Chubby 1 or Rooney 3/1?

[Shaveananda]

I have a Shavemac 23mm in super and have been looking for a second brush to use as an alternate. I use both soaps and creams (though I lean toward soaps) and both bowl and face lather, so I'm looking for something that's a good all purpose brush. My face is irritated easily by scritchy brushes, so softness is important, and I've been looking only at supers. Also, for variety (and maybe to help with soaps?), I'm trying to find something a bit denser and more fan shaped than the Shavemac.

I'd more or less settled on a Rooney 3/1 in super, but then happened to find a brick & mortar store and was able to handle a Chubby 1, which seemed very dense and soft. It's twice the price of the Rooney, but I'm willing to make the jump if it's the better choice.

So what would be the better way to go (or is there a third choice, not more than the general price range of the Chubby 1, that I should be thinking about)?

[4myshave]

I have a Chubby 1 Super 2 band. It's a perfect brush for face lathering and although it handles both soaps and creams, definitely excels at soaps. It's extremely dense and after having it for a month I find it's just getting broken in nicely.

I have tried bowl lathering and found the brush too short for my B5 scuttle. A shorter lathering bowl might work for you.

I also have a Shavemac D01 silvertip bulb shape at 24/56 and it too is very dense. It's actually closer to 26mm and I use it for creams and bowl lathering. It also handles soaps but I find it a bit too big for face lathering.

With the density of the Shavemac D01's I think a fan a 20 or 22 mm knot in fan shape would work and be in your price range too.

I don't have a Rooney, but I'm sure you will receive other comments from
owners.

[djh]

If the Chubby really appeals to you, perhaps the Rooney 1/1 would be more to your liking rather than the 3/1? Please also investigate a Simpson in Best Badger hair- this grade from Simpson is fantastic and somewhat less expensive than Super. The Chubby, Duke or Classic in Best could well fit your needs.

[Greg1911]

I have a Rooney style 1 size 2 in best and it is a nice brush but nowhere near as dense as the Chubby.

Never cared for the Rooney 3 series.

Get the Chubby!

[Shaveananda]

Thnaks all! I think I'll go back to the B&M store and handle the Chubby again, and try the version in best while I'm at it.

It'll be nice to hold the handle again, too. Basically, I had been thinking that maybe the handle would be a drawback for bowl lathering with the Chubby, (though when I was at the store I have to say it felt very comfortable) whereas with the Rooney the handle looks like it would work for both but I haven't been able to feel the knot to see how dense it is (or isn't).

(I'll have a look at the D01's too (thanks 4myshave!).)

[SliceOfLife]

Chubby 1 in best is a good brush for about 1.33x the cost of a Rooney size 1 super. I prefer Simpsons Best hair to their Super without even looking at the prices. Once you take price into account, it's a no brainer.

The density difference is the primary difference, and it's big. If the chubby DOESN'T feel too dense for you, I wouldn't get a Rooney Super.


Shavemac D01's are nice brushes too.

[mblakele]

How important is the fan shape? A CH-1 is more likely to be bulb-shaped. The 3/1 super is a good brush with soft tips, and if you really want a fan shape, it should be your choice.

Ian's perfectly correct that the CH-1 knot is likely to be denser. But there is a learning curve to lathering with a really dense knot. The CH-1 handle can also be a little short if you are squeamish about the condition known as "lather fingers".

If you want Simpson-like density with a fan-shape, you might want one of the Rooney limited edition brushes, or a fan-shape Shavemac D01. With a custom Shavemac you also have a lot of flexibility on loft and handle shape.

[German]

I have a Shavemac 23mm in super and have been looking for a second brush to use as an alternate. I use both soaps and creams (though I lean toward soaps) and both bowl and face lather, so I'm looking for something that's a good all purpose brush. My face is irritated easily by scritchy brushes, so softness is important, and I've been looking only at supers. Also, for variety (and maybe to help with soaps?), I'm trying to find something a bit denser and more fan shaped than the Shavemac.

I'd more or less settled on a Rooney 3/1 in super, but then happened to find a brick & mortar store and was able to handle a Chubby 1, which seemed very dense and soft. It's twice the price of the Rooney, but I'm willing to make the jump if it's the better choice.

So what would be the better way to go (or is there a third choice, not more than the general price range of the Chubby 1, that I should be thinking about)?

I have a 23 mm Shavemac, Rooney 1/1 Super and Chubby 1 Super. Of these three the Chubby is the densest and similarly soft as the Shavemac. The Rooney is a bit more scrubby but still not prickly at all. The 1/1 and Chubby are perfect for soaps and face lather. The Shavemac is better with creams (for me). If you look for something different both the Rooney and Chubby will do the job equally well.

[Shaveananda]

I think based on everyone's feedback I'm leaning toward either the Rooney (still 3/1 so it'll be ok for bowl lathering) or the D01.

Mainly it's because I'd like to try a fan shaped knot, though it seems clear the Chubby is a pretty great brush. It looks like the Rooney won't be as dense as the Chubby, and not having felt one (and with variation brush to brush) it'll be something of a shot in the dark.

The D01 would give me more density, and the fan shape as well, a sort of have your cake and eat it too option, but would cost more than the Rooney.

So a few questions:

- So I can get a feel, how does the Rooney 3/1's density/backbone compare to a Shavemac 23mm in super (which is what I currently have)? Would it be a step up (I'm guessing yes but let me know) or just a change in shape?

- If I were to order a custom Shavemac D01, what loft would people recommend for a 22 mm knot (assuming a lot of use with soaps (but some creams), and mixed face/bowl lathering)? Also, if I were to order a D01, for someone who favors softer tips, is there a reason to go two band or would that be overkill?

[German]

The Rooney is as dense as the Shavemac. The backbone will depend on the loft. If you go with a vintagebladesllc loft of 44mm it has more backbone than a regular Shavemac 23mm Silvertip.

For the D01 with 22mm I would go with a loft of 48mm max (that is compared to the standard loft of 52mm). I have one coming with a custom handle and fan shape.

[jhclare]

I personally don't find any standard Rooney (these days) to be very dense. Sure, they're denser than a Kent or a Vulfix, but many others are also!

Go Heritage if you want density.

If your face is sensitive, the extreme density of the Chubby combined with the short loft might be too much for your face, no matter how soft the hair. I have had "carpet burns" from a Chubby 1 before! :ohmy:

John

[bluemantra]

I have the Rooney 3/1, the chubby 1 in super, and a duke 3, and I'll toss the colonel X2L in there as one's in your price range. Of these 4 I think you'd be happy with either the Rooney 3/1 or the Duke 3, to me these are the 2 brushes that will do it all. Both with face lather, bowl lather, soap lather, cream lather, you name it. The colonel X2L for the money is something to consider also, I absolutely love the handle on it. I will say this the Simpson Best grade of hair is softer than Rooney's Super. Here's a photo and honestly you can't go wrong with any choice you make, you'll probably end up with all of them like I did.


Roony 3/1 in Super/Duke 3 Best/Chubby 1 three-band super
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll245/bluemantra/Shave011311004.jpg

[Optometrist]

The grip with the handle on the Colonel is fantastic, and the feeling of the Duke 3 in Best is a winner also. I have both and very happy.

[SliceOfLife]

Density-wise, is the Colonel comparable to the Duke or is it noticeably looser?

I haven't kept any Rooney Super I've owned very long, but they strike me as varying from slightly less soft than the Simpson best' I own to slightly softer. Definitely less backbone though. Simpson Super is definitely softer... but at even less backbone than the Rooney Super. I'd be curious to know how Vulfix grades their hair, because all the evidence seems to me to indicate that the "Super" (3 band) is just "Best" hair that they pick through a bit more thoroughly to get the last bit of the odd rougher hairs out... but that would seem to mean that there would be almost no backbone difference between the grades. Now it's not a huge difference, but it's definitely a noticeable one after several uses. Whatever they're doing, I like what it does for their Simpsons "Best" brushes.

[Optometrist]

The Duke Best is a denser brush, and scratchier than the Colonel X2L Best

[bluemantra]

The Duke 3 is denser than the Rooney 3/1 with slightly more back bone and feels bigger on the face. I have an Ehsan (Colonel X2L in two band) and is the least dense of the ones mentioned. I'm not sure how the Colonel X2L in Best stacks up. Here's how it goes IMO from densest to least. Chubby 1>Duke 3>Rooney 3/1>Colonel two band(Ehsan)

[Marco]

The Duke 3 is denser than the Rooney 3/1 with slightly more back bone and feels bigger on the face. I have an Ehsan (Colonel X2L in two band) and is the least dense of the ones mentioned. I'm not sure how the Colonel X2L in Best stacks up. Here's how it goes IMO from densest to least. Chubby 1>Duke 3>Rooney 3/1>Colonel two band(Ehsan)

I essentially agree with Justin here. The Chubby 1 is the densest brush in this contest, second spot for the Duke 3. The Rooney 3/1 and the Colonel X2L Best are about equal, in my opinion.

[SliceOfLife]

The Duke 3 is denser than the Rooney 3/1 with slightly more back bone and feels bigger on the face. I have an Ehsan (Colonel X2L in two band) and is the least dense of the ones mentioned. I'm not sure how the Colonel X2L in Best stacks up. Here's how it goes IMO from densest to least. Chubby 1>Duke 3>Rooney 3/1>Colonel two band(Ehsan)

Yeah, that's the problem with me comparing brushes with my Duke. My duke is 2 band, and much less dense than a normal Best Duke would be, so it's kind of useless as a point of reference. That doesn't stop me from trying.

Anyone out there got a Colonel in 3 band Best they can compare against a Duke, Chubby, 3/1, or something along those lines for density?

edit: Marco beat me to the post button. Thanks Marco.

[Gary Young]

Completely impartial....choose the Chubby.....

[Marco]

Yeah, that's the problem with me comparing brushes with my Duke. My duke is 2 band, and much less dense than a normal Best Duke would be, so it's kind of useless as a point of reference. That doesn't stop me from trying.

Anyone out there got a Colonel in 3 band Best they can compare against a Duke, Chubby, 3/1, or something along those lines for density?

edit: Marco beat me to the post button. Thanks Marco.

My pleasure, Ian. :001_smile I also think that the Colonel X2L Best is a wonderful brush and certainly one of the greatest value brushes in the amazing Simpson's Best line. :thumbup1:

[Shaveananda]

Thanks so much to everyone for the all of the information and advice!!

I'm still not quite decided (and I have a bad feeling I may wind up with more than one brush!), but I think I have more than enough feedback to base a final decision on, thanks to all of you in the thread. :001_smile

I'll come back with an update once I've taken the plunge and put in an order.

[Eric V]

Hmmm. It will be interesting to see what you pick. I bowl lather, and seem to gravitate towards my Rooney 3/1 rather than my Chubby 1. I also like my Shave Mac variable loft, except the weight of the handle. The 25mm knot is super fun!

[4myshave]

Thanks so much to everyone for the all of the information and advice!!

I'm still not quite decided (and I have a bad feeling I may wind up with more than one brush!), but I think I have more than enough feedback to base a final decision on, thanks to all of you in the thread. :001_smile

I'll come back with an update once I've taken the plunge and put in an order.

Now that's a good pragmatic approach:laugh:

I started off getting a Shavemac D01, thinking it would be my one perfect brush - yeah, right:lol:

Now, four Simpson brushes later, I'm just waiting for the arrival of my new perfect brush. I'm sure this Shavemac D01 2-band will be the one.:lol::lol:

Good luck - it's fun - and you'll enjoy them all.

[Shaveananda]

OK, well, as promised, I'm posting my decision on this one. I'm going to order a custom D01 from Shavemac with a fan shaped knot.

I thought about it alot, and I think ultimately the density on the Rooney wouldn't be quite what I have in mind, while Chubby, clearly a fantastic brush, doesn't have the shape I want this particular go-round, and may actually be more dense than what I'm looking for just now.

Actually, after everyone's input, the nearest contender, and the one I came closest to ordering, was not the Rooney or the Chubby but the Duke 3, which I must say looks wonderful and which will (yes, I admit it) be next on my list. Here again, I was a little unsure if I'd get a fan shaped knot (the pictures vary and tend to look more hybrid or bulb shaped), and I thought the tips might be somewhat softer on the Shavemac.

Which leaves one decision, actually: whether to go with a two band. My inclination is to get the regular D01, since it seems like the density will be pretty good in any event, and I'll order a shorter loft (46-48mm) as well, so hopefully I won't need the extra backbone from the two band and can get a somewhat softer brush (and lower price) in the bargain. My intent is to ask Bernd's advice on that, though, and I'd certainly welcome anyone's thoughts here.

Thanks again to everyone for all the input!

[German]

The 3 band will have softer tips... my custom 22mm/48mm D01 3 band is in the mail :)

[Shaveananda]

The 3 band will have softer tips... my custom 22mm/48mm D01 3 band is in the mail :)

Hey German, how long did it take for Bernd to get back to you once you emailed him? I've had a note in for two days and haven't heard back, so I'm wondering how long he normally takes to respond.

[Greg1911]

You can always contact Rudy Vey and get a custom handle and the knot you want from Shavemac or TGN.:w00t:

He may have other sources too.

PS - Your going to get more than one brush. Embrace the SBAD!!!

[German]

Hey German, how long did it take for Bernd to get back to you once you emailed him? I've had a note in for two days and haven't heard back, so I'm wondering how long he normally takes to respond.

He (or Lena) normally come back within 24-48 hours. They do a lot of business though which may slow them down .... maybe also that I communicate with them in German helps.. :tongue_sm

[Ignatius]

Given your specific requirements, I think you made the right choice (no idea how 2 and 3- band Shavemacs compare - but I do know (Herr Blos himself informed me) that D01 is Silvertip hair, but very dense, whereas a 2b D01 is clearly an entirely different grade.

[Shaveananda]

Still no word from Bernd :sad:

But hey, I have a Plan B (and C for that matter!), so it's all OK.

Thanks again for all the advice!

[mretzloff]

Still no word from Bernd :sad:

But hey, I have a Plan B (and C for that matter!), so it's all OK.

Thanks again for all the advice!

Bernd takes a while to e-mail his customers back. While I would certainly argue that it should be not be that way, I do believe the final product is worth the wait. If it makes any difference, a Shavemac D01 is the only brush I use or own (besides my VDH, but that only gets used to test new creams and soaps).

[German]

Bernd takes a while to e-mail his customers back. While I would certainly argue that it should be not be that way, I do believe the final product is worth the wait. If it makes any difference, a Shavemac D01 is the only brush I use or own (besides my VDH, but that only gets used to test new creams and soaps).

Just received my D01 3band custom today: 22mm knot, 48mm loft, fan shape, black/nickel handle. :thumbup:

[denim]

Thnaks all! I think I'll go back to the B&M store and handle the Chubby again, and try the version in best while I'm at it.

Also check out the Simpsons Colonel if it's there.

[Drubbing]

Bernd takes a while to e-mail his customers back. While I would certainly argue that it should be not be that way, I do believe the final product is worth the wait.

Hear a lot about Bernd. I can't helping thinking, "No brush for you!" Come back, one year!"