Ordered a B29 yesterday.
What Zenith boar brush to buy?
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What do you think of the performance of SOC? Is it suitable for face lathering？Is SOC soft enough?
If anything the SOC may be too soft once it breaks in.
I heard a lot of guys speak out against the SOC for face, but I think that’s relative. I use much larger brushes for face lathering and have no complaints. The SOC is 24 or 25mm, the zeniths are 26 and 28mm.What do you think of the performance of SOC? Is it suitable for face lathering？Is SOC soft enough?
I only have one boar, a Zenith 27.5mm, Copper handle, B33. It's absolutely fantastic. The copper develops a patina very rapidly. I occasionally use a little Flitz to polish the bottom of the handle—I like the contrast of shiny copper to patina-ed. Good luck with any of these excellent choices.
The SOC is nice, but there are two issues for face lathering. 1) It blooms to a large size, due to the way the knot is made, 2) It gets very soft as it breaks in; some would say it becomes like a big mop.What do you think of the performance of SOC? Is it suitable for face lathering？Is SOC soft enough?
ZENITH 506 - I prefer the unbleached version |
Have you tried both the unbleached version and the bleached version? Why do you prefer the unbleached version? I did not find the bleached version floppy at a loft of 55mm-57mm. Thanks.
I'm very happy with this one:
I have the same size knot (aluminium) in bleached boar bristle. IMO, the unbleached version is a notch firmer.
I might get the 506 unbleached version, it's a nice looking brush.
That as well
It looks much more expensive than 13 EUR I paid for it.
Thank you for the suggestions and the links! I'm seriously thinking of trying one of these Zenith brushes.
Assuming you are bowl lathering with this guy? The loft is pretty high isn’t it? 67mm range?I'm very happy with this one:
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- #34
Could someone post a picture of the 506 unbleached version?
It's a few posts back, @Asterix posted a pic...
The guy that runs the Gentle Shave website seems to have invented his own model numbers, which really confuses the issue. You can buy the Zenith 506U from yourshaving.com in Spain for 13 Euros plus shipping.
Here is a stock photo:
www.yourshaving.com
The guy that runs the Gentle Shave website seems to have invented his own model numbers, which really confuses the issue. You can buy the Zenith 506U from yourshaving.com in Spain for 13 Euros plus shipping.
Here is a stock photo:
ZENITH unbleached bristle olive wood handle 506U XSE - YourShaving
For decades, boar bristle shaving brushes have been the choice of master barbers in Italy, and for good reason. Boar bristle shaving brushes are both effective at creating good lather and inexpensive, they won't break your walletThe boar bristles are full and soft, working up a rich lather and...
I only face lather. Works great.
IMightBeWrong
Loves a smelly brush
I’ve had 2 Zeniths for quite a while. One is a 28/50 I believe and the other is a 26/60. It had been quite a while since I last used them, so I broke them out last night for a shave. The 26/60 is much floppier than I remembered. The 28/50 may have a short loft, but the Zenith boar is very soft so it was a better size for me to combat the flop. That’s the direction I would go, a shorter lofted brush.
I forgot how good a lather I get whenever I use a Boar. Prompted me to order a Taj SOC.
I forgot how good a lather I get whenever I use a Boar. Prompted me to order a Taj SOC.
The floppy Zeniths have around a 64mm loft. Loft needs to be in proportion tot he knot size. A 28mm knot with a 50mm loft is very short-lofted. The B03-A26 is 26mm with 57mm loft, which is not floppy to my taste, anyway. It's about right. I have not tried the unbleached knots yet, but they are supposed to be slightly firmer.
IMightBeWrong
Loves a smelly brush
Flop is subjective, too. My favorite brushes are the Simpson’s Chubby series, so the Zeniths (even my short lofted one) feel floppy when compared to the brushes I use most of the time. The short lofted Zenith is likely the closest I’ll get to a Chubby in boar but still feels “floppy” in a direct comparison. If Simpson’s made a Chubby in boar I would buy it in a heartbeat...
I have some Zenith boars, but been using just the one for the last few years- aluminum 26x57. It’s awesome.
Pick a handle, and knot size and be assured it will be a great brush
Pick a handle, and knot size and be assured it will be a great brush
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