one more than 2 days in a row, but of my 8 or 9, I have one dedicated to travel only, and two that have been relegated to the closet.
Of the remainder, I'll just pick one.

 

[TheLegalRazor]

I have 11 brushes and rotate through them evenly. They're lined up on 2 shelves and I just start at one end and work my way to the other end, using a different brush every day. When I get to the end I change their order and start at one end again.

 

[joshua1970]

I have 7 brushes and generally pick at random... though when breaking in a brush i tend to use it daily until I feel it's over the hump.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

I'm up (down) to 4 brushes, a Simpson Duke 3 in Best, Two Semogues, a 1305 and a 1438, and a vintage boar. For now, the Duke gets used most everyday. I'd like more brushes like I had in the past but just can't get my brain or wallet wrapped around them anymore.

 

[ackvil]

I use one for one week and then change to the next in my rotation.

 

[SliceOfLife]

I have currently

Rooney Finest
3 TGN finest
1 TGN grade a (own it for the handle)
2 M&F blond
6 boars and 4 more en route
1 Kabuki and 3 more en route
3 Simpson Chubby 1 Best -style knots in various handles
Vintage Kent Pure
Vintage Chub 2
Wee scot turnback
I'm sure I'm forgetting a couple. The majority are in the other room.

I just grab whichever brush I feel like using, hang it to dry and return it when I get the next days. Though my boars tend to stay out longer since I lather to try soaps, break in new boars, test theories, stuff like that several times a day and I usually use boars for this since they benefit from use and are cheaper to replace if they wear out.

 

[jgkeegan]

I rotate 9 brushes. I don't like them all equally but they are all good.

 

[merkur59]

I rotate all (whichever caught my fancy) except one - omega 10777, which is too scritchy for me.
Everytime I see it, it's "not tonight, my dear" (I shave in the evening)

 

[Loric]

My roster includes

2 M&F Blonds 28 & 34mm
Rooney Heritage XXL
Simpson Chubby 2 Two Band
Shavemac D01 24mm
1 TGN STA 30mm
2 TGN Super Silveritps 22 & 24mm set at different lofts.
1 TGN Boar
1 Omega Short Loft Boar 27mm Custom
1 Semogue 12LE Boar 1
1 Shave Factory Boar XS - 3 more incoming
3 Kabuki's - 5 more incoming

On Deck are a 25mm Muhle Silvertip Fiber and TGN 30mm Finest knot that just need handles.

I rotate by force of fancy. Whatever brush I feel like using I use that day. I leave it on the counter to dry overnight. Then trade it back out with another when I shave the next day.

 

[jgkeegan]

I rotate by force of fancy. Whatever brush I feel like using I use that day. I leave it on the counter to dry overnight. Then trade it back out with another when I shave the next day.

I did that for years and only in the past year did I start using a straight rotation. I have no idea what prompted me to make the change.

--james

 

[bobfarvour]

I have only 4. I use 3 regularly. I have no system or plan. Whatever I am in the mood for. Usually the software determines the hardware.

 

[Loric]

Simpsons Chubby 2 2-Band Super

Rooney Heritage Stubby 2XL 2-Band Super

I'm glad you finally picked up both that XXL and the Chubby 2 that you were lusting after. How do you like them? Are they as awesome and different as I said mine are?

 

[djh]

I have a bunch and they are rotated as I see fit in the early morning. I normally reach for one of my larger brushes on the weekend when I take a little more time over my shave.