Looking to buy a brush

GhostRida · 09-06-2008, 01:44 AM

I'm looking to buy a new brush can anyone point me in the direction of an inexpensive quality brush?

xChris · 09-06-2008, 03:23 AM

Crabtree & Evelyn carries the brush which is considered the standard in affordable but quality badger -- best badger grade in this case.

The good thing about it is (f you have a C&E shop close) you can check it out before buying. Plus you can get some samples from the store while you're there.

http://store.crabtree-evelyn.com/acc130291.html

Utopian · 09-06-2008, 06:54 AM

I completely agree. I have used cheap boar brushes for 25 years and this was my first and only badger brush. Clearly I have no extensive badger experience, but I am very happy with this brush!

dward · 09-06-2008, 12:48 PM

There are several places to buy good badger brushes for $50 or less. I have never used a boars hair so I can't advise on that.

Here are a few:

Shaving Brushes - High Quality Men's Shaving Brushes
Badger Bristle Shaving Brushes for a Wet Shave
Shaving Brushes and Shaving Supplies
Barclay Crocker, Inc.: Shaving Brushes

GhostRida · 09-06-2008, 12:58 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

gssixgun · 09-14-2008, 08:24 AM

I would highly suggest getting one high quality brush, it really is worth the money... Say you spend $120 on the brush in one year's use you actually spent $10 a month on the softest plushest feeling every morning. After 2 years you only spent $5 a month and you still have much more life in that brush I mean really at 4 years and $1.25 a month aren't you worth it?????
Keep in mind I work at a car dealership see how fast I broke that down

Shavemac, Saville Row, Kent???? Silvertip

BeBerlin · 09-14-2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Shavemac, Saville Row, Kent???? Silvertip

Shameless plug for a quality product: Thäther shaving brushes. Excellent value for money.

RichZ · 09-14-2008, 01:06 PM

I have a silvertip badger from shavemac that I highly recommend it runs about $100. Well worth it though smooth a silk on your face in the morning....

De Layne · 09-14-2008, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GhostRida

I'm looking to buy a new brush can anyone point me in the direction of an inexpensive quality brush?

Hi there,
I looked through some of your other posts and it seems like you're just getting starting with this 'hobby'. Here's some things to think about when you DO decide on your (first?) brush.
To me, 'inexpensive, yet quality' means a badger brush for under $50, and there's a number to choose from. The C&E brush, already recommended by members is a good one to think about........just read all the excellent reviews in the various forums for confirmation. Another good alternative would be a Savile Row, sold by Charles at QED. Something like a SR204 in 'super' (middle grade) is also a nice brush for under that $50 price point. It's what I used for many months, and I was extremely happy with it's performance. QED just recently started offering a 'select' brush line, which sounds pretty interesting. Maybe give Charles a call and ask him about that badger grade........he's quite helpful, and won't steer you to something more expensive that you don't need.
Now, after that price, there's lots of other brushes to consider. Brands like Kent, Rooney, Simpson, Shavemac, Savile Row, and others, all offer products for under $100, and each have their fans, but for various reasons. Some shavers like a stiffer or scritchy kinda knot, some like a softer or floppier one. Some like a large or small brush, some like one with certain handles on em (short or long). Hehe, starting to get the picture.
Over $100 and it gets pretty confusing, with lots to choose from. The thing is, a new wetshaver won't really know what type brush they feel works best for them, since they have no previous reference point. So, they may spend some serious cash, and end up with something they really didn't want after all.
Anyway, that's a very short version on a complicated subject, and just my take on things. I'm far from a brush expert, and I feel lucky not to include SBAD (shaving brush acquisition disorder) as one of my......quirks......heh. Now THAT can get expensive.
I hope this helps in some way,
Martin

Oh........one more thing about QED: If you go to the website, it may be a bit confusing. Some items may show up as being out of stock, but I believe that's not always the case. Best thing is to call and talk to Charles...he'll answer your questions and if he doesn't offer what you're looking for, he will suggest other options. Nice deal.

vgod · 09-14-2008, 09:23 PM

try a tweezerman silvertip brush. $15 plush shippinng unless you can get it locally. i use this over my dovo for everyday. i keep trying to go back to the dovo, but i just get reminded how nice my $15 brush is.

www.tweezerman.com

you can also find them from time to time on ebay. kenrup sells them with his starter kits. good times.

vgod

Bart · 09-14-2008, 09:28 PM

Semogue brush #730 (silvertip)

netsurfr · 09-14-2008, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xChris

Crabtree & Evelyn carries the brush which is considered the standard in affordable but quality badger -- best badger grade in this case.

The good thing about it is (f you have a C&E shop close) you can check it out before buying. Plus you can get some samples from the store while you're there.

Cream Best Badger Small Shave Brush | Shaving Brushes & Kits | Men's Grooming | Bath & Body | Crabtree & Evelyn

+1 good brush!

nun2sharp · 09-14-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vgod

try a tweezerman silvertip brush. $15 plush shippinng unless you can get it locally. i use this over my dovo for everyday. i keep trying to go back to the dovo, but i just get reminded how nice my $15 brush is.

www.tweezerman.com

you can also find them from time to time on ebay. kenrup sells them with his starter kits. good times.

vgod

I have a tweezerman and love it!

gugi · 09-15-2008, 04:33 AM

is the brushes I use daily - rooney finest. It's worth every penny for me, yet that is very expensive brush, with a very specific feel, so it shouldn't be anybody's first brush, unless money is not a concern at all.
My other brush is a custom shavemac and again while it's absolutely worth for me I wouldn't suggest anybody start with that.
I find a significant performance difference between the <$70 brushes and >$100 brushes, and the later make the experience a lot more enjoyable for me, but again most anything will work just fine, so the best is to just stick with your budget.

the wanderer · 09-15-2008, 11:05 PM

I just skimmed most of the replies so I don't know if someone has mentioned this before, but I started (and am continuing) with a Vulfix that I got for about $35 on classicshaving.com. (I think it was the #849)

After more than 6 months it's showing now signs of falling apart, and is actually getting a little bit smoother. If you're not sure that you want to lay down $100 for a brush, I'd definitely say that in my experience the Vulfix was definitely worth the $35.

Joed · 09-16-2008, 12:36 AM

I started out with a cheap boar brush many years ago when I was just playing with shave soaps and wanted an occasional shave with a different ritual. It does make good lather. I still have that brush and was using it when I took the str8 razor plunge. I have since moved to the Vulfix pure badger from classic shaving for had shaving soaps and a shavemac silver tip (super badger) for shaving creams. My lady friend now uses the boar brush to lather her legs and she likes it. If you are just starting out I would suggest starting with the boar brush and see if you like the experiance and really want to invest the time in your shaves. I'm sure we've all wasted ten bucks here and there and this wouldn't be a waste, just an other brush. If you like the experiance it will only get better with a badger brush. If you don't it's only ten bucks.

icedog · 09-16-2008, 02:44 AM

I have for sale a set including the finest silver tipped badger brush you'll find, a Georgetown Pottery scuttle (winner of many polls) and a beautiful stand. This will set you up with quality that you will pass on to future generations. Check it out: Shave Set Named Connie - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

Don't waste your money on commercial, mass produced mediocraty. Invest in a true, unique work of art.

Alraz · 11-10-2008, 12:23 AM

I just picked up a Crabtree and Evelyn brush (130271) because it had good reviews. It was pretty confusing to find the right one ("pure badger, "best badger" and "super badger"). I have not used it yet but I presume at $35, it would be hard to find better value. Although I read that there is no difference in the quality of the bristles between the "pure "and "best", to me, they look and feel different. Granted, I do not have any prior experience. I do not find the handle small as others have reported but I do not have big hands. Overall, this brush was the best one that I was able to find in the mall including, some sold by The Art of Shaving. I do not have a feeling for the quality of manufacture of the brush but the label says: "hand made England". I would think that is better than: "made in China". If this brush looks and "feels" this good, I cannot imagine what those that cost around $200 would be like (assuming that there is, at least, a linear function between quality and money). Please feel free to comment on my initial impression of this brush.

Al raz.

xChris · 11-10-2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alraz

I just picked up a Crabtree and Evelyn brush (130271) because it had good reviews. It was pretty confusing to find the right one ("pure badger, "best badger" and "super badger"). I have not used it yet but I presume at $35, it would be hard to find better value. Although I read that there is no difference in the quality of the bristles between the "pure "and "best", to me, they look and feel different. Granted, I do not have any prior experience. I do not find the handle small as others have reported but I do not have big hands. Overall, this brush was the best one that I was able to find in the mall including, some sold by The Art of Shaving. I do not have a feeling for the quality of manufacture of the brush but the label says: "hand made England". I would think that is better than: "made in China". If this brush looks and "feels" this good, I cannot imagine what those that cost around $200 would be like (assuming that there is, at least, a linear function between quality and money). Please feel free to comment on my initial impression of this brush.

Al raz.

You got a very good brush for the cost, IMO. Yes, it would be harder to find better value, and is one of the reasons for all of the good reviews. The handle shape, persian jar "esque", is pretty good for everyday use too (again IMO).

There is some linear function between cost and quality. But around $100, it starts to really diminish. Up over $150 and more, you're really looking at particulars specific to your own tastes -- super soft, super dense, slightly scritchy, hair guage, hair color, yada yada. It takes time, a lot of money, and a lot of trial to figure it all out at that end. But for many of us aficianados, that's what makes the hobby so great.