Penworks / Golden Nib brushes

[blakefletcher]

Hey everyone. I'm completely new to DE shaving and will be recieving a silvertip penwoks brush as one of my first brushes (I ordered 3 before I have even received my razor!) The other two brushes I will have is a semogue 2030, which is a pure badger brush, and one of the kim son buffalo horn handled silvertip brushes. As I did not order a "premium" branded brush since the reviews on the penworks are so great and the prices are phenomenal, I was wondering from some of the vets that have them that have tried plenty of brushes in their day, how do they stack up? Every bit as good as your $150 brush? Slightly worse?

Also, if anybody has one of the kim son brushes, I would love to know how those stack up to top of the line brushes as well.

Thanks!

Blake

[Kamamuri]

Hey everyone. I'm completely new to DE shaving and will be recieving a silvertip penwoks brush as one of my first brushes (I ordered 3 before I have even received my razor!) The other two brushes I will have is a semogue 2030, which is a pure badger brush, and one of the kim son buffalo horn handled silvertip brushes. As I did not order a "premium" branded brush since the reviews on the penworks are so great and the prices are phenomenal, I was wondering from some of the vets that have them that have tried plenty of brushes in their day, how do they stack up? Every bit as good as your $150 brush? Slightly worse?

Also, if anybody has one of the kim son brushes, I would love to know how those stack up to top of the line brushes as well.

Thanks!

Blake

Hi blakefletcher.

You have a review at the follow link : http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=70517

I'm waiting for a Kim's brush, made in a limited edition for a spanish shaving forum (http://www.afeitadoclasico.com and I'm very excited. I can't wait! :cursing:

[heirkb]

I haven't tried thegoldennib silvertip, but I can tell you that the finest grade hair is in no way inferior to any of my other brushes.
This is my opinion of thegoldennib finest knots, so keep that in mind. The Simpson's 2 band PJ2 in super is my favorite, but I don't think that the finest knot is in any way inferior. It's just a little different and it's probably my second favorite knot of badger. If it was sold as a 150 dollar brush because Kent, Shavemac, Plisson, Simpson's or Rooney used that hair, I'm pretty sure lots of people would still buy it and say it's a great knot. I think the perception is that it's lower end because it's only 20 bucks, but it really isn't in terms of quality and performance.
I've tried Plisson 2 band and 3 HMW band hair (350-450 dollar brushes), Plisson vintage grey badger (100 bucks at least nowadays), Simpson's 2 band super (150 dollar brushes), Rooney Super (75 dollars), Kent B&B 08 brush (150 dollars) and a few other brushes just to give you a range of what I'm comparing it to.
If others disagree and think that their other brushes are significantly higher in quality, please feel free to say so. I think that when making comparisons though, you should treat it like a blind wine tasting. If you weren't to see the pretty handles, brand stickers, etc. and didn't know the brand, what would you think of the brush? That's how I look at it when I compare just performance and quality of the knot.

[qdaddy]

I have a golden nib boar knot (fan of boar) and WOW!!!! I re-knotted a vintage brush and it was boar so I decided to stay with boar, just for kicks. My badger knots don't see much action anymore. If golden nib badger knots are 1/3 as good as their boar, you will probably be hard pressed to find a better product.

:thumbup1: on the golden nib

[Schwert]

I do not have any complete brushes that Tony has built, but I do have 2 with GN knots...an 18mm Best and 23mm UK super. They are great knots. Combine these with his handles and I think you have a great brush....probably better than many of the name brands. I lost all interest in spending huge amounts of cash on English or German brushes once I started using my Golden Nib brushes.

[sanfranciscian]

I have one of tonys 22mm finest brushes purchased two weeks ago and just love it, and unless it got away when i wasnt looking it has not lost 1 hair in that time. good luck with that and the kim son. i was looking at those also but needed a little more instant gratification. really like to hear about the kim son when you get it.

[blakefletcher]

Wanted to let everyone know that I got my brush and used it a couple times now. This brush by the way...

http://www.penworks.us//bmz_cache/2/29e04d471f1839518da539127f88e579.image.600x475.jpg

I absolutely love it! It is a great looking brush, and the knot is SO dense! Has a lot more back bone than the other brush I tried (Semogue 2030) which I really like since I'm planning on mostly using soaps. From everything I've read about Rooney's, I would imagine this brush is very similar. Very dense, great backbone, slightly scritchy...although getting softer with each use.

Truly a beautiful brush that I would recommend to anyone!

[bman40]

I have made three brushes with the knots Tony sells, and they are pretty nice. They are the only badger knots I have tried, so I can't compare to othere makers. I CAN say that they are gentle on mthe face, have held up very well over the 2 years I have used them, and they are affordable.

I just picked up two more knots - a Finest and a Superbadger. I'm waiting on a old ever ready I foudn on line, and will be resotring it with the Finest.

The Super is going to be a new, custom handle, if I can find a peice of alternate ivory that I can actually afford, or maybe a piece of Delrin or other acrylic rod.

Barry

[Matthew Aldas]

Wanted to let everyone know that I got my brush and used it a couple times now. This brush by the way...

http://www.penworks.us//bmz_cache/2/29e04d471f1839518da539127f88e579.image.600x475.jpg

I absolutely love it! It is a great looking brush, and the knot is SO dense! Has a lot more back bone than the other brush I tried (Semogue 2030) which I really like since I'm planning on mostly using soaps. From everything I've read about Rooney's, I would imagine this brush is very similar. Very dense, great backbone, slightly scritchy...although getting softer with each use.

Truly a beautiful brush that I would recommend to anyone!

fantastic purchase. I actually prefer a slighty scritchy brush and I think the penworks are second to none.

[joel]

Hey everyone. I'm completely new to DE shaving and will be recieving a silvertip penwoks brush as one of my first brushes (I ordered 3 before I have even received my razor!) The other two brushes I will have is a semogue 2030, which is a pure badger brush, and one of the kim son buffalo horn handled silvertip brushes. As I did not order a "premium" branded brush since the reviews on the penworks are so great and the prices are phenomenal, I was wondering from some of the vets that have them that have tried plenty of brushes in their day, how do they stack up? Every bit as good as your $150 brush? Slightly worse?

Also, if anybody has one of the kim son brushes, I would love to know how those stack up to top of the line brushes as well.

Thanks!

Blake

Penworks brushes have gotten a lot of attention lately because of a few members who have REALLY been pushing them. They're not bad but not great either. Simpson, Kent, Plisson, Rooney, Shavemac etc are all an order of magnitude superior in my, and many others opinion.

[blakefletcher]

Penworks brushes have gotten a lot of attention lately because of a few members who have REALLY been pushing them. They're not bad but not great either. Simpson, Kent, Plisson, Rooney, Shavemac etc are all an order of magnitude superior in my, and many others opinion.


I wish so bad that somebody here with a lot of brushes could do a blind taste test. I always wonder to what extent, especially in a "luxury category" like this, a brand name or cost can effect a person's opinion, maybe even subconciously.

A friend of my father's is a huge wine connisseur, does not own a bottle of wine under $30, most in the $50-$100 range. My dad one night decided to do this "blind" wine taste test with some of his friends, putting 3 bottles of wine in paper bags, one under $10, one $50 bottle, and one $100 bottle. They all then said which they thought was which. This huge wine connisseur, who only drinks expensive wine because he thinks that all cheap wines are not made with the same smoothness and quality of more expensive wines, ended up guessing that the under $10 bottle (which ended up being charles shaw no less) was the $100 bottle. I have never seen a grown man more embarassed in my life.

I wonder for instance, if it wasn't widely known knowledge on this website that the T&H stiff brushes are identical to the Rooney's, and you were to give an experienced wet shaver both, if they would say that the Rooney beat out the T&H. Who knows...certainly not me!:tongue_sm

If anybody wants to volunteer to do a blind brush taste test (good luck not sticking your brush in your eye!) let me know. I'd love to hear the results.

Cheers.

Blake

[Doc4]

I wish so bad that somebody here with a lot of brushes could do a blind taste test.

Badger hair all tastes the same. :blink:




(but performance as a shave brush ... )

[blakefletcher]

Badger hair all tastes the same. :blink:


Clearly you have an underdeveloped palatte!:tongue_sm

[bandit82ta]

Wanted to let everyone know that I got my brush and used it a couple times now. This brush by the way...

http://www.penworks.us//bmz_cache/2/29e04d471f1839518da539127f88e579.image.600x475.jpg

I absolutely love it! It is a great looking brush, and the knot is SO dense! Has a lot more back bone than the other brush I tried (Semogue 2030) which I really like since I'm planning on mostly using soaps. From everything I've read about Rooney's, I would imagine this brush is very similar. Very dense, great backbone, slightly scritchy...although getting softer with each use.

Truly a beautiful brush that I would recommend to anyone!

I have the same brush and for me it's a great brush. It's at a value price and performs well. Can I compare to the big names... NO I dont have any but hey lets be real I'm on a budget. How does it compare to a boreal or VDH brush..... leaps and bounds of an improvement. It's all in what you find you like and what you are willing to spend.... enjoy your brush

[kevtex]

I have a Penworks Finest on the way from Tony. I've placed a couple orders from him in the past (one nib and two brushes) and have to say that he offers the fastest shipping of any vendor I've used, so don't hesitate to order from him. Don't forget the 10% discount.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=117436&highlight=PENWORKS

[grump]

I like Tony's brushes and have 2 of them, also 1 golden nib re-knot. I will most likely try a Kimson out next year.

I believe all brushes have their own characteristics.

Here is a pic of my rotation as of today.

http://i50.tinypic.com/a43qs8.jpg

Just as on a car lot that has a Cadillac, Impala, Jeep, and a Hummer,
"THEY ALL BEG TO BE DRIVEN"

[leeparmet]

I just got my 26mm Finest from Tony. Great brush, even better price:thumbup:

[SRock]

I wish so bad that somebody here with a lot of brushes could do a blind taste test.

I don't know about blind test but there are many many of us here on the board that have or do have countless brushes from various manufacturers. For example I currently have in rotation, Rooney, Simpsons, Omega, TGN, Kent, Shavemac (just to name a few) and of all of them the TGN knot is last in terms of quality. That's not to say it is bad or that it doesn't work just that the others are better.

I can tell you from personal experience that the manufacturers Joel listed above your post are in fact "an order of magnitude" better than Penworks and/or TGN. That's not a guess or perception based on brand name but a rigorous testing process that exceeded 12 months. I've had as many as 28 brushes in rotation at any one time and have more recently narrowed it down to a dozen great performers.

I have a Two-Band Silvertip knot from TGN in one of my brushes and it isn't nearly as nice as the Best knot in my Simpson Major. The hair in the Simpson is allegedly a lower/less soft grade than the TGN Two Band but in reality it blows the TGN out of the water.

Like many have said, theres nothing wrong with TGN/Penworks knots they'll do the job but there are much nicer things out there.

This is all part of what makes this lifestyle of ours exciting. We constantly get to try and experience new things all while working toward what works best for us individually.

[Kamamuri]

I wish so bad that somebody here with a lot of brushes could do a blind taste test. I always wonder to what extent, especially in a "luxury category" like this, a brand name or cost can effect a person's opinion, maybe even subconciously.

A friend of my father's is a huge wine connisseur, does not own a bottle of wine under $30, most in the $50-$100 range. My dad one night decided to do this "blind" wine taste test with some of his friends, putting 3 bottles of wine in paper bags, one under $10, one $50 bottle, and one $100 bottle. They all then said which they thought was which. This huge wine connisseur, who only drinks expensive wine because he thinks that all cheap wines are not made with the same smoothness and quality of more expensive wines, ended up guessing that the under $10 bottle (which ended up being charles shaw no less) was the $100 bottle. I have never seen a grown man more embarassed in my life.

I wonder for instance, if it wasn't widely known knowledge on this website that the T&H stiff brushes are identical to the Rooney's, and you were to give an experienced wet shaver both, if they would say that the Rooney beat out the T&H. Who knows...certainly not me!:tongue_sm

If anybody wants to volunteer to do a blind brush taste test (good luck not sticking your brush in your eye!) let me know. I'd love to hear the results.

Cheers.

Blake

+1 :thumbup1:

[opliko]

I think TGN is an opportunity for us without wads of cash to burn away to try out nicer brushes. :)

[mdunn]

i really like my golden nib knots, they lather well and are amazing value. what they are not, however, is equal to a 'proper' brush.

[GarageBoy]

I don't know about blind test but there are many many of us here on the board that have or do have countless brushes from various manufacturers. For example I currently have in rotation, Rooney, Simpsons, Omega, TGN, Kent, Shavemac (just to name a few) and of all of them the TGN knot is last in terms of quality. That's not to say it is bad or that it doesn't work just that the others are better.

I can tell you from personal experience that the manufacturers Joel listed above your post are in fact "an order of magnitude" better than Penworks and/or TGN. That's not a guess or perception based on brand name but a rigorous testing process that exceeded 12 months. I've had as many as 28 brushes in rotation at any one time and have more recently narrowed it down to a dozen great performers.

I have a Two-Band Silvertip knot from TGN in one of my brushes and it isn't nearly as nice as the Best knot in my Simpson Major. The hair in the Simpson is allegedly a lower/less soft grade than the TGN Two Band but in reality it blows the TGN out of the water.

Like many have said, theres nothing wrong with TGN/Penworks knots they'll do the job but there are much nicer things out there.

This is all part of what makes this lifestyle of ours exciting. We constantly get to try and experience new things all while working toward what works best for us individually.

I don't think there is a brush that joel hasn't used...

[baggiez]

I think TGN is an opportunity for us without wads of cash to burn away to try out nicer brushes. :)

I did a restore with a Golden Nib knot and couldn't be happier for the money.

Is it better or nicer than the big names - don't know because I haven't compared them but it's really more about what's available at that price point.

It does the job for me and whether something costing ten times more would be ten times better is a matter for each individual (and usually SWMBO).

"You want to buy what? It costs how much? How many brushes do you have already? It's just for putting lather on your face isn't it?" :laugh:

[cfriend]

Penworks brushes have gotten a lot of attention lately because of a few members who have REALLY been pushing them. They're not bad but not great either. Simpson, Kent, Plisson, Rooney, Shavemac etc are all an order of magnitude superior in my, and many others opinion.

I just don't find them attractive. On the whole they seem to be swirly and sparkly, I prefer tortoise or ivory. The only brushes that catch my eye are the imitation Rooneys, and if it comes to that I think I'd rather buy a Rooney. Then again, maybe if I 'molested' a few penworks brushes I'd have a change of heart... :001_rolle

[sedo]

"molest" I am not even going to ask how you do it with a brush.

[auee1977]

I think TGN is an opportunity for us without wads of cash to burn away to try out nicer brushes. :)

Agreed. I ordered one and am going to try it with a open mind. At the moment, I prefer not to spend in excess of $100.00 on a shaving brush, so I really hope it works out.

[markb]

I have three of Tony's brushes along with two other Shavemacs (177 & 436) and a Simpsons Chubby 2 (best). IME Tony's brushes are on par with the Shavemacs in performance and quality of build and surpass the Simpson Chubby.

Yes, they ARE great brushes.

[ambrose]

I think its all preference, if it works and feels good then its all you need. I personally like the GN finest. Super soft and yet lots of backbone, still nothing like the major brush makers.

[sparkster123]

i sure like the looks of his brushes. and they seem like a good deal.

randy

[miner]

Jeez Guys we are comparing Hyandai to Ferrari here.
GN knots are amazing for the price
I have three and for the $$ they are worth every cent..

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/miner900/IMG_2083_resize.jpg

$80 max for the brush in front $30 each for the two behind and they are really good.

But if you want a Ferrari
Then buy one...

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/miner900/IMG_2093_resize.jpg.

But I made the two GN brushes

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l307/miner900/IMG_2095_resize.jpg

And that makes them special..

Compare with Simpson or Shavemac....

No but for now my home built Hyundai beats the Ferrari

Cheers

[bman40]

I think that we need to evaluate these brushes for what they are: a less expensive brush that works well.

They are NOT Rooneys, Plisson's etc, but they are better than a Tweezerman, or a number of other 'cheap' brushes out there. These knots are also a great way to experience badger at a good price.

I don't think we need to suggest that these knots are as good as the more expensive brushes, but they ARE a good value for the money.

I like my golden nib knots, and like making my own handles, and am really digging the vintage Ever Ready handle I found.

I am super-reluctant to spend the dollars a top-flight brush commands, and the these knots from Tony are an excellent alternative to the top end brushes.

Barry

[SRock]

I think that we need to evaluate these brushes for what they are: a less expensive brush that works well.

They are NOT Rooneys, Plisson's etc, but they are better than a Tweezerman, or a number of other 'cheap' brushes out there. These knots are also a great way to experience badger at a good price.

I don't think we need to suggest that these knots are as good as the more expensive brushes, but they ARE a good value for the money.

I like my golden nib knots, and like making my own handles, and am really digging the vintage Ever Ready handle I found.

I am super-reluctant to spend the dollars a top-flight brush commands, and the these knots from Tony are an excellent alternative to the top end brushes.

Barry

Well said, Barry! :thumbup1:

[ambrose]

I agree great for the money :001_smile I have 2 really nice custom brushes in the works being made by one of our well known members.

On another note has anyone tried their super grade ?