A review of the Savile Row SR212 with pics.

[Nick]

Howdy All,

I’ve been using my Savile Row ‘big ass’ brush that I got from QED for about two weeks now, so I thought I’d write a review.

The brush’s product ID is “SR12T” (however QED has it listed under “SR212”). It’s a super badger brush with a 30mm knot, and a nice faux-tortoise handle that’s a translucent amber.

Now for some pictorial goodness:


The brush:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/full03.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/full04.jpg

Some close-ups:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/bristles.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/closeup.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/inside.jpg

An overhead shot:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/overhead.jpg

Next to a quarter for comparison to show how big this darned thing is:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/quarter.jpg

Next to my handmade Damascus knife with a buffalo horn handle to show how beautiful this darned knife is (I thought it might be a nice pairing with the faux-tortoise… if the tortoise weren’t so faux, it would be):
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/knife02.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/knife01.jpg

The soak:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/soak.jpg

What I’ve dubbed the ‘money shot’:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/moneyshot.jpg

A dip in the Trumper’s Coconut Oil Shaving Cream tub:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/somecream.jpg

After several swirls (don’t ask me to define ‘several’):
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/firstswirl.jpg

Some (and by some, I mean a veritable boat load) beautiful lather after several more swirls:
http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/lathered.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/lathered01.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/lathered03.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/handlather02.jpg

http://badgerandblade.com/pics/sr12t/handlather.jpg

Impressions:

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy this brush, and for only $82.00, it appears to be good value for the money. As you can clearly see, it whips up shaving cream like Mr. T going to town on a pitiable fool. I haven’t had great results yet using it on soaps, as the bristles appear to be a little soft for that task, but the jury’s still out on that one as I am much more versed with creams. I will say, it does a fantastic job on my B&B shave stick. After applying stick to face, and then brush to face, I end up with a TON of rich, creamy, thick lather (just like with creams).

The feel of the brush is well balanced. The handle fills the hand nicely which makes for an easy, quick, air-infusing swirl. It seems to retain water fairly well. For the sake of the higher ground, I'll refrain from making a Rosie O'Donnell joke here, but sufficed to say, it does the job nicely.

Another plus of this big brush is it really traps in the heat. The first time I used it I was pleasantly surprised to find the lather in it still fairly warm when I went around for pass #2. All in all, I am very pleased with the brush, and have yet to be disappointed by it.

Cheers,

-Nick

[rtaylor61]

I'm jealous! Great job, great pics, and nice review!

Randy

[Rik]

Nice review and perfect timing! I will be ordering this brush from Charles hopefully in a few days once his soaps are restocked.

[Nick]

Randy & Rik: Thanks much.

Rik: You won't be disappointed, the brush certainly gets the job done.

-Nick

[Austin]

Nick, very nice!

[Scotto]

Nick,

Nice review!

One comment, though. It looks to me like that is too little shaving cream. The lather also looks like mostly air in your pictures. If you want to dork around, try more cream and tell me if your shave improves. I am betting it will get even better than what you are getting now. I think a lot of us are too parsimonious with the cream. Most brushes can whip up an ungodly amount of aerated lather with a miniscule amount of cream, but the shave will suffer. Try it with more cream (and hence more water = more lubrication) and report back.

[DoubleE]

Nick:
Any idea how this brush compares to a Vulfix in terms of bristle softness? I have a Vulfix 2235 that like mentioned here, does a great job on creams. I would like one that has a little stiffer bristles for soap. Any thoughts?
thanks
Jerry

[gage0921]

Nick,

Nice review!

One comment, though. It looks to me like that is too little shaving cream. The lather also looks like mostly air in your pictures. If you want to dork around, try more cream and tell me if your shave improves. I am betting it will get even better than what you are getting now. I think a lot of us are too parsimonious with the cream. Most brushes can whip up an ungodly amount of aerated lather with a miniscule amount of cream, but the shave will suffer. Try it with more cream (and hence more water = more lubrication) and report back.


When I first got into this whole shindig I always focused lather and not how lubricted the shave was...after realizing it wasnt about the lather my shave became far more superior than before.

[Scotto]

When I first got into this whole shindig I always focused lather and not how lubricted the shave was...after realizing it wasnt about the lather my shave became far more superior than before.

Right on, bro! That is some of what I hope to capture in my soap tutorial, if I can get pictures which show it.

[Nick]

Nick,

Nice review!

One comment, though. It looks to me like that is too little shaving cream. The lather also looks like mostly air in your pictures. If you want to dork around, try more cream and tell me if your shave improves. I am betting it will get even better than what you are getting now. I think a lot of us are too parsimonious with the cream. Most brushes can whip up an ungodly amount of aerated lather with a miniscule amount of cream, but the shave will suffer. Try it with more cream (and hence more water = more lubrication) and report back.

Scotto,

Thanks for the recommendation; however, I can take a pic for you of my decimated CR Salter Mint tub that would beg to differ with you. :wink:

Actually, if you'll notice, the lather on the brush looks pretty healthy, it's really the last pic (or two) with the lather on my hand that look a little airy. After receiving a phone call, and then searching from room to room for some natural light, the lather had been sitting for easily 10-15 minutes, and had begun to dry out.

-Nick

[Nick]

Nick:
Any idea how this brush compares to a Vulfix in terms of bristle softness? I have a Vulfix 2235 that like mentioned here, does a great job on creams. I would like one that has a little stiffer bristles for soap. Any thoughts?
thanks
Jerry

Jerry,

I have a Vulfix (with super badger) as well, and I think the SR bristles are softer than the Vulfix, so I'm not sure if it would fit the bill in that regard for you. (Which isn't to say it would be a bad purchase if you're looking to make one. :wink: )

-Nick

[Mindflux]

Very nice.

I tried some Trumpers Coconut Oil Cream tonight that I was given by another member. Very nice, but does anyone else think it smells a little medicinal?

[Nick]

Mindflux,

What I had to get over when I first got it is that it's Coconut Oil Cream and not just Coconut cream, so it definitely isn't as coconutty (is that a word?) as I would've liked, but it's still interesting, and pleasant, despite the fact that it does smell slightly off like you've described.

-Nick

[robofunk]

that, my friend, is a sweeeeet brush!

[JohnP]

Nice review, that looks like a nice, luxurious brush.
Trumper coconut oil shave cream? there are so many opinions of this one you would think there are a bunch of different versions of it, but FWIW it remains one of my favorite creams, the one I "hoard" for fear of running out. I haven't noticed a medicinal smell to mine, but coconut oil isn't a strong fragrance like rose or almond, so perhaps you are smelling more of the actual cream?
Just a thought. Either way if you hate yours, send it somewhere it will be appreciated :cool: like my house.....
John P

[Nick]

robofunk: Thanks, it certainly gets the job done.

John: Hahaa, Nice try. It isn't my favorite, but it certainly isn't my least favorite.

-Nick

[JohnP]

Heh heh heh....gotta try when I can.
John P.

[Nick]

Heh heh heh....gotta try when I can.
John P.
Can't blame you for trying... Or even say that I wouldn't do the same. :001_tt2:

-Nick

[alchemist]

Nick:
Any idea how this brush compares to a Vulfix in terms of bristle softness? I have a Vulfix 2235 that like mentioned here, does a great job on creams. I would like one that has a little stiffer bristles for soap. Any thoughts?
thanks
Jerry

Gents
It seems like many wetshavers using super badger brushes feel they can work up a good lather with a shave cream but that they may be a little too soft to really work a good lather with a shave soap (Shavemac's being the notable exception). Should we just downgrade to a cheaper quality of badger, say best or pure badger? Does that mean that the highest quality of badger in a particular line may not be the best one to get if one uses a shave soap often? Do stiffer bristles exfoliate better but run the risk of causing irritation to sensitive skin?
Thanks and regards,
Mahesh

[rtaylor61]

Mahesh,

I believe that Ron prefers soaps to creams. I would like to hear his opinion of this.

Randy

[guenron]

Mahesh,

I believe that Ron prefers soaps to creams. I would like to hear his opinion of this.

Randy
Thanks Randy. Greetings Mahesh,
I've been reading through the musings that come down to, "Are my brushes rough and tough enough to scrub up hard soap?" Really this question begs the point. The real question should be, "Am I experienced enough to recognize that I may have to hit the hard soap with some hot water before I begin to load my brush?" That isn't meant to be condescending either. Since I've had the opportunity to use pure, best, and super badger brushes it merely becomes the issue of adapting technique to the tools and consumables. Lately I've been on an orgy of Taylor's cologne scented creams to see how the other half live, but I am a dyed-in-the-wool hard soap kinda' guy. I also soak my brushes in very hot water before hitting the soap. Even with the most velvety soft member of my Al Blaireau Brigade, I get the best a man can get (cough, cough, hack) in terms of lather on Trumpers, Taylors, Truefitt and Hill, Kent, Crabtree and Evellyn, QED, Woods of WIndsor, Williams, L'Occitane, Roger et Gallet, Pre de Provence, Pere et Fils, Provence Sante, etc, etc...
It's alll an issue of how you go about the task.
I routinely use a Vulfix Old Original #41, Kent BK-12, and Shavemac SMF Special, occasionally use an Ed Jagger for Crabtree and Evelyn Best Badger, and on travel an Ed Jagger for Crabtree and Evelyn Pure Badger. I use them on hot pour, cold pour, triple milled, etc. I manage to get good lather with all of them by varying my technique.
Hope that helps. YMMV.
:smile:
Forgot to mention Caswell and Massey, Floris, Lightfoots... Just to live long enough to use up all o the soaps I've squirreled away I'll have to out do Methuselah.. :blushing:
Edit added:
Mahesh,
Please read this answer (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=4728&highlight=AAMOF#post4728) to Hal's first question.

[Scotto]

I agree with Ron. I can get dynamite lather from hard soaps with my soft SR212 super-badger brush. I think it is really the water doing the work, not the bristles as much, so you should be able to use any brush you like.

[alchemist]

Ron, Scotto:
Thanks and good to know, as i prefer not to use stiffer bristles as my skin is sensitive to the lathering with said brushes. I'm a relative novice at this hence have been more of a "cream man" for the added protection; however, i am begining to enjoy the soaps more as time goes by.
Regards,
Mahesh

[Shermdog]

Very nice.

I tried some Trumpers Coconut Oil Cream tonight that I was given by another member. Very nice, but does anyone else think it smells a little medicinal?

I agree. I tried a sample and it gave me a superior shave....but I wasn't fond of the smell. Thus, I will not be buying it. However, I have really enjoyed the Trumpers Violet sample and will be calling Charles for some on my next SCAD outbreak. I have yet to find an English Cream (3 T's) that gives me a subpar shave. They are all great...so long as your prep and technique are good. Scent becomes the deciding factor.

[Elmo]

Been using the same Trumper 3 "chubby" super badger since 1987.

It seems to get better by the year. I've got a second Trumper on order for use in the shower.

If well taken care of they seem to last forever:001_tt1: