What size knot for my M&F L7?

[ajw1297]

I will be ordering an M&F L7 here pretty soon and want to get a super versatile brush that is good for pretty much everything, I want this to be my go to brush. I am completely torn if I should go with a 24/48 or a 26/50. I know I may be shooting myself in the foot on this one and opening a huge can of worms with multiple opinions but just wanted to see what you all had to say.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[brucered]

24/50 is the most versatile to me.

if you go up to a 26mm knot, the handle size becomes larger too, not to mention price.

here is my "24/50" and the actual measurements

Morris & Forndran L7 2 Band Blonde Badger

Weight: 72.7 g
Overall Height: 106.54 mm
Handle Height: 57.50 mm
Knot Loft: 49.04 mm
Knot Diameter: 24.55 mm

 

[ajw1297]

24/50 is the most versatile to me.

if you go up to a 26mm knot, the handle size becomes larger too, not to mention price.

here is my "24/50" and the actual measurements

Morris & Forndran L7 2 Band Blonde Badger

Weight: 72.7 g
Overall Height: 106.54 mm
Handle Height: 57.50 mm
Knot Loft: 49.04 mm
Knot Diameter: 24.55 mm

Thank you for your input, I didn't even think about handle size increasing. I don't want a monster thats for sure.

 

[brucered]

Thank you for your input, I didn't even think about handle size increasing. I don't want a monster thats for sure.

the larger of the L7's is quite a bit larger from what I remember.

My L7 is about as perfect a handle and knot size as you can get (for me anyway).

Hopefully someone with a larger L7 can chime in with size or even a side by side.

 

[Scott0079]

24 @ 48/50 Fan Shape

 

[Macbreezy]

Ask him or the same knot that he put in the Chief. It's perfect.

 

[NSmalls]

I was gonna say 24/50 but it looks like Bruce beat me to it!

 

[ajw1297]

The Chief knot would be great... However I'd like to get my hands on the actual Chief brush. It looks like 24/50 it is! Thanks for all of the help guys!

 

[random-hero]

I've had both the larger and smaller size L7 handle. 24mm and a 27mm knot and I have to say I prefer the way the larger handle feels in the hand.

 

[ajw1297]

I've had both the larger and smaller size L7 handle. 24mm and a 27mm knot and I have to say I prefer the way the larger handle feels in the hand.

Thanks for your response, do you by any chance have dimensions or a photo of them side by side?

 

[Stiglitz]

You har the exact brush that I want to order. May I ask your thoughts and if you remember the price paid?

24/50 is the most versatile to me.

if you go up to a 26mm knot, the handle size becomes larger too, not to mention price.

here is my "24/50" and the actual measurements

Morris & Forndran L7 2 Band Blonde Badger

Weight: 72.7 g
Overall Height: 106.54 mm
Handle Height: 57.50 mm
Knot Loft: 49.04 mm
Knot Diameter: 24.55 mm

 

[brucered]

^ I'll let Lee quote you a price, but its the longest owned brush in my collection for a reason.

hybrid shaped knot, soft, releases lather and awesome handle. It's from the hair batch a couple years ago and may differ from current 2 Band Blonde available today.

in short, it's an amazing brush.

 

[jazzguy]

My 1/2 blonde badger is roughly 24x50 and it's a great brush. I also have a Chief and they are quite similar. The Chief is bigger and slightly less dense but it is a tad softer. That is the biggest difference. I really like both brushes. I'd ask Lee if has any more of the Cheif batch of hair.

 

[Stiglitz]

^ I'll let Lee quote you a price, but its the longest owned brush in my collection for a reason.

hybrid shaped knot, soft, releases lather and awesome handle. It's from the hair batch a couple years ago and may differ from current 2 Band Blonde available today.

in short, it's an amazing brush.

Thank you, but I've made contact with him already, waiting for him to finish his vacation before I go through the purchasing process. Until then, I just try to use some Google-Fu to figure it out.

 

[dushea]

I wish my 24/48 was a 24/50. Go with the 24/50.

 

[Dirk-Lerxst-Pratt]

27 x 53 here. Love it. Wouldn't change a thing.

 

[ajw1297]

Dang this is going to be harder than I thought! Thanks for all the input guys! I like the idea of a little larger handle and a 26mm knot, but if the handle is going to be too big, I don't want that. I know that the 24/50 is probably the most versatile, but I need to weigh the options tonight and sleep on it.

 

[ChiefBroom]

I have an L7 with a 24mm x 50mm knot. It was my first M&F brush and the most proximate inspiration for the Chief. See this post and also this one. Note that hair characteristics, which are manifested in appearance, bloom, etc., vary from batch to batch and from badger to badger. No two knots are ever the same, just varying degrees of similar/dissimilar.

That L7 is still one of my favorite brushes, but I think I slightly prefer the 25mm x 50mm knots in my two bulb-shaped Chief prototypes (one with a faux-tortoise handle and the other in faux bone). I also have one in bone that is fan-shaped. The latter is a very nice brush that I suspect many would prefer over a bulbier knot; however, I like the fan/bulb hybrids better (see photo below for a side-by-side comparison). You'll find several photos of my 24mm x 50mm L7 if you follow the first link above.

I chose the knot on the right for the M&F group buy primarily on the basis of aesthetics. To my eye, it just fits the handle better. But I also prefer the way it feels. That difference is both subtle and subjective; nonetheless, it is a difference that matters to me. The fan-shaped brush is terrific also. Just not as much so IMO.

BTW, the difference in feel was counter-intuitive to me. The longer hairs toward the outer circumference of the fan confer more lateral support/stability on the hairs closer to the crown, so I would have expected the fan to feel scrubbier. But I think what happens is that, when using a fairly light hand, which I do (working mostly with the tips), more pressure is distributed across a boarder area with the fan than the bulb, so I end up feeling more pressure with the bulb. Hope that makes sense. Like I said, it's subtle.

Good luck.

 

[brucered]

I have to agree with Ken. As much as I like and enjoy a "fan" knot, the Hybrid M&F knot is one of my favourites.

very versatile and can bowl and face lather with ease.

I's the most visually appealing as well, but don't let that sway you as performance is what you should want most of all.

 

[ajw1297]

I have an L7 with a 25mm x 50mm knot. It was my first M&F brush and the most proximate inspiration for the Chief. See this post and also this one. Note that hair characteristics, which are manifested in appearance, bloom, etc., vary from batch to batch and from badger to badger. No two knots are ever the same, just varying degrees of similar/dissimilar.

That L7 is still one of my favorite brushes, but I think I slightly prefer the 25mm x 50mm knots in my two bulb-shaped Chief prototypes (one with a faux-tortoise handle and the other in faux bone). I also have one in bone that is fan-shaped. The latter is a very nice brush that I suspect many would prefer over a bulbier knot; however, I like the fan/bulb hybrids better (see photo below for a side-by-side comparison). You'll find several photos of my 24mm x 50mm L7 if you follow the first link above.

I chose the knot on the right for the M&F group buy primarily on the basis of aesthetics. To my eye, it just fits the handle better. But I also prefer the way it feels. That difference is both subtle and subjective; nonetheless, it is a difference that matters to me. The fan-shaped brush is terrific also. Just not as much so IMO.

BTW, the difference in feel was counter-intuitive to me. The longer hairs toward the outer circumference of the fan confer more lateral support/stability on the hairs closer to the crown, so I would have expected the fan to feel scrubbier. But I think what happens is that, when using a fairly light hand, which I do (working mostly with the tips), more pressure is distributed across a boarder area with the fan than the bulb, so I end up feeling more pressure with the bulb. Hope that makes sense. Like I said, it's subtle.

Good luck.

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Wow, thanks so much for this write up and the links. They definitely helped out a ton! This may be a dumb question butby using a 25mm knot does that mean the larger handle is used? Or the smaller like those with a 24mm knot.

I will definitely be going with a medium density hybrid bulb with a 50mm loft.

Once again, thanks again for all of your help!