Hello again B&B - here is my third day review of the Muehle Silvertip Fiber!
Alternative title:
HOW MUEHLE SAVED THE BADGERS.
This morning, it was finally time. Time for the "loading hard soap test".
I grabbed my puck of Haslinger Coconut, gave it a quick dip in the sink, and squeezed out the brush per the recommendation of Codfish (above).
I was determined not to give into hyperbole
so I counted seconds in my head while I loaded the brush off of the puck. Unfortunately, proto-lather was flinging everywhere and I nearly got the cat in a firendly-fire incident with a huge dollop of lather. 
Needless to say, I lost count while I was laughing but my best estimate is I loaded the puck for 15 to 20 seconds.
Turns out that was 5 or 10 seconds too many. Switched to my bowl and started whipping up the lather off of the brush. Lather everywhere. Growing almost out of control, grasping for purchase outside of my bowl. Had to add a few dribbles of water, as the brush loaded so much product that even the prodigious amount of water held by the brush was not enough to satiate the desire of the product held within.
So, if you can't tell by now, loading the soap off the puck and bowl lathering was awesome. I'm going to have to use another hard soap tomorrow AM to make sure this wasn't some sort of fluke!
Here are answers to the questions that were suggested for the brush review:
1) Water retention: Does it hold water sufficiently enough?
Yes! A lot of water! Still working on matching water retention to the lathering product.
2) Loading: Does it pick up soaps and creams easily?
YES. <Insert Diner scene from "When Harry Met Sally">. 15 to 20 seconds on the puck and I had enough product for two 4 pass shaves!
3) Lather: Does it build and apply lather well?
Similar to yesterday. Bowl lathering took about the same amount of effort as I usually use, but with better results in the bowl. Awesome lather when transferred from bowl onto the face. Did I mention that the lather was awesome? We're not talking yogurt like consistency here people, we are talking Greek yogurt. Super thick and ridiculously creamy.
4) Application/Backbone: Does it allow for a soft/smooth/effective application of lather to the skin.
Same as yesterday. Nice backbone with some flop on the tips. Very smooth lather application.
5) Quality feel: Does the synthetic brush have the “quality” feel against the skin? Would it pass a blindfold test against naturals?
Same as yesterday. Yes, face feel is outstanding. *Disclaimer I do not own a natural silvertip brush.* Lightly skritchy, but mostly just soft. I "painted" the lather on my face a bit longer than usual just to enjoy the feel of the brush.
6) Appearance: Is the look of the brush attractive?
Look and grip on the handle are both good. I would say it looks better than it grips though.
So, in summary, after three uses I am extremely impressed with this brush. I'm only in my 5th month of traditional wet shaving, and I've only made really high quality lather like this brush produces two or three times prior. Now - three days in a row, face lathering a soap, bowl lathering a soft cream and bowl lathering a hard soap. All three with thick, rich, luxurious lather.
So, has Muehle just saved the Badger? I think they just may have...
And, in perhaps the most telling review of all, I just bought one of these with my own hard earned clams. Now, I no longer suspect Codfish is a Muehle operative, I think he's a Badger!
Here is a shot of today's set up. Haslinger Coconut, Star 3 piece razor with Voskhod blade and the Muehle Silvertip Fiber with my Bill Bowl from Dirty Bird. Picture taken after lathering up for my second pass!
Alternative title:
HOW MUEHLE SAVED THE BADGERS.
This morning, it was finally time. Time for the "loading hard soap test".
I grabbed my puck of Haslinger Coconut, gave it a quick dip in the sink, and squeezed out the brush per the recommendation of Codfish (above).
I was determined not to give into hyperbole
so I counted seconds in my head while I loaded the brush off of the puck. Unfortunately, proto-lather was flinging everywhere and I nearly got the cat in a firendly-fire incident with a huge dollop of lather. Needless to say, I lost count while I was laughing but my best estimate is I loaded the puck for 15 to 20 seconds.Turns out that was 5 or 10 seconds too many. Switched to my bowl and started whipping up the lather off of the brush. Lather everywhere. Growing almost out of control, grasping for purchase outside of my bowl. Had to add a few dribbles of water, as the brush loaded so much product that even the prodigious amount of water held by the brush was not enough to satiate the desire of the product held within.
So, if you can't tell by now, loading the soap off the puck and bowl lathering was awesome. I'm going to have to use another hard soap tomorrow AM to make sure this wasn't some sort of fluke!
Here are answers to the questions that were suggested for the brush review:
1) Water retention: Does it hold water sufficiently enough?
Yes! A lot of water! Still working on matching water retention to the lathering product.
2) Loading: Does it pick up soaps and creams easily?
YES. <Insert Diner scene from "When Harry Met Sally">. 15 to 20 seconds on the puck and I had enough product for two 4 pass shaves!
3) Lather: Does it build and apply lather well?
Similar to yesterday. Bowl lathering took about the same amount of effort as I usually use, but with better results in the bowl. Awesome lather when transferred from bowl onto the face. Did I mention that the lather was awesome? We're not talking yogurt like consistency here people, we are talking Greek yogurt. Super thick and ridiculously creamy.
4) Application/Backbone: Does it allow for a soft/smooth/effective application of lather to the skin.
Same as yesterday. Nice backbone with some flop on the tips. Very smooth lather application.
5) Quality feel: Does the synthetic brush have the “quality” feel against the skin? Would it pass a blindfold test against naturals?
Same as yesterday. Yes, face feel is outstanding. *Disclaimer I do not own a natural silvertip brush.* Lightly skritchy, but mostly just soft. I "painted" the lather on my face a bit longer than usual just to enjoy the feel of the brush.
6) Appearance: Is the look of the brush attractive?
Look and grip on the handle are both good. I would say it looks better than it grips though.
So, in summary, after three uses I am extremely impressed with this brush. I'm only in my 5th month of traditional wet shaving, and I've only made really high quality lather like this brush produces two or three times prior. Now - three days in a row, face lathering a soap, bowl lathering a soft cream and bowl lathering a hard soap. All three with thick, rich, luxurious lather.
So, has Muehle just saved the Badger? I think they just may have...
And, in perhaps the most telling review of all, I just bought one of these with my own hard earned clams. Now, I no longer suspect Codfish is a Muehle operative, I think he's a Badger!
Here is a shot of today's set up. Haslinger Coconut, Star 3 piece razor with Voskhod blade and the Muehle Silvertip Fiber with my Bill Bowl from Dirty Bird. Picture taken after lathering up for my second pass!
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