I now have a TGN Super Silvertip on it's way to me, which will soon become a gift to my brother for Christmas (he's currently using a Tweezerman brush I gave him five months ago). But I now find myself thinking about a new restore for me, and I'd like to make it as dense as possible. What is the densest knot you've gotten from TGN? Some say "well stuffed." Some say "20% more." Some say "extra hair." What's plumpest, over-stuffed badger knot they've got?
What's the Densest TGN Knot?
- Thread starter JJMontague
- Start date
He has told me all of his knots are well stuffed. So I would pick the extra stuffed or 20% more hair version of the size and grade you like. But not the well stuffed as that is his default. You could always give him a call too. Or wait for SliceofLife to weigh in on the issue. He recently did a very thorough comparison in another thread.
Isn't TGN Tony in Arizona? If so, he's a really nice guy. You should give him a call.
have used no less than 50 TGN knots,most grade A.s,most 24 mm,all have been superbly dense.
From my experiance density is as follows.
TGN 30mm Silvertip > dense than 24mm Finest extra stuffed > 24mm Silvertip Grade A > 22mm Super Silveritp = Black Badger > 26mm Finest extra stuffed
TGN 30mm Silvertip > dense than 24mm Finest extra stuffed > 24mm Silvertip Grade A > 22mm Super Silveritp = Black Badger > 26mm Finest extra stuffed
- Thread starter
- #7
Awesome, Loric! I've been eying one of the finest extra hair. The 22mm was the likeliest candidate, mainly because I've got more 22mm handles than any other, but the 24mm would work.
I would say the finest with extra hair are the densest, then the silvertip Grade A.
You are very welcome. I'd call the 30mm and 24mm Finest dense, the 24mm Silvertip Grade A is dense enought, then the 26mm Finest extra, Black, and super silvertip are all mediumish density.
In SliceOfLifes recent brush knot comparision he had the same experiance with the 24 and 26mm finest extra stuffedd knots. For whatever reason the 24 feels like it has more hair in a smaller knot than the 26 has in its entire larger base. My 24mm is set at just over 50mm loft and its great, while my 26mm was set at 53mm and felt thin and floppy. I have read that the 22mm Finest extra stuffed is similarly dense to the 24.
The less dense knots can still be good, you just have to set them lower (and tight) to comesnate for the bloom/flop of a lower density brush. For example I played with the loft on my 22mm Super Silvertip. I went from the low to high 40's (42-49mm) and wound up choosing 44mm and its a great little face scrubber at that loft. My 24mm Sivertip is set at 48mm loft, and it too is a nice brush.
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How would you rate his super badger in density?
30mm Silvertip Grade A > 24mm Finest bulb > SuperSilvertip (only available in 22mm) > 20/26mm Finest Bulbs > Finest Fans/ 18mm finest bulb> 18mm Grade A > 20mm Super > Black
I haven't tried the plain jane silvertips, bests, or pure in so long I can't say I remember. I'd guess they're probably in the same ballpark as the Grade A for density.
Keep in mind that backbone doesn't just depend on density. So while the SuperSilvertip is a little bit denser (as far as I can tell) than most of the Finests, at the same loft the Finests will have a LOT more backbone because the hair is much stiffer. The SuperSilvertip is like Kent Silvertip or Rooney Super... very floppy, so it needs a low loft.
The only TGN knot I'd call dense is the 30mm grade a. The rest vary from sparse (18mm grade A, 20mm Super) to "ok" (Finests, Super Silvertip). The black I have is downright thin, but I always figured it was designed that way, the hair has so much backbone it's like lathering with a straw broom anyway. The trick with TGN knots is to get the right loft. It's your job to make a Dense brush out of an averagely dense knot by setting the loft properly. You're not going to wind up with a Chubby-like brush. My 30mm grade A (most fully packed TGN knot by a lot) has a tiny bit more hair than my 23mm Chubby 1. My 24mm Finest is a great brush, but it's at 43mm loft and doesn't bloom at ALL. I've had it a year now and the knot looks unused.
I haven't tried the plain jane silvertips, bests, or pure in so long I can't say I remember. I'd guess they're probably in the same ballpark as the Grade A for density.
Keep in mind that backbone doesn't just depend on density. So while the SuperSilvertip is a little bit denser (as far as I can tell) than most of the Finests, at the same loft the Finests will have a LOT more backbone because the hair is much stiffer. The SuperSilvertip is like Kent Silvertip or Rooney Super... very floppy, so it needs a low loft.
The only TGN knot I'd call dense is the 30mm grade a. The rest vary from sparse (18mm grade A, 20mm Super) to "ok" (Finests, Super Silvertip). The black I have is downright thin, but I always figured it was designed that way, the hair has so much backbone it's like lathering with a straw broom anyway. The trick with TGN knots is to get the right loft. It's your job to make a Dense brush out of an averagely dense knot by setting the loft properly. You're not going to wind up with a Chubby-like brush. My 30mm grade A (most fully packed TGN knot by a lot) has a tiny bit more hair than my 23mm Chubby 1. My 24mm Finest is a great brush, but it's at 43mm loft and doesn't bloom at ALL. I've had it a year now and the knot looks unused.
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- Thread starter
- #12
What about the fan shape Finest knots? None are specifically listed as having extra hair.
EDIT: Ian, I just noticed you have them listed in your comparison.
EDIT: Ian, I just noticed you have them listed in your comparison.
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Interesting stuff.
I am about to start a new restore for a Pewter handled brush that I want to do as a face scrubber.
I want very dense so what knot would you recommend ?
Thanks, and I apologize if this is a hi-jack.
I am about to start a new restore for a Pewter handled brush that I want to do as a face scrubber.
I want very dense so what knot would you recommend ?
Thanks, and I apologize if this is a hi-jack.
I should have been more specific and said haow do you all think the 24mm super ranks in denstity.
- Thread starter
- #15
I see what you mean. The 24mm Super description says it's packed with extra hair. Has anyone here tried this one?
I have one of these at 24mm and it is very densely packed, a lovely knot and is my favourite of the half dozen brushes I own.
Oops, sorry I left that off.
It's 18mm so it looks like my only choices are Finest or Grade A Silvertip.
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