Are you happy with your brushes? Are you done buying?

[Island Dreamer]

I think some of the collections some of you build are cool. Certainly my favorite photos on B&B are the ones of brushes. I just can't fathom having so many but as long as you guys keep posting pictures of yours, I'm good.

[AgBill]

1. Yes. Even the brushes I don't like are not bad brushes... I'm just picky.

2. NEVER!!!!

[kentclark]

I'm maybe not certainly done, but I am heading that way for simplicity's sake. My end goal is one badger, one boar, one horse and one synthetic. The badgers have one more show down when a Rooney makes its way to me, and I plan to order one of the Muhle synthetics. The boar and horse are locked down with a Semogue 620 and a 20mm knot Vie-long, respectively. Missing the two nicest badgers, but here's most of the current herd:

[Intrigued]

I guess the thing to do is avoid photos of amazing brush collections. Also, I almost lost it with the genuine horn Savile Row from QED but resisted as it wouldn't do anything my current rotation can't do already except look cool.

I think some of the collections some of you build are cool. Certainly my favorite photos on B&B are the ones of brushes. I just can't fathom having so many but as long as you guys keep posting pictures of yours, I'm good.

You seem a little conflicted.

So I'll give you a choice to look or not.

Spoiler:

To answer your original questions.......

Yes
&
Almost

[litespeedone]

Yes and no, in that order.

[Island Dreamer]

Intrigued, you're a bad little boy! Nice collection (yeah, I picked Spoiler) and some real variety.

[texaninkc]

I've had 35 brushes come through my hands, of which 15 remain. I just picked up a Thater in fan from poonjaji tonight so that will be number 16. I like to stay at 15 so one of my brushes will likely go. Of the 15 brushes I own, 6 of them will always remain:

Rooney Finest 1/1
Rooney 1XL
Rooney 2XL
Shavemac 22/44 2-band D01 flat-top in a marble handle
Shavemac 22/47 3-band D01 fan in a vintage Plisson handle.
Semogue SOC (my only boar)

[stuart12dz]

You have a really cool den Stu, and some really interesting brush handles. Is that the head of a Lion on the second shelf?

Thank you. The Lion's head is carved from Kenya Stone. I purchased it and a couple of others from a B&B vendor in the UK, Rodney Neep, http://www.pensoftheforest.co.uk/sha...ing-brush.html. The brushes are excellent quality and he has given me exceptional service.


Stu

[Dave_D]

Ive gone through a dozen or so different brush types, all across the board. It was fun but unless I can find a badger similar to a Semogue 620, I'm done.

[tmanqz]

I think Im done. Just got Vulfix 2235 super badger. Its perfect for me, soft and a little floppy(which I like).
I don't see a reason for another brush.
I also have a vdh deluxe boar, a Conk with a long handle synthetic, and a Escali badger.

[Mike Schutz]

I really enjoy each of the two dozen brushes I have. I'm past the AD phase but that's not saying I won't pick up a brush or two in the future. Old habits are hard to break.

[juban62]

I have only been using and learning about what I like in brushes for about four months now. I've discovered that I prefer thick knots with short lofts, which suits my face lathering technique. Here's my current stable:

Omega 6551 Silvertip in Buck Antler Handle w/51mm loft, 22mm knot, & 93mm overall height,
Semogue 2011 LE Finest Badger 1; 24mm knot, 48mm loft, 100mm overall height.
Rudy Vey Custom Grand Rover 26mm knot, 48mm loft
R.A. Rooney Heritage Stubby XL; 25mm knot, 46mm loft, 40mm handle height, 86mm overall height.
Simpson Chubby 2 (just received from BST)

The first two are really too small for my taste, but I have generally been using the Semogue as my travel brush. I'm actually surprised at how scritchy it is, being an LE brush. The Omega remains new in the box, exactly the way I received it. Again, too small for my taste, but it is just too beautiful to part with (so far).
So that leaves me with my Rudy big Rover, the Rooney XL1, and the new (to me) Chubby2. I am still searching for the biggest size brush I will be comfortable using. I had high hopes for the Chubby, but it is TOO FLOPPY?! I am so surprised, after reading for months that many consider it the ultimate face latherer. I guess I'm probably going to wind up selling it and get myself the Jade handled Rooney Heritage XL2 or the new Rooney Heritage Beehive XL.
I also just bought a 2012 Rudy BNB LE in the Shavemac DO1 knot. I'm sure it will be too small for my taste, but being a BNB special, I just had to have it...

[takeshi]

What about you? Are you always going to rotate and try new stuff or are you happy with your current selection?

Very happy with my M&F but I'm not sure that I'd say that I'd never buy another brush.

[Prof. Moriarty]

I'm HAPPY with all my brushes. There's no brush I dislike. I don't NEED that many. I WANT to try 5 more.

That M&F is amazing... I already saw pictures of it in a different thread, but amongst other brushes it really stands out.

[edgerunner]

If I'm forced to have only 1 brush from the ones I have, this M&F no doubt will be it.

[CubReporter]

I'm in a good place with my collection. I don't have any fancy Rooney, Simpson, or other big-name badger brushes. I'm a fan of restoring, instead.

I've got one or two more brushes I'd like to set a new knot in, but that's about it. My favorite is my restored Opal, second only to my Omega 31020 with a puck of Williams.

Restoring is more fun to me, anyway. It's nice to take something that's been left alone for ages, then bring it back into a functional form.

[MarkBenecewicz]

I think I would like to collect some more brushes,but right now I am In love with my dirt cheap hobo trio of VDH boat, Shea badger, and Semogue 1520. I love how my face feels when I lather/scrub with the cheapo VDH.

[dgerson]

This is an interesting thread to read but I think it comes down to the underlying question of why you're into wetshaving. If you're simply looking for a way to save money and get a better shave, then I think you come on here, whittle down the options to the minimum, and go happy out into the world. If this becomes more of a hobby or interest and you enjoy collecting and trying out all kinds of options (be them razor, brush, aftershave, or whatever), then you end up with obviously a much bigger display.

For me, I could have stopped when I broke in my 1305 as it does everything I want it to do in terms of helping me remove hair from my face. But what would be the fun in that? My dad collected stamps, my brother collects beer bottles, at least I get to use my stuff. I can say that I'm happy with what I have right now and look eagerly forward to what I get next.

[tbress]

This is an interesting thread to read but I think it comes down to the underlying question of why you're into wetshaving. If you're simply looking for a way to save money and get a better shave, then I think you come on here, whittle down the options to the minimum, and go happy out into the world. If this becomes more of a hobby or interest and you enjoy collecting and trying out all kinds of options (be them razor, brush, aftershave, or whatever), then you end up with obviously a much bigger display.

For me, I could have stopped when I broke in my 1305 as it does everything I want it to do in terms of helping me remove hair from my face. But what would be the fun in that? My dad collected stamps, my brother collects beer bottles, at least I get to use my stuff. I can say that I'm happy with what I have right now and look eagerly forward to what I get next.

That sounds right. I got into this for the better shave and I currently have just one razor and one brush, a Duke 3. But my birthday is coming up and I've been hearing the Wee Scot calling to me...gotta have a travel brush, right?

[Island Dreamer]

Yeah, the great irony of "wet shaving is gonna save you money" is out the window on this site. It's far cheaper to use carts and cans because who collects those? If you have the discipline to stick to one or maybe two brushes, a single razor, and one or two soaps, then *maybe* you'll save money but I'm not in it to save money, I'm in it because it's a better shave, more fun, and I like having a small collection of new and vintage stuff.