Ultimate Chubby Smackdown -- Oh Yeah!

[Vlad]

To begin with, only Simpsons makes the Chubby. But let's not get too picky about this. I'm talking about "chubby" handles. I have a few of them, in 30mm knots, which is just the right size for a brush . So why not, for fun, put them all in a thread together. This is no meticulous review, otherwise I could have included my XL3, which shares the same knot size as these babies, and deserves a place among them.

My latest chubby brush is imported from Spain, the Canica Finest. It took a lot to get this custom brush. First, I had to get Maestro Canica to make it.



Then it was sent to my buddy Luis (lu20vt) for breaking in and some sexy photo shoots.



And finally across the pond to me. I've wanted to try a TGN Finest for a long time, but knew its reputation for scritch. However, I have been lusting after the Canica Finest for a long time in the SOTD threads. The chubby shape is a favorite, and this brush nails it absolutely. I just loved the lines on the brush. It gives it some style, but stays classic. When it came up for sale, I had to jump on it.

In a previous thread, I talked about the CH3 Supers. It would be so great if I liked small brushes. I could spend half as much. Unfortunately, you enablers (you know who you are) turned me on to big brushes, and I can't go back. These Simpsons are very expensive, but you do get fantastic brushes.

And then there's my Morris & Forndran brushes. I bought one shortly after they were debuted on B&B, and have been a big fan ever since. I sold the original so I could get bigger knots--of course--and now own 4 of them. I got the 2-band chubby first, and then the 3-band.

What a pair! Here they are, so happy together just after I got the 3-band to keep the 2-band company. The colors of the handles are slightly different. This is also true of my two Simpsons. The 3-band is more pink colored, and the 2-band is more ivory.

So how do all these brushes compare? They are all about the same knot size, by the way I measure it at the top of the handle. The hair and lofts differ, giving all of them different properties. I tried them all together today, face-lathering with Tabac. I can't tell any difference in "lather quality" between brushes--as far as I can tell, any brush can give you great lather. Maybe some do it faster than others or whatever, but I don't really care. The measure of a brush for me is how it feels on the face. Big brushes, good backbone, and soft tips are what I care about. So let's talk about how these brushes compared.



It's easiest to compare the two-band and three-bands independently. As we know, 3-bands tend to have less backbone, and splay out more. the CH3 3-band and M&F 3-band have similar hair, but ultimately the M&F is more soft-tipped. I found the backbone to feel about the same, even though the CH3 has a higher loft. I can't tell which is more dense, but who cares? These are awesome brushes. I have to say that I like the M&F look better. Same knot size, but see how compact the handle is? I love that. The handle has extra detail, but still stays classic.

On to the 2-bands. Here there is a greater difference between the M&F and the Simpson, and again the M&F is softer tipped. The hair stems are also softer--there is more give, and the hair envelopes your face similar to the 3-band hair. The CH3 clearly has more backbone. I wonder how a fan-shape Simpson 2-band Super would feel. The CH3 feels fantastic, the tips are almost as perfect, but it's so rigid the bulb is almost too much of a point. The Canica has a loft lower than the M&F, about a mm or 2, and is the firmest of all of them. It destroys soaps like nothing else, and gives the firmest face message. I expected it to be scritchy, but thankfully it is not a scritchy as I anticipated. The CH3 seems less densely packed than the other two, but it may just be that the hair of the CH3 is thicker (higher loft, but more backbone than the M&F, almost as much as the Canica), so it can't be packed any tighter. Again, who cares? These are amazing brushes!



So here are the scores:

Simpson CH3 3-band: Fantastic Brush!
Simpson CH3 2-band: Fantastic Brush!
Morris & Forndran 3-band: Fantastic Brush!
Morris & Forndran 2-band: Fantastic Brush!
Canica Finest 2-band: Fantastic Brush (but not as fantastic because of some scritch)!

What did you expect? I'm a brush enthusiast, not a reviewer.

And finally, time to pick a winner:


ME!

[nrv216]

Ya big jerk!

Just kidding. Those are some beautiful brushes! I especially like the handle on the Canica, very unique! One day I will own a Chubby, maybe a M&F.

nrv216

[taco8slo]

Thanks for sharing!

[Marco]

Wonderful thread, Vlad! And now what's your next Chubby-style brush?

[Vlad]

Wonderful thread, Vlad! And now what's your next Chubby-style brush?

Rudy Vey Grade A Silvertip is in the mail.

[ridnovir]

Brush Maniac

[oscar11]

Vlad, I'm a fan of big brushes too. I made a 28mm brush with a TGN super badger 55-56mm loft, it's like using a pillow and just destroys soap. It feels like pure luxury to me. BTW, what loft did you go with?

[Intrigued]

Great review!

No, really it is a good review. You told us the what and why you love your Chubby-style brushes.









Now, about your addiction to Chubby-style brushes..... It is starting to look like you need an intervention......

[Vlad]

Vlad, I'm a fan of big brushes too. I made a 28mm brush with a TGN super badger 55-56mm loft, it's like using a pillow and just destroys soap. It feels like pure luxury to me. BTW, what loft did you go with?

50mm

Great review!

No, really it is a good review. You told us the what and why you love your Chubby-style brushes.

Now, about your addiction to Chubby-style brushes..... It is starting to look like you need an intervention......

I'm trying to stop, honest!

[BrookR1]

Wonderful review. I've been looking for a chubby style brush for a while and have been bewildered with all of the possibilities. Do you have any experience with the Rooney 3XL or are Rooney and M&F the same brush?

Thanks.

[Vlad]

Wonderful review. I've been looking for a chubby style brush for a while and have been bewildered with all of the possibilities. Do you have any experience with the Rooney 3XL or are Rooney and M&F the same brush?

Thanks.

I have a 3XL, and it is one of the best brushes ever made in my opinion. However, keep in mind that badger is a natural product with a lot of variation. In my previous post on my CH2 Super, and in a post I did a long time ago about my Heritage brushes, I have found a lot of variation. As far as I know, the current batch of hair M&F is using is different than in my brushes, which are older. But I have not tried the newer M&F, so I don't know for sure. Rooney and M&F are not the same, though they share a history through the master brush maker behind M&F.

[BrookR1]

Thanks for the feedback. I recently purchased a Rooney Victorian (2 band) and was a little disappointed with how scritchy it was. I'm wondering if I should go with a soft 3 band instead.

Thanks for your help!

[Vlad]

Thanks for the feedback. I recently purchased a Rooney Victorian (2 band) and was a little disappointed with how scritchy it was. I'm wondering if I should go with a soft 3 band instead.

Thanks for your help!

The brushes that I know have consistently been super soft are Thater. You will not be disappointed in how they feel on the face. Oh, and I happen to have one available if you're interested. (I have two)

[Kooze]

Excellent thread and pics. Vlad

[Merkur25]

I like that handle alot. How and where can you buy a Canica Finest

[Vlad]

I like that handle alot. How and where can you buy a Canica Finest

Another member has also inquired. I am asking Luis for contact information.

[lu20vt]

Vlad my friend, glad you like the brush




Another Sexy Canica Chubby 30mm Silvertip Grade A TGN Fan Shape.

[barsuk]

Brush me sideways jealous! Beautiful collection

[Nils]

Vlad, don't you count your Neep Green Agate as chubby, too?

[Vlad]

Vlad, don't you count your Neep Green Agate as chubby, too?

The Neep and Stubby brushes are close, but not the same shape. I had to limit the number on my sink for this!