Wee Scot or Rooney 3/1?

[tbress]

Hello! I'm a newbie here at B&B but I started wetshaving a year ago. I'm a daily wetshaver now and I'm still using the Tweezerman brush I started out with. I'm looking to upgrade, but the sheer number of options out there is intimidating.

I've narrowed it down to two options and I would like some advice. I would like to keep the price below $80, and I'm looking for a brush that would be suitable for daily use. I tend to use soaps instead of creams. I've recently started using shave sticks (Arko) as well for traveling and for shaving at the gym.

The Rooney 3/1 super gets a lot of praise and is available for $75, so it would fit the bill. But I find myself drawn to the Wee Scot as well. Here are some reasons why the Wee Scot is attractive. First, the size. The Tweezerman isn't a big brush, but sometimes I wish it were smaller, especially when I'm face lathering with a shave stick. I'm just starting out with shave sticks, but it is hard not to get lather up my nose or on my lips with the Tweezerman. Smaller would be better. Second, the price is good at $40. Third, from other comments here at B&B and on other sites it gets a lot of praise. Even if (when!) I get other brushes, the Wee Scot would likely still be a useful brush to have. Fourth, it looks like it would be a good brush for traveling or for shaving at the gym.

The thing that holds me back, though, is that a lot of commenters have said that the Wee Scot isn't really suitable as a daily-use brush. The Rooney (or a different Simpson) would make a good daily-use brush, and I could use my Tweezerman for travel and gym. Any thoughts?

Scenario 1: Use the Wee Scot for daily use, including gym and travel
Scenario 2: Stick with the Tweezerman for home, use the Wee Scot for gym and travel
Scenario 3: Rooney 3/1 for daily use, Tweezerman for gym/travel

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[Tha Baron]

The wee scot and 3/1 are very different brushes.

Go with option #3.

 

[AJMiami]

I love love my Wee...but vote #3

 

[beginish]

I would also choose option 3, but if you want a small brush, go with the Simpson Berkeley. It's only $7 more than the Wee Scot, and you're actually getting a lot of brush for the money.

 

[Silky Glide]

I have both the Wee Scott and a 3/1 and love them both but for a 2nd brush, and an allaround better brush experience, I would recommend the 3/1 over the Wee Scott. As much fun as the Wee Scott is to use, IMHO it is still a bit of a novelty brush. The 3/1 is one of the best brushes you can get for soaps and it works pretty well with creams as well. I do not think the Wee Scott will do as well with creams.

 

[Duckster]

The Rooney 3/1 knot is not as dense as a Simpson knot.

If you want a little more backbone than your Tweezerman; get a Rooney 3/1.
If you want a lot more backbone than your Tweezerman; get a Simpson.

Also, the Berkeley, as Bob suggested, sounds like a very good choice over the Wee, to me.

 

[Scott0079]

Get a Simpson Duke 1 it's in between the two brushes you named.

 

[Frowzy]

Rooney 3/1 super or Duke 3 in best imo.

 

[demaro]

I have both brushes I find myself using the Rooney much more often. If I have a few days beard growth I find since the Rooney holds more lather it gives me better coverage.

 

[nemo]

I would go for the 3/1 or as mentioned, a Duke 2

 

[tbress]

Thanks for all the great advice so far. I think I will go with scenario 3, keeping the Tweezerman for gym/travel and getting a good daily use brush for home. Since it will be a home brush it doesn't need to be so small. It looks like the Duke is getting a lot of recommendations, and I'm doing my homework and reading up on past posts about it.

Is the difference between the Duke 1, 2 and 3 mainly size? So far this thread has generated recommendations for all three. What factors should I consider in choosing between the three Dukes?

 

[DSB]

You'll havea hard time going back to the Tweezerman after using a Rooney 3/1 in super silvertip. It's a really great brush, and one of the best bargains around, in my opinion.

 

[bluemantra]

I would recommend the Roony 3/1. I have it in super and did have a tweezerman too, but sold it. I used the tweezerman as my travel brush and the Rooney at home. Worked out well. I just order a duke 3 in best too and look forward to see how it works in my line up. Get the Rooney in 3/1 in super @ $75 and don't look back, you will not be disappointed. There my two cents...

 

[Scott0079]

Thanks for all the great advice so far. I think I will go with scenario 3, keeping the Tweezerman for gym/travel and getting a good daily use brush for home. Since it will be a home brush it doesn't need to be so small. It looks like the Duke is getting a lot of recommendations, and I'm doing my homework and reading up on past posts about it.

Is the difference between the Duke 1, 2 and 3 mainly size? So far this thread has generated recommendations for all three. What factors should I consider in choosing between the three Dukes?

Size is the only difference (aside from price). I'd say a 2 would be closest to the tweezerman size.

 

[djh]

I have never seen a Tweezerman brush, but one of our other posters mentioned that it is close in size to the Duke2. I snapped a quick picture to give you an idea of the relative sizes of some of the brushes in question.

I use all three of the brushes as part of my rotation and enjoy them all. I recently purchased a larger travel tube which will hold all but my largest brushes so I am no longer limited to taking a small-ish brush when I am away. The downside of travelling with a larger brush is that it takes considerably longer to dry.
Hope that this photo helps you.

 

[California Cajun]

I'd use the Rooney at all times. I have that brush and love it. I also believe it is the best of both worlds in terms of quality and price.

 

[wimbouman]

Two very different brushes.

First, let's make clear that you *need* a Wee Scot in your den
Sooner or later, but you need one.
It is just an amazing little brush.

But maybe not as a first upgrade.

A Duke, or a Berkeley in pure is a much wiser choice indeed. See here for a thread on the 46. As a cheaper alternative the New Forest or a Semogue Owners Club (that's a boar, though).

If you can afford it some time, the combo of a Duke and a Wee Scot for travel purposes is excellent!

 

[drumana]

Rooney 3/1 super or Duke 3 in best imo.

+1. This has become my standard reply for gents looking for their first 'nice' brush. Both are great in terms of handle size and shape, knot/loft, using with soaps and creams, and face feel.

Regarding the Wee Scott. Keep in mind that this brush is minute. Very small - your Tweezerman will dwarf the Wee Scott. I'm not saying to not get it, but unless you are looking for a very small brush I would look elsewhere - ala the smaller Simpson brushes in best (Berkley, Duke 1, Case, etc...)

 

[skateblade]

A Savile Row 3118 , may fit your bill if you're opting for a small brush ! Go to the review page and check it out , its about 3 pages long ! Good luck , all are good choices.

 

[tbress]

Thanks again to everyone for the good advice. Based on your suggestions I've decided to go with the Duke 3. I placed an order with The Superior Shave. I found that their price for the D3 was just as good as Truefitt & Hill's B&B discounted price. Jarrod, the owner, was also helpful and responsive via email so I wanted to give him a plug here on the forums.

I would also like to thank wimbouman for his advice. I'm still attracted to the idea of the Wee Scot, but his advice that "it's a good brush but maybe not as a first upgrade" was what I needed to hear. That's the kind of practical wisdom that makes the B&B such a great site.