Upgrade from Tweezerman?

[Jabo]

I used to downplay the importance of a good brush. I moved from rubbing canned goo on my face with my fingers to using a boar brush and various soaps & creams over approx. 2 years ago. At that time, I moved on to the tweezerman badger brush and have been so pleased with it that my progression in brushes has stopped. My tweezerman appears to be ending its life cycle. What would be the most logical step up from the tweezerman, and why?

Thanks,
Jabo

 

[icedoverfire]

I purchased a Kingsley Badger Brush today. I too have a Tweezerman, not anywhere near the end of its life cycle, but this purchase was made in a fit of AD. I will probably use the Tweezerman when I need something with a little more backbone (read: after I let the beard grow out for a few days), or as a travel brush.

The Kingsley is incredibly soft and, having used it only once, I'd say it'd be a contender for you. It cost me about $40 which price-wise isn't too huge of a step up (considering you could pay north of $200 for a brush if you wanted) but so far I find it to be worth every penny.

Picture:
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2...0819210737.jpg

- ice

 

[BladeRunner001]

I used to downplay the importance of a good brush. I moved from rubbing canned goo on my face with my fingers to using a boar brush and various soaps & creams over approx. 2 years ago. At that time, I moved on to the tweezerman badger brush and have been so pleased with it that my progression in brushes has stopped. My tweezerman appears to be ending its life cycle. What would be the most logical step up from the tweezerman, and why?

Thanks,
Jabo

I don't know what your budget is, but a Silvertip Shavemac would definitely keep you satisfied. If $ was not an option, customize and upgrade to a D01 shavemac

My $0.02

 

[SliceOfLife]

I used to downplay the importance of a good brush. I moved from rubbing canned goo on my face with my fingers to using a boar brush and various soaps & creams over approx. 2 years ago. At that time, I moved on to the tweezerman badger brush and have been so pleased with it that my progression in brushes has stopped. My tweezerman appears to be ending its life cycle. What would be the most logical step up from the tweezerman, and why?

Thanks,
Jabo

Depends on the tweezerman. What are it's specs (knot size, hair grade, loft)? What did and didn't you like about it?

 

[Leche]

Jabo, how much are you willing to spend, do you face/palm/bowl/something else lather? Soaps, or creams, or both?

 

[Spivey]

You really can't go wrong with a Penworks Finest! They are excellent knots at very reasonable prices.

 

[Coastie]

I also have a tweezerman basic $10 brush. I’ve had that brush for about 4 years now, and it gets used every weekday. About 6 months into it’s life, it fell 7’ from the top of the shower door to the floor, and the knot dislodged. That was great timing because about that time some spidering of the finish on the bottom of the brush could be seen. I pulled out the knot, lightly sanded the wood handle and put 3 or 4 coats of good polyurethane over the entire handle. I then glued the knot back in, and 3.5 years later it is holding up great and my finish looks better then when it was new. If/when it dies, I’ll get another $10 tweezerman brush, or whatever they go for at that point.

 

[Jabo]

Sorry, I didn't mean to abandon my thread.

To answer some of your questions:
I have the 'standard' cheap tweezerman brush. I am not aware of any of the specs for these brushes. I really like it, and it was a night and day difference when I moved from a boar brush to this badger tweezerman. The wood handle on my brush is showing its age, and the polyurethane is wearing through. On one hand I just want to order a new $10 tweezerman (rather than dealing with refinishing the handle), but part of me is also wondering what an upgrade would be like. I appreciate all of the suggestions!

 

[Antique Hoosier]

Jabo.... Having owned brushes from Kent, Rooney, Plisson, Vulfix, and Simpson, I prefer the quality of these manufacturers and suggest that ANY of these will be significantly superior to your Tweezerman brush. Of these, I'd highly recommend the Simpson line of brushes as they are for my money the very finest from their distinctive turned handles made from high quality material to their sumptious knots of dense badger. Well worth the investment.

 

[nEver-Ready]

I own a TGN (Penworks) Finest, Simpsons Best, Rooney Super Silvertip and Shavemac D01 Silvertip, and I'll tell you for about the same money as you paid for a Tweezerman (which I also own), you can take a huge step up with a Frank's Shaving 2-band Finest. Feel the love Here and Here

 

[Doug123]

I own a TGN (Penworks) Finest, Simpsons Best, Rooney Super Silvertip and Shavemac D01 Silvertip, and I'll tell you for about the same money as you paid for a Tweezerman (which I also own), you can take a huge step up with a Frank's Shaving 2-band Finest. Feel the love Here and Here

+1 for Frank's

 

[Jabo]

Thanks for the info, folks!

I went with a Frank Shaving Luxury Silvertip (23mm knot / 55mm bristle) in butterscotch handle AND a Frank Shaving Finest Pure (22mm knot / 56mm bristle) in butterscotch handle.

I plan on using the 'Finest Pure' with soaps and the 'Luxury Silvertip' with creams. Hopefully I can tell them apart, but I really liked the butterscotch handles . The butterscotch must be popular, because I noticed the seller went up $2 on that color for the 'Finest Pure' versions.

 

[c0ry]

Thanks for the info, folks!

I went with a Frank Shaving Luxury Silvertip (23mm knot / 55mm bristle) in butterscotch handle AND a Frank Shaving Finest Pure (22mm knot / 56mm bristle) in butterscotch handle.

I plan on using the 'Finest Pure' with soaps and the 'Luxury Silvertip' with creams. Hopefully I can tell them apart, but I really liked the butterscotch handles . The butterscotch must be popular, because I noticed the seller went up $2 on that color for the 'Finest Pure' versions.

You should be able to tell the difference between the two just by looking at the hair. The Finest will have a long dark band at the base of the hair, with creamy white tips. The silvertip, on the other hand, has three distinct bands of color.

They certainly feel different as well.

 

[Ignatius]

I think the best advice in these threads is to just get a Simpsons or Rooney or Plisson and be done with it. For $75 you can get a Rooney in Super that is is as good as anything on the market, or you could gamble on a 2 or 3 cheaper brushes, or even boars, and will still and up getting a higher end brush anyway.

 

[California Cajun]

I used to downplay the importance of a good brush. I moved from rubbing canned goo on my face with my fingers to using a boar brush and various soaps & creams over approx. 2 years ago. At that time, I moved on to the tweezerman badger brush and have been so pleased with it that my progression in brushes has stopped. My tweezerman appears to be ending its life cycle. What would be the most logical step up from the tweezerman, and why?

Thanks,
Jabo

The Tweezerman was my first brush and it was a fine one.

The next step for me was one of these Rooneys: http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/home.php?cat=153

Then I went to my favorite brush, one of these (I purchased mine from a fellow member): http://www.vintagebladesllc.com/vshop/xcart/product.php?productid=668&cat=173&page=1

The higher you go, the more water and soap it absorbs, and the more it caresses your face.

 

[Maineac]

Thanks for the info, folks!

I went with a Frank Shaving Luxury Silvertip (23mm knot / 55mm bristle) in butterscotch handle AND a Frank Shaving Finest Pure (22mm knot / 56mm bristle) in butterscotch handle.

I plan on using the 'Finest Pure' with soaps and the 'Luxury Silvertip' with creams. Hopefully I can tell them apart, but I really liked the butterscotch handles . The butterscotch must be popular, because I noticed the seller went up $2 on that color for the 'Finest Pure' versions.

I have both of these brushes plus another Finest with the rosewood handle.

Excellent brushes for the money. I felt that it was wise to stock up before the prices creep up. I also have a Tweezerman which I keep in my rotation and another ten brushes or so.

So far brushes and after shave lotions are my biggest weaknesses followed by soaps and creams.