The B&B Face Latherers Club United - come in and join the club, please !

**The Dean** · 05-09-2013, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by Simcon

The 22mm finest, like the larger knot :)

My FS Finest is also 22mm. I did my fair share of research before buying this brush on this, and other forums (lurking, of course). There seemed to be a general feeling among FS owners that the Finest was the way to go.

**Simcon** · 05-09-2013, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by The Dean

My FS Finest is also 22mm. I did my fair share of research before buying this brush on this, and other forums (lurking, of course). There seemed to be a general feeling among FS owners that the Finest was the way to go.

Yep, could be so :). I bought the silvertip... since it's a silvertip at a good price, not sure I would have bought the exact same brush today (even if I like it) since I just as well could have gotten a chubby ^^. I'm thinking about buying a Frank Shaving chubby from Ian Tang, a 26mm knot must be even better than my 22mm ;). But then there's the followup question... will a 30mm knot be even better than a 26mm... Hmm. Anyone that have experience when it comes to facelathering (or lathering in general) with FS 26mm and 30mm finest brushes from Ian Tang?

**Taborcarn** · 05-10-2013, 05:47 AM

I've had my Semogue LE Italian Barber brush for 5 months now, but today was the first time I've tried to face lather it. What was I waiting for? I just had it in my head that due to the high backbone, loft, and initial scritch that this was a brush designed for bowl lathering. But it is well broken in at this point, and the tips were so soft it made for a great face lathering experience.

Something's changing here...

**Useless shaver** · 05-10-2013, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Taborcarn

I've had my Semogue LE Italian Barber brush for 5 months now, but today was the first time I've tried to face lather it. What was I waiting for? I just had it in my head that due to the high backbone, loft, and initial scritch that this was a brush designed for bowl lathering. But it is well broken in at this point, and the tips were so soft it made for a great face lathering experience.

Something's changing here...

Never used it. Heard it lathers like mad! Sweet brush!

Wouldn't you like to add TOFLAC-U to your signature, brother facelatherer?

**Gman9537** · 05-10-2013, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by Simcon

Yep, could be so :). I bought the silvertip... since it's a silvertip at a good price, not sure I would have bought the exact same brush today (even if I like it) since I just as well could have gotten a chubby ^^. I'm thinking about buying a Frank Shaving chubby from Ian Tang, a 26mm knot must be even better than my 22mm ;). But then there's the followup question... will a 30mm knot be even better than a 26mm... Hmm. Anyone that have experience when it comes to facelathering (or lathering in general) with FS 26mm and 30mm finest brushes from Ian Tang?

That all depends... How messy do you like to get? Lol I'm kidding. I haven't used one that big, couldn't say.

**Brooksie967** · 05-10-2013, 11:44 AM

Not from him no but I use my 30mm manchurian to face lather all the time and love it. No issues whatsoever.

**Suggy** · 05-14-2013, 05:21 AM

And the award for most rediculous lather for today goes to........ TABAC and my EJ best badger brush.

Had a bit more water in the brush than normal and really got a great lather. I mean, my face had lather peaks on it. It looked like a merangue pie. Crazy lather. could have gone 4 or 5 passes easily.

Love da face lather!

**Useless shaver** · 05-14-2013, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Suggy

And the award for most rediculous lather for today goes to........ TABAC and my EJ best badger brush.

Had a bit more water in the brush than normal and really got a great lather. I mean, my face had lather peaks on it. It looked like a merangue pie. Crazy lather. could have gone 4 or 5 passes easily.

Love da face lather!

Mounds, gobs, mountains, lots of lather!

**Gman9537** · 05-14-2013, 09:09 AM

Well my TGN order came in yesterday. I've been so busy with projects at the house the last couple of months, I haven't made the time to break out the camera for anything, but I'll do my best to get some shots up this weekend. Initially, I have to say I'm very pleased with the order. The knot fit the handle perfectly, now that it's assembled it looks as good as anything you could buy off the shelf. I have to say, anyone that's been wary of building their own brush, don't be, it's kindergarten easy.

The epoxy is curing at the moment, so I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. I'll update with my impressions of the working brush, but as for initial impressions, it seems like it should be a great brush. Densely packed, firm backbone somewhere between badger and boar, soft tips very similar to boar. I'll see how it works for sure tomorrow morning, but first lather will probably be tonight since I'm worse than a kid with a new toy when I get new stuff...

**Useless shaver** · 05-14-2013, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by Gman9537

Well my TGN order came in yesterday. I've been so busy with projects at the house the last couple of months, I haven't made the time to break out the camera for anything, but I'll do my best to get some shots up this weekend. Initially, I have to say I'm very pleased with the order. The knot fit the handle perfectly, now that it's assembled it looks as good as anything you could buy off the shelf. I have to say, anyone that's been wary of building their own brush, don't be, it's kindergarten easy.

The epoxy is curing at the moment, so I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet. I'll update with my impressions of the working brush, but as for initial impressions, it seems like it should be a great brush. Densely packed, firm backbone somewhere between badger and boar, soft tips very similar to boar. I'll see how it works for sure tomorrow morning, but first lather will probably be tonight since I'm worse than a kid with a new toy when I get new stuff...

Waiting for your impressions...

**Gman9537** · 05-15-2013, 07:29 AM

Well, day 1 went well, I also test lathered it on my hand last night. I'll use it for a week or so before I write a review of it, I have yet to try dry loading. It's the 24mm 3 band nylon knot. First shave, I wouldn't say it's as soft as boar, but it's very close. I can feel the individual bristles on my face, whereas the B&B boar just feels like a big soft pillow on my face. It has comparable backbone to the B&B brush, though. And it's a lather machine. I test lathered on my hand with a puck of VDH. I started with a sopping wet brush and worked the froth down into a dense dry lather. Then rinsed my hand and used the brush without adding any extra water. The first lather produced gobs of thick lather. Rinse and repeat, the 2nd through the 7th pass produced the exact same less volumous, but respectable lather. The 8th pass I had to add water beyond what was on my hand to get a useable lather, so I called it quits there, but it would've kept going. That was impressive.

On my shave this morning I used Mike's barbershop. I didn't have to reload the brush, it made plenty of lather for 2 head passes and three face passes on one load. Again, the first lather was bountiful, the second through to the end were respectable. And after the five regular passes, I was able to squeeze out a big handful of rich lather for touch ups. And it yields lather much easier than the B&B brush.

I've read iffy reviews of smaller knots, and some folks have said they thought these bristles would shine in a bigger knot. I have to agree. It has a lot of backbone, it lathers hard soaps with ease, it's velvety soft on the face, although a bit grainier feeling than a good boar, and less product goes farther. I'm saving my first experience with a top shelf badger for a vintage refurb that I'm still hunting (still looking for the handle that speaks to me), but lacking that experience, I have to say this the best brush I've used yet.

**Gman9537** · 05-20-2013, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Useless shaver

Waiting for your impressions...

Review posted

http://badgerandblade.com/reviews/sh...product=211208

I have a family vacation planned at the end of the month, will be gone for two weeks. So we're trying to get all the trim work in the house done by this Friday so next week we can relax and rest up before our "vacation"

Needless to say, with kids in school and jiu jitsu and carpentry projects ongoing, it's a madhouse at home. All this to say, I didn't take any pictures

**coolbus18** · Today, 08:19 AM

Is anyone here using a "flat top" brush for face lathering. I've been thinking of a Shavemac flat top. I use a TGN 22 mm ff xh now for lathering. But that flat looks so scrumptious.

**Useless shaver** · Today, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Gman9537

Review posted

All this to say, I didn't take any pictures

Excuses, excuses....

Excellent review! Thank you, Glenn!

**Useless shaver** · Today, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by coolbus18

Is anyone here using a "flat top" brush for face lathering. I've been thinking of a Shavemac flat top. I use a TGN 22 mm ff xh now for lathering. But that flat looks so scrumptious.

I can't think of anything else more appropriate for facelathering than a flat top brush. Although I still haven't tried one of them... They don't look pretty for me

YMMV....