SMF

Do you have a preference for a particular knot size and loft for your favoured shaving brush? And why?

Trying to better understand this shaving brush subject.

I'll go first!

I first started out liking larger brushes, ie knots with 24mm+ widths and lofts over 50mm. I started with the bigger is better attitude which, yes worked for me till my new G5 scuttle.

I'm starting to move to smaller brushes, the two latest brushes were the Omega 10005 which is 22mm x 55mm and to my new Vulfix 2197P which is 19mm x 48mm.

I would have to say in summation I'm preferring smaller brushes, even bowl lathered. I would have to say 20mm +/- 1mm width and lofts around 50mm +/- 1mm or so are my new ideal brushes. They lather better in my scuttle, and for whatever reason I seem to get more lather out onto my face and wash less of it down the drain unused.

32 mm knot with a loft of circa 75 mm. Except when I travel, it is the only size brush I have used for about four decades.

Small brushes are for wimps.

You gotta problem widdat?

Buzz

M6Classic wrote:32 mm knot with a loft of circa 75 mm. Except when I travel, it is the only size brush I have used for about four decades.

Small brushes are for wimps.

You gotta problem widdat?

Buzz

What a man!

He's known as Buzz Bunyan around these parts.

M6Classic wrote:32 mm knot with a loft of circa 75 mm. Except when I travel, it is the only size brush I have used for about four decades.

Small brushes are for wimps.

You gotta problem widdat?

Buzz

Haha...

I would like to see your Plisson in this...

Sodapopjones wrote:
Haha...

I would like to see your Plisson in this...

Naaah, just a plain ol' wooden bowl of GFT sandalwood. Never more, never less. That is, unless Floris fixes that No. 89 thing.

As I have said before, these big Plissons hold so much water that they're issued to California smoke jumpers for fire fighting.

Buzz

for me i have really grown to love 22 to 24 mm knots and the lofts at 48 to 50mm

and if it is a rooney all the better

marc

M6Classic wrote:
As I have said before, these big Plissons hold so much water that they're issued to California smoke jumpers for fire fighting.

Buzz

LOL

I like larger knots but Buzz would still call what I use wimpy. 24 mm or so is about right for me. My size 16 Plisson is just a baby compared to what Buzz uses. Depends on the loft though too. The long loft on a brush like a Plisson makes the 24 mm knot larger than a bigger knot with a shorter loft. A Chubby 2 size knot is another good one. I only face lather and enjoy the bigger brush.

Fido,

Presently loving my Vulfix 404 Badger/Boar which is supposedly 22mm with a 50mm loft. I picked up on this brush through some of the discussions over on The Shaving Room Forum you guys are running over in the UK.

marsos52 wrote:for me i have really grown to love 22 to 24 mm knots and the lofts at 48 to 50mm


marc

Those are the characteristics that make the ideal brush for me as well.

Nitrox wrote:

marsos52 wrote:for me i have really grown to love 22 to 24 mm knots and the lofts at 48 to 50mm


marc

Those are the characteristics that make the ideal brush for me as well.

Me three!

I have to say that as much as I like my 'smaller' brushes, my preference is for the large.

My BK8 was wonderful, I don't know why I ever sold it.

The same with my old Simpson Chubby 3 Best, too bad it was a shedder.

But, now my go to brushes are all quite large, all over 24mm with lofts around 60mm or more. An Omega Professional Boar, a Semogue LE and a Custom Shavemac.

I have to say that the custom shavemac with 60% pure badger and 40% silvertip (28mm knot at 62mm loft) is treating me so right, that when I think of using any other brush in my rotation, it's nearly sinful.

Well, I started out favouring brushes with a 26mm knot. In time that moved to 24mm. and now I find myself preferring 22mm. jobs. Always prefered medium to slightly shorter lofts...say, 47 to 50mm give or take. Why? I dunno. Brushes with a lot of loft always seemed a little harder to control precisely during the lathering process and I don't like a lot of mess.
Regards,
Gordon

Now that I had two and three banded brushes explained for the unenlightened perhaps a primer on brush size terminology?
LOFT: to me this means the insulative qualities via warm air holding capacity of materials. Are we talking heigth of hair or diameter?
KNOT: I am guessing this to be base diameter from the plug secured to handle?
METRIC SYSTEM: Oh, I know it well. But considering cultural measurements like the englishmen's pint of beer were specifically allowed
and most of the brushes are british how about some SAE measurements for a few older members?

25.4mm/inch

I believe my small Rooney's slightly wider (22mm) knot with shorter loft (48mm) helps it load up soap and lather it into my face. Perhaps a taller, narrower knot may be smoother with cream (and floppier).

I'll pop in with a knot size of 27m and loft around 95m. I have settled, after all these years, on the Simpsons Chubby 2....and maybe the Tulip 2 or 3 as they battle for my attention in the morning.

Max

vtmax wrote:I'll pop in with a knot size of 27m and loft around 95m. I have settled, after all these years, on the Simpsons Chubby 2....and maybe the Tulip 2 or 3 as they battle for my attention in the morning.

Max

Are you certain of that loft? If you actually meant 95 mm, that is one tall brush...or two tall brushes! I am not sure about everyone here, but I measure loft from the exposed base of the knot to the top of the tallest hairs.

Buzz