I am currently using a Badger with a 21mm knot/ Hair Length 2.05in./ Overall length 4in. Would 25mm knot/ overall 98mm OR 27mm knot/ 107 overall be better? Is one better than the other? Is one better for soaps or creams? Both are going to be silvertip. Thanks!
Upgrading My Brush
- Thread starter travo36
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I think both of those choices would be ideal for creams. Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong here - I'm no brush expert for sure, but I think once you get into the realm of knots of 24mm and larger, you're talking about a large brush...a 27 is maybe in the realm of extra-large.
The 27mm might feel like a mop to you if you're used to the 21mm. Why not go with the 25mm and see how that feels?
Is your 21mm decent with soaps? If so, then you'll have one brush for soaps and one for creams. If the 21mm is not something you plan on keeping, or is too soft for soaps, I'd suggest getting a $12-15 Omega boar brush as well as the 25mm Silvertip. The Omegas are really very nice brushes and can deliver outstanding results with soaps.
Good luck! Let us know what you choose and how you like it!
The 27mm might feel like a mop to you if you're used to the 21mm. Why not go with the 25mm and see how that feels?
Is your 21mm decent with soaps? If so, then you'll have one brush for soaps and one for creams. If the 21mm is not something you plan on keeping, or is too soft for soaps, I'd suggest getting a $12-15 Omega boar brush as well as the 25mm Silvertip. The Omegas are really very nice brushes and can deliver outstanding results with soaps.
Good luck! Let us know what you choose and how you like it!
- Thread starter
- #3
no problem with the 21mm, it is best badger and really good with soaps. You are thinking what I am thinking, one for soaps and one for creams! But I keep reading reviews about brushes being too big! I dont want to have a mop on my hands! But how big is too big, ya know?
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- #4
98mm= Just under 4 in. and 107= just under 4 1/4in. If what I am currently shaving with is 4in. than the larger wouldnt be too bad? right?
Well it's no doubt a YMMV thing as there are plenty of gents who love those huge brushes. One isn't necessarily better than the other. I'm just thinking that if you're used to using a somewhat stiff 21mm, a Silvertip 27mm is going to feel huge and pretty floppy...in the beginning, at least.
I think those knots are going to be seriously large. If it were me, I'd use your existing brush for cream and get a nice Semogue 1305 boar or a Vulvix #18 boar for soaps.
+1
I don't feel that knot size has any bearing on the brush's ability to generate lather. If you are used to a 21mm brush, a 25/27 mm brush is going to feel, and look gigantic in comparison.
Knot size by the way, is a measurement of the size of the knot at it's base, where it connects with the handle, not a measurement of the diameter of the hairs at their widest point.
Therefore, the difference between a 21mm/25mm/27mm is hard to comprehend without actually seeing the brushes in person.
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- #8
knot 25 mm/ loft 50 mm/ overall ht 98mm and the larger is knot 27mm/ loft 57mm/ overall 107 mm.
That's definitely a big, floppy brush. Got a pic of the two brushes? What's your price constraints?
If you're sure you definitely want to buy one of those two, then I would advise you go with the 25mm. If you feel like you want something bigger after using that, then you can start a SBAD. It's nothing to be ashamed of
+1. 25/27 would be substantially larger than you're used to. If you like the size of your 21, I'd just stick with one around that size. If you're actually looking for something a good bit larger, then I'd go to the 25/27.
Knot size isn't as important as loft height. I would recommend a 24mm knot with a 45mm-50mm loft.
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- #13
since the brush I have now is the about the same size as their medium brush, i will use the one i have now for soaps. purchase the bigger one, and use it for creams. Is their anything that says you cant use bigger, softer brushes for soaps though? Or does it just beat them a little bit?
My first brush was a 20mm pure badger vulfix mayfair. Nice brush. A bit scratchy.
Then I got a 22mm penworks finest badger. It's almost TWICE the size of the vulfix. I've had it for 3 months now, and it still seems monstrous. It's great, but I'm not sure I'm ever going to get used to the sheer size of the thing. I ordered a 20mm silvertip earlier today. Handle 47mm, loft 45. I'll post another pic when it gets here.
Based on this limited data, it appears to me that equating knot size to brush size may not be quite as accurate as you might expect.
Then I got a 22mm penworks finest badger. It's almost TWICE the size of the vulfix. I've had it for 3 months now, and it still seems monstrous. It's great, but I'm not sure I'm ever going to get used to the sheer size of the thing. I ordered a 20mm silvertip earlier today. Handle 47mm, loft 45. I'll post another pic when it gets here.
Based on this limited data, it appears to me that equating knot size to brush size may not be quite as accurate as you might expect.
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I believe, if you get knot and loft dimensions, you can have a reasonable expectation of how big the brush will be. A Chubby 2 is 27mm at the knot with a 50mm loft...that's a stout brush...a beast on soaps. Turn that 27mm knot into something with a 57mm loft and you've got a whole different animal, more proportioned and more flop up top will make it a beast of the creams.
Man, now I just want to go buy a Chubby so badly. I gotta stop talking about these things.
I believe, if you get knot and loft dimensions, you can have a reasonable expectation of how big the brush will be. A Chubby 2 is 27mm at the knot with a 50mm loft...that's a stout brush...a beast on soaps. Turn that 27mm knot into something with a 57mm loft and you've got a whole different animal, more proportioned and more flop up top will make it a beast of the creams.
Man, now I just want to go buy a Chubby so badly. I gotta stop talking about these things.
I think you're right. It's much more than simple knot size.
Here's a pic of the 20mm vulfix on the left, and the 22mm penworks on the right.
Man, now I just want to go buy a Chubby so badly. I gotta stop talking about these things.
I've got a CH1 and it is awesome! I can only imagine what a CH2 would be like.
Yes, it is. I bought a Chubby 2 because I mostly lather from soap. The Chubby makes short work of anything I've thrown at it.
- Thread starter
- #19
thnaks for posting that pic, really clears up a lot of questions! I am using a 21mm, I am gonna step up to the 25mm. The 27mm would just be a monster, based on its loft of 57mm!
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