Thinking about a new brush

[Padron]

I think I've got the cream brushes taken care of for now, but may need a good soap brush or dual purpose....

Lately, I have been reaching for the Rooney the most...but have been thinking about a Polo 8 or Duke 2, or perhaps another Rooney...

What do you think?


Here's my current lineup,


1. SR 3228 Silvertip
2. Shavemac #22579 25mm Silvertip, Horn Handle
3. Rooney Size 1 Style 1 Super, Horn Handle
4. Simpson Case Best
5. C&E BBB
6. Shavemac #177 23mm Silvertip
7. EJ Limted Edt. 2006 Finest, Horn Handle


Numbered from Left...1,2,3.........

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Mepadron/Old%20Stuff/7c769411.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n78/Mepadron/0c9b2695.jpg

[johnniegold]

Certainly can't go wrong with a Duke 2. I think it is a great soap brush. Mine seems to be shedding a bit but nothing to worry about (yet). But I would take a look at some of the Edwin Jagger brushes too or maybe a Kent BK4. (or the BLK4). My EJ medium silvertip is a great brush for soaps and creams.

I have been looking at a couple of brushes myself. I seem to be going to the smaller end of the spectrum. But two that I have my eye on are:

Savile Row 3318
Simpson 56

Btw Neale, nice line-up you got going there.

[Padron]

Thanks Bob,

The 3318 is a sweet looking little brush, I wonder if it's firm enough to be a good soap brush too.

With so many choices it's a hard one to make, kinda worried too about getting a shedder if I go with a Simpson...even my little Simpson Case has dropped a few more hairs than I would have expected with as little use as it has seen, especially compared to the Shavemacs I have, which have been perfect so far.

[TraderJoe]

U need a BK4! or, a BLK4!

Nice lineup, btw ::

[Padron]

U need a BK4! or, a BLK4!

Nice lineup, btw ::

Thanks Joe, I thought about a Bk4, but remembered reading in another post that they are less dense than a C&E BBB... I think I am looking for a firmer brush than that as my EJ is probably simliar to a BK4?

[PalmettoB]

From what Joe and Michael (Fergie, Duke of Kent) say, I think the BK 4 will my next brush. I use a lot of soaps!

[TraderJoe]

Thanks Joe, I thought about a Bk4, but remembered reading in another post that they are less dense than a C&E BBB... I think I am looking for a firmer brush than that as my EJ is probably simliar to a BK4?

The BK4, while most certainly less dense than the 'C&E BBB', is the penta-ultimate soap brush......and doubles as a cream brush too ;)

Now if you insist on a densely packed brush, that's another story. Duke 3 in Best might be a good option. Its not very big, so I can imagine the Duke 2 will be minuscule.

[Padron]

From what Joe and Michael (Fergie, Duke of Kent) say, I think the BK 4 will my next brush. I use a lot of soaps!


Wow, thanks Blair...

For some reason, I have been thinking the Bk4 would be too soft for my liking....if it's less dense than a C&E BBB..that would kinda rule it out for me.

Can someone compare the feel and stiffness of the Bk4 vs the EJ 2006 brush that I already have...I have been thinking about parting with the EJ as it is pretty floppy and doesn't see much use :confused:

[Padron]

The BK4, while most certainly less dense than the 'C&E BBB', is the penta-ultimate soap brush......and doubles as a cream brush too ;)

Now if you insist on a densely packed brush, that's another story. Duke 3 in Best might be a good option. Its not very big, so I can imagine the Duke 2 will be minuscule.

Excellent, Thanks Joe..

This is going to be a harder choice than I thought...I am still thinking I might want something more scrubby....How is the Simpson Chubby?

[TraderJoe]

Can someone compare the feel and stiffness of the Bk4 vs the EJ 2006 brush that I already have...I have been thinking about parting with the EJ as it is pretty floppy and doesn't see much use :confused:

Kent BK4 is definitely NOT a dense brush......but there is something about it (perhaps the resiliency/flex of the badger hair they use) that makes it very ideal for soap. Although not firm/dense/scrubby, it has an amazing ability to pull soap off the puck and build incredible lathers. I have no other brush like it.

As far as comparisons go, the EJ 2006 would be better analyzed side-by-side with Kent BK8 (they are both Huge, soft, and ?floppy?). Body brushes.

[TraderJoe]

I am still thinking I might want something more scrubby....How is the Simpson Chubby?

Chubby 1 was to me, more scrubby that the pure badger brushes I have had. The tips are softer than pure (obviously) but the sheer density makes it very, very scrubby. Too scrubby for my tastes.

[Padron]

Kent BK4 is definitely NOT a dense brush......but there is something about it (perhaps the resiliency/flex of the badger hair they use) that makes it very ideal for soap. Although not firm/dense/scrubby, it has an amazing ability to pull soap off the puck and build incredible lathers. I have no other brush like it.

As far as comparisons go, the EJ 2006 would be better analyzed side-by-side with Kent BK8 (they are both Huge, soft, and ?floppy?). Body brushes.

You my friend are a wealth of knowledge :cool: I may have to take another look at the Bk4 when the black one comes out.

[Padron]

Chubby 1 was to me, more scrubby that the pure badger brushes I have had. The tips are softer than pure (obviously) but the sheer density makes it very, very scrubby. Too scrubby for my tastes.

Ok, Chubby vs Duke....you thoughts?

Thanks Joe :D

[TraderJoe]

Ok, Chubby vs Duke....you thoughts?

Thanks Joe :D

Duke 3 in Best :happy088

You'll get the scrub-action I believe you are looking for, and will be able to use with creams and get great results too.

I suppose you could use a chubby with a cream, but :confused:

[rick]

BK4 is a great combo brush.
I use it mainly for creams but it works great with the TripMills as well.
I dont use it for building lather in my face. This is for use with a lather bowl.
Dont get all hung up on it not being dense enuff.....I had the same concerns b4 I conned Wilbur outta his.
The BK4 feels flexxy, not floppy and there is very little bloom on her.
This brush has bristles that are hard to describe because they feel soft, with a little scritch to em...... but the brush is not floppy at all.
Get one and I guarantee that you will like it.
If not, you can easily get your money back by selling it to one of us saps here :D

[Padron]

Duke 3 in Best :happy088

You'll get the scrub-action I believe you are looking for, and will be able to use with creams and get great results too.

I suppose you could use a chubby 1 with a cream, but :confused:

Cool, Thanks!

I'm gonna have to think this over, I still am thinking Rooney possibly as well....I love the one I have now.

Thanks for all the info :cool:

[Padron]

BK4 is a great combo brush.
I use it mainly for creams but it works great with the TripMills as well.
I dont use it for building lather in my face. This is for use with a lather bowl.
Dont get all hung up on it not being dense enuff.....I had the same concerns b4 I conned Wilbur outta his.
This brush has bristles that are hard to describe because they feel soft, with a little scritch to em...... but the brush is not floppy at all.
Get one and I guarantee that you will like it.
If not, you can easily get your money back by selling it to one of us saps here :D

Thanks Rick!!,

Maybe when the black one's available, I'll take the plunge.

[rick]

Thanks Rick!!,

Maybe when the black one's available, I'll take the plunge.

Yeah !
Shes definately a looker.
My2C worth:

Simpsons SuperCH1 for soaps. Built on face.
Rooney SuperSmall 3/1 for both (my combo brush ;))
BK4 for lather bowl building
B&B LE SuperFinest when I want mounds of lather and I'm ready for a 6pass inspection shave.
............................I do have another brush on the way but youll have to wait for a review later.

[Padron]

Yeah !
Shes definately a looker.
My2C worth:

Simpsons SuperCH1 for soaps. Built on face.
Rooney SuperSmall 3/1 for both (my combo brush ;))
BK4 for lather bowl building
B&B LE SuperFinest when I want mounds of lather and I'm ready for a 6pass inspection shave.
............................I do have another brush on the way but youll have to wait for a review later.

Sweet, Thanks!

Now, I am really curious to see what you have on the way ;)

Hoping Mike will chime in with his thoughts on the Polo 8 and Duke 2 as well, the Chubby 1 might work well too.

[Mottern Man]

Kent!

[IsaacRN]

Mike swears by Polo 8. Says its his best go to brush.

[yomuppet]

Don't these 3 cover soaps fairly well?

3. Rooney Size 1 Style 1 Super, Horn Handle
4. Simpson Case Best
5. C&E BBB

What aspects would you say you're missing, that you'd like to see with soap performance? There's always Rooney Style 1 Small/Medium Finest, that will get you an incredible amount of firmness.

J

[Padron]

Mike swears by Polo 8. Says its his best go to brush.

Thanks Isaac, very good to know. I am still researching this and trying to decide on one, a lot of choices out there though.

[DragonBoy]

Go for a Muehle Pinsel Super - Great Brush!!

[Padron]

Don't these 3 cover soaps fairly well?

3. Rooney Size 1 Style 1 Super, Horn Handle
4. Simpson Case Best
5. C&E BBB

What aspects would you say you're missing, that you'd like to see with soap performance? There's always Rooney Style 1 Small/Medium Finest, that will get you an incredible amount of firmness.

J

Thanks J,

The Simpson Case is pretty small and doesn't have a dense knot, same with the C&E BBB....I love the Rooney, and it has been my go to Soap brush lately.

The Rooney Finest may be an option, but it's pretty spendy..

Just fishing for ideas and opinions of the others out there for the other types of brushes I never tried....Maybe I am looking for a denser scrubbier brush..I am not sure though.

My first post shows the only brushes I've had experience with so far, so any additional info is most welcome.

Thanks!

[Padron]

Go for a Muehle Pinsel Super - Great Brush!!

Thanks Thomas,

I will have to look at them, I think I remember Joe saying he liked his as well. Are they similar to what I already have though?

Neale

[DragonBoy]

Thanks Thomas,

I will have to look at them, I think I remember Joe saying he liked his as well. Are they similar to what I already have though?

Neale


I dont really know.. What I do know is that I get superior lather from both soaps and creams with all my Muehles.. I wouldnt say the Super from Muehle is scrubby really.. But not at all floppy though..

I think you get a very good Brush if you get a Muehle, and the price is very good if you compare to some of the English brands..

[rick]

Sweet, Thanks!

Now, I am really curious to see what you have on the way ;)

Hoping Mike will chime in with his thoughts on the Polo 8 and Duke 2 as well, the Chubby 1 might work well too.
Pics when brush arrives....prolly Mon.
CH1 is a soap ONLY brush. IMO.
The loft is wayyyyy too short for lathering in a bowl.
Awesome for face lathering but not a "combo" brush for me.

[yomuppet]

Thanks J,

The Simpson Case is pretty small and doesn't have a dense knot, same with the C&E BBB....I love the Rooney, and it has been my go to Soap brush lately.

The Rooney Finest may be an option, but it's pretty spendy..

Just fishing for ideas and opinions of the others out there for the other types of brushes I never tried....Maybe I am looking for a denser scrubbier brush..I am not sure though.

My first post shows the only brushes I've had experience with so far, so any additional info is most welcome.

Thanks!

IMO the duke 2 is going to be extremely similar to the Rooney 1/1 that you have already, but about $25 more expensive. The Ch1 best may have very similar tips to the Rooney, but will be more dense, with a slightly larger (1-2mm) knot, and a slightly fatter handle. The denseness may make it a big more scrubby, but with the hair having the same properties it may not be the extremity you're looking for. For that, you'd need to go Rooney Finest, Simpson T2 Super (the ones that look almost 2-banded, black shafts and extremely white tips). Some Plisson's have this quality as well, but you'd have to inquire about the specific brush in question.

The Simpson can be custom ordered from Lee or Em, but is nearly as pricey as a small Rooney Finest, and with those you know exactly what you are getting. There would also be no waiting period with Rooney, as Simpson tends to make the brush after you order it.

Best of luck.

J

[Padron]

IMO the duke 2 is going to be extremely similar to the Rooney 1/1 that you have already, but about $25 more expensive. The Ch1 best may have very similar tips to the Rooney, but will be more dense, with a slightly larger (1-2mm) knot, and a slightly fatter handle. The denseness may make it a big more scrubby, but with the hair having the same properties it may not be the extremity you're looking for. For that, you'd need to go Rooney Finest, Simpson T2 Super (the ones that look almost 2-banded, black shafts and extremely white tips). Some Plisson's have this quality as well, but you'd have to inquire about the specific brush in question.

The Simpson can be custom ordered from Lee or Em, but is nearly as pricey as a small Rooney Finest, and with those you know exactly what you are getting. There would also be no waiting period with Rooney, as Simpson tends to make the brush after you order it.

Best of luck.

J

Excellent,

Thanks very much for you help :cool:

[Padron]

Pics when brush arrives....prolly Mon.
CH1 is a soap ONLY brush. IMO.
The loft is wayyyyy too short for lathering in a bowl.
Awesome for face lathering but not a "combo" brush for me.


Thanks Rick!, your CH1 is sweet!

[TraderJoe]

I dont really know.. What I do know is that I get superior lather from both soaps and creams with all my Muehles.. I wouldnt say the Super from Muehle is scrubby really.. But not at all floppy though..

I think you get a very good Brush if you get a Muehle, and the price is very good if you compare to some of the English brands..

Thanks Thomas,

I will have to look at them, I think I remember Joe saying he liked his as well. Are they similar to what I already have though?

Neale

Muehle-Pinsel

--------------

I have:

Muehle-Pinsel Silvertip
-> Closest thing I have to the BK4, as the hair is similar; but the loft is shorter, and they do not have as much "flex" The Muehle ends up being quite a bit softer than the Kent. However, as Thomas says, excellent with both the creams and soaps. Luxury. Not what you're looking for though ;)

Muehle-Pinsel Best/Pure? Badger
-> Very scrubby, similar to the C&E Best but with a longer loft, and smaller knot. Perhaps not as dense, but yet more scrubby. The tips are very different. Its an interesting feel, because it is scrubby like a pure but the density (or lack thereof, I should say), in combination with the longer knot.......make for an EXCELLENT soap brush, but it performs extremely well with creams too. I am really, really into this brush right now....and for the price (<$40 you can't go wrong). Again, however, not what you're looking for.......lacking in 'density'.

[GeNn]

Anyone that has tried this brush have comments about them?
I'm on the fence about getting this one.

[qhsdoitall]

Welcome GeNn

Here is one link

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2186&highlight=v200

And another.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showpost.php?p=18897&postcount=30

[Queen of Blades]

Welcome to The Shave Den, GeNn!

[Sejanus]

Anyone that has tried this brush have comments about them?
I'm on the fence about getting this one.

Welcome!

[GeNn]

Thanks!
Being a newbie I still have lather around my
ears but I'm learning getting around this great forum.

I started wet shaving about 3 months ago.

[Bronco]

Welcome to The Shave Den GeNn!
We all have lather around our ears. :D

[TraderJoe]

Welcome to The Shave Den GeNn!
We all have lather around our ears. :D

And some up the nose :happy001

WELCOME to the Shave Den :eatdrink004

[Dale]

Kent BK4 is definitely NOT a dense brush......but there is something about it (perhaps the resiliency/flex of the badger hair they use) that makes it very ideal for soap. Although not firm/dense/scrubby, it has an amazing ability to pull soap off the puck and build incredible lathers. I have no other brush like it.

As far as comparisons go, the EJ 2006 would be better analyzed side-by-side with Kent BK8 (they are both Huge, soft, and ?floppy?). Body brushes.

I am also interested in a BK4. I am curious, do you build the lather on your face or in a bowl?

[TraderJoe]

I am also interested in a BK4. I am curious, do you build the lather on your face or in a bowl?

9x out of 10, I lather on my face.

The 1x out of 10 that I don't lather directly on my face, I build a proto-lather in my hand and then quickly transfer to face.

In actuality I only rarely use a lathering bowl.

[Dale]

9x out of 10, I lather on my face.

The 1x out of 10 that I don't lather directly on my face, I build a proto-lather in my hand and then quickly transfer to face.

In actuality I only rarely use a lathering bowl.

And you find that the BK4 does a great job of lathering directly on your face? :)

[TraderJoe]

And you find that the BK4 does a great job of lathering directly on your face? :)

Absolutely. It is more than up to the task ;)

BTW - Welcome to The Shave Den, Dale :eatdrink004

Its Great to have you here :D

[Dale]

Absolutely. It is more than up to the task ;)

BTW - Welcome to The Shave Den, Dale :eatdrink004

Its Great to have you here :D

Thanks for the welcome. :) I have posted a few times in the past but have never formally introduced myself -- will do so soon. The talk of the BK4 caught my attention and my thanks for answering my questions. :)

[PalmettoB]

Welcome to The Shave Den, Dale.

[Queen of Blades]

We all have lather around our ears. :D

I do not! :p

[Sejanus]

I do not! :p

One of these things is not like the other... :D

[Queen of Blades]

One of these things is not like the other... :D

That gets forgotten a lot around here. :rolleyes:

I'm "one of the guys". :(

[Sejanus]

That gets forgotten a lot around here. :rolleyes:

I'm "one of the guys". :(

And you are appreciated.

[Mottern Man]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ea/Just_one_of_the_guys.jpg

[TraderJoe]

I'm "one of the guys". :(

Yes, yes you are. :: :eatdrink004 ;)

[Bronco]

I do not! :p

I think I will stay out of this one, :D.

[Michael]

One of these days, maybe I'll understand why anyone would want a scrubby brush...but I doubt it. I want to lather my face, but I do NOT want to scrub it. That's what washcloths are for. If I wanted scrubby, I'd lather with sandpaper or something.

Just my opinion of course, but I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with a BK4. The BK8 is a bit more dense, but awfully large. The 4 is, for me anyway, ideal.

JoAnna, dear, what do you mean you're "one of the guys"?! If you mean that you're a member of a mostly guys forum, then I suppose that's true. But if you think for a minute that WE think of you as a guy, well...you don't know guys! ;)

[Queen of Blades]

Yes, yes you are. :: :eatdrink004 ;)


But if you think for a minute that WE think of you as a guy, well...you don't know guys! ;)

Uh huh. :rolleyes:

[GeNn]

Went ahead and ordered the brush from enchante. It is a massive brush compared to my other brushes. I use it exclusively with hydrolast soap and paste. Initially having trouble building the mix I thought about selling it at a discount. With practice I am getting better at building the mix and I am enjoying the feel of this brush. I'm glad I got it, it is a great brush, a bit pricey though.