Got a Simpsons Berkeley...um...what do I do with it?

So...I don't really know much about brushes, but I decided last weekend to order an entry-level high-end brush to see what all the fuss is about. Not wanting to spend a ton of coin on my first one, I picked the Simpsons Berkeley. I knew it was going to be on the smaller side because of the price, but, hrm. This sucker is TINY. I can see that it's worth the price for sure, very dense, silky soft tips with good backbone, but...so very tiny! How does everyone use their small brushes? Face lathering only? I can't imagine this 'lil guy clanking around my bowl!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all disappointed. In fact, I kinda love the brush already and I haven't even used it yet! I just want to know what this brush is best suited for. Thanks guys!


Pictures! The little guy with my Weber, my brushes (Berkeley, Omega Synthetic, generic Chinese Badger, Omega Pro 49), the Berkeley in my Dirty Bird Bill Bowl.

It is small for bowl lathering, although it works fine for that. However, the best use of the Berkeley in face lathering soaps. Even though it's small, I find that it holds plenty of lather for 3 passes plus touch ups when face lathering.

The knot will expand somewhat after you break it in, but it's still small. If you like the Berkeley but find it too small for your liking, get a Duke 3.
I doubt you'll find the Duke too small.

I never really thought of the Berkeley as that small. While I did bowl lather with it in the beginning, it was the Berkeley that got me to loose the bowl and go to face lathering.

Berkley 46 is a VERY nice brush. It is a very versatile brush as it is a killer face lather brush yet will whip up mountains of lather in a bowl.

I have 2 size lather bowls. A large one for my bigger brushes like my monster Harvard H6 and Polo 12 and a smaller one for the more "human" size brushes like my Duke 2 and Case.

You can lather with a smaller brush in a larger bowl but you may find that if you size your bowl to your brush you will have an easier time building a lather.

The Berkeley is my workhorse.

Face or Bowl lathering : doesn't matter.
Cream, hard soap, soft Italian soap : doesn't matter.

Large enough to hold lather for 3+ passes, and yet small enough to use as a travel brush.

You have chosen well!

Ok guys! Saturday is my day off shaving, but I just *had* to do a break-in lather on the Berkeley. Soaked it in warm water, loaded with Mike's Natural Barbershop soap for about 15 seconds and palm lathered. WOW!

I think I get what the deal is with high-end brushes now. It may not look like much on my meaty palm, but this is very thick, very slick lather and it took less than a minute. The little brush is holding an amazing amount of lather inside!

lt114 said:

However, the best use of the Berkeley in face lathering soaps. Even though it's small, I find that it holds plenty of lather for 3 passes plus touch ups when face lathering.

Click to expand...

njpaddy said:

While I did bowl lather with it in the beginning, it was the Berkeley that got me to loose the bowl and go to face lathering.

Click to expand...

I can see how the Berkeley is going to be great for face lathering!

turtle said:

Berkley 46 is a VERY nice brush. It is a very versatile brush as it is a killer face lather brush yet will whip up mountains of lather in a bowl.

I have 2 size lather bowls. A large one for my bigger brushes like my monster Harvard H6 and Polo 12 and a smaller one for the more "human" size brushes like my Duke 2 and Case.

You can lather with a smaller brush in a larger bowl but you may find that if you size your bowl to your brush you will have an easier time building a lather.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice Turtle!

rockviper said:

The Berkeley is my workhorse.

Face or Bowl lathering : doesn't matter.
Cream, hard soap, soft Italian soap : doesn't matter.

Large enough to hold lather for 3+ passes, and yet small enough to use as a travel brush.

You have chosen well!

Click to expand...

Alright! I'm feeling really good about this brush now!

lt114 said:

The knot will expand somewhat after you break it in, but it's still small. If you like the Berkeley but find it too small for your liking, get a Duke 3.
I doubt you'll find the Duke too small.

Click to expand...

Anyone who finds the Duke to be not dense/large enough MIGHT want to invest in a paintbrush.

rockviper said:

The Berkeley is my workhorse.

Click to expand...

I have seen a lot of people say this about the Berkeley. Everything I have read about it indicates that it is an excellent entry-level brush as well as a great all-around brush.

Hi Chris,

The Berkeley is a great brush! Although I don't have meaty hands like you, I do have long slender fingers. It took a few times for me to find the most comfortable way to hold it, but now this brush is as close to auto-pilot as I get during a shave! I can't speak to bowl lathering, as I've face lathered exclusively my entire life, but I can't see why it wouldn't work as long as you have a decent grip. Enjoy!

Like others have said its a great for face lathering. But its also pretty good at bowl lathering. Nice dense brush. Its a little too small for me so I might have to put mine up on the BST soon.

Small is good. But the Berkeley is not small.








Those other brushes are HUGE!

I like to get my Berkeley started up in a bowl with a few seconds of swirling in cream, and then face lather.

Berkeleys are also perfect to start lathering on the puck and then face lather.
A great all rounder.

bigfoot83 said:

Although I don't have meaty hands like you, I do have long slender fingers.

Click to expand...

Let's just say my stubby fingers are no good for playing a guitar!

bigfoot83 said:

It took a few times for me to find the most comfortable way to hold it, but now this brush is as close to auto-pilot as I get during a shave! I can't speak to bowl lathering, as I've face lathered exclusively my entire life, but I can't see why it wouldn't work as long as you have a decent grip. Enjoy!

Click to expand...

Can't wait for tomorrow morning's shave!

joeboom said:

Like others have said its a great for face lathering. But its also pretty good at bowl lathering. Nice dense brush. Its a little too small for me so I might have to put mine up on the BST soon.

Click to expand...

Oh sure! Now you are gonna sell it!

cernel_joson said:

I like to get my Berkeley started up in a bowl with a few seconds of swirling in cream, and then face lather.

Click to expand...

Interesting! Can't say I've heard of that technique, I might try that if the Berkeley does turn out to be too small for my bowl.

wimbouman said:

Berkeleys are also perfect to start lathering on the puck and then face lather.
A great all rounder.

Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did for the picture above, except it was my hand and not my face!

.

"Help my brush has fallen and it can't get up"

turtle said:

.

"Help my brush has fallen and it can't get up"

Click to expand...

WOW.
Small brush in a real big scuttle...
(from Tommy boy fat guy in a little coat)

Bought my Berkeley to replace my C&E BBB as a travel brush, and the Berkeley soon has become my favorite all around brush. Don't think I would want something smaller, but very happy with the performance I get from it face lathering soaps and creams. Can't comment on bowl lathering because I don't do that.

WOW!

As recommended by the brush break in sticky at the top of the page, I let my test lather sit in the brush all day. Just washed 'er out and it's been sitting for about half an hour. Can you say BLOOM??? Compare this to my test lather pic above!

turtle said:

.

"Help my brush has fallen and it can't get up"

Click to expand...

Turtle you win!

PS - My nickname with my close friends is "Turtle"

Enjoy the brush as they are fantastic!