TGN Silvertip Grade A Question

**SteveWms** · 07-18-2012, 07:53 PM

I put together my first brush - a 22mm TGN Best Badger on one of their handles. It looks great, but it is more prickly than I like, so I'm thinking about getting the Silvertip Grade A.

I read somewhere that Silvertip is easier to damage if not cared for properly. Is it a lot more fragile?

Also, the 22mm seems too wide. I'm planning to get a 20mm Grade A Silvertip. It's labeled on their site as 20mm x 65mm. Will this be too long to have enough stiffness for shave soaps? I thought about the Finest Badger, but on the TGN site, it looks like it is a step down from Best?

Thanks.

**Gingerbread** · 07-18-2012, 08:14 PM

No, Finest is quite exquisite. You won't have to drill the handle deeper to get backbone, either. TGN Grade A has been known to be a bit floppy if you don't reduce the loft.

**SteveWms** · 07-18-2012, 08:29 PM

Originally Posted by Gingerbread

No, Finest is quite exquisite. You won't have to drill the handle deeper to get backbone, either. TGN Grade A has been known to be a bit floppy if you don't reduce the loft.

That sounds like good info. Are the Finest knots softer than the Best knots (from TGN)?

**Loric** · 07-18-2012, 08:46 PM

First off, silvertip is no more fragile than any other grade of badger hair. So choose the knot that sounds best for you based on how it shaves.

As for Finest being a step down from best, that is totally a YMMV thing. However, I personally love TGN Finest extra hair knots. They are a big step up in backbone from best, having the most backbone of any TGN knot. Plus if you were to choose the extra hair knots they should also be a step up in density, and both of these are good things for loading the soaps you were asking about. IMO Finest is also softer at the tips than best. Its not as soft as silvertip, but it is soft, and at worst has a just a hint of the skritch that your trying to avoid.

Silvertip Grade A is also a great knot, dense, soft, and with good backbone (though not as much as the finest). You may have to set the loft a touch shorter on the STA than you would with the finest for the same level of backbone, but it wont be uber short to get where you want to go with it. I dont think you can go wrong with a Finest or STA and I have both in my collection.

As for the loft, it will most likely be very high and floppy at 65mm. The trick is to have the knot bed on your brush drilled out deep enough that you can adjust the loft. As you lower the loft you will increase backbone and reduce bloom size. Think of it kind of like a triangle and shortening the loft (the longest side) with shorten up the other two shorter sides.

Whatever knot you get I would strongly suggest testing out several different lofts before you choose one to finalize. You can do this by making shims for the knot to set on (I use cork but anything that wont rot will work), and applying just a dab of silicone adhesive to temporarily set it. The advantage of this is that you can use test shave the brush and then adjust again with a different shim. Just use gentle pressure to pull the knot out, and repeat the process until you find the loft and face size (factoring in the different blooms) that works best for you. When you have the loft tuned in, just seal with more silicone adhesive or the more popular and more permanent epoxy.

**Cochese2323** · 07-18-2012, 08:51 PM

I have tried TGN Finest, Silvertip Grade A and Super Silvertip and much prefer the the Finest out of all of them. Feels best on the face and has best backbone.

**daccpa** · 07-18-2012, 08:56 PM

Another fan of the Finest here. Restored two with the finest knots and I detect no scritch at all . Great knot.

**SteveWms** · 07-18-2012, 09:56 PM

Okay - Finest, it is. Thanks, much for all the help!

**Krona Kruiser** · 07-18-2012, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Loric

First off, silvertip is no more fragile than any other grade of badger hair. So choose the knot that sounds best for you based on how it shaves.

As for Finest being a step down from best, that is totally a YMMV thing. However, I personally love TGN Finest extra hair knots. They are a big step up in backbone from best, having the most backbone of any TGN knot. Plus if you were to choose the extra hair knots they should also be a step up in density, and both of these are good things for loading the soaps you were asking about. IMO Finest is also softer at the tips than best. Its not as soft as silvertip, but it is soft, and at worst has a just a hint of the skritch that your trying to avoid.

Silvertip Grade A is also a great knot, dense, soft, and with good backbone (though not as much as the finest). You may have to set the loft a touch shorter on the STA than you would with the finest for the same level of backbone, but it wont be uber short to get where you want to go with it. I dont think you can go wrong with a Finest or STA and I have both in my collection.

As for the loft, it will most likely be very high and floppy at 65mm. The trick is to have the knot bed on your brush drilled out deep enough that you can adjust the loft. As you lower the loft you will increase backbone and reduce bloom size. Think of it kind of like a triangle and shortening the loft (the longest side) with shorten up the other two shorter sides.

Whatever knot you get I would strongly suggest testing out several different lofts before you choose one to finalize. You can do this by making shims for the knot to set on (I use cork but anything that wont rot will work), and applying just a dab of silicone adhesive to temporarily set it. The advantage of this is that you can use test shave the brush and then adjust again with a different shim. Just use gentle pressure to pull the knot out, and repeat the process until you find the loft and face size (factoring in the different blooms) that works best for you. When you have the loft tuned in, just seal with more silicone adhesive or the more popular and more permanent epoxy.

Loric, this has probably been the best summary of TGN knots!

**LarryAndro** · 07-19-2012, 06:29 AM

Try the silvertip, for sure. But, don't give up on your pure brush. Use it occasionally. My prediction is that the scritchiness will disappear and you will find yourself using it along with the silvertip.

I use pure and silvertip brushes, pretty much matching my mood. Especially after being outside in the summer, or working in the dusty shop, I use the pure. It just seems better suited. When in a less blue collar mood, the silvertip rings the bell.

**Gingerbread** · 07-19-2012, 06:34 AM

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

Try the silvertip, for sure. But, don't give up on your pure brush. Use it occasionally. My prediction is that the scritchiness will disappear and you will find yourself using it along with the silvertip.

I use pure and silvertip brushes, pretty much matching my mood. Especially after being outside in the summer, or working in the dusty shop, I use the pure. It just seems better suited. When in a less blue collar mood, the silvertip rings the bell.

^This.

I have a Boar, Best, Finest, and Silvertip that I use pretty much equally. Don't deprive yourself of variety.

**LarryAndro** · 07-19-2012, 06:39 AM

By the way, even if you don't use your pure brush, whenever you shave wet the pure brush in hot water and let it sit in your sink till the end of the shave. Do that for a few weeks, and I bet the scritchiness will disappear without it even touching your face.

And, scritchiness with pures disappear after only a few shaves in my experience anyway.

**SteveWms** · 07-19-2012, 08:00 AM

Thanks for the good advice. To clarify, I don't have a "Pure" - it's a "Best".

Good to hear about it softening up after it's broken in. I went ahead and ordered a Finest, but will also be using the current Best, too.

Thanks again!

**Mike_P** · 07-19-2012, 08:37 AM

TGN's Finest XH Fan's are nothing short of amazing. Extremely soft with great backbone. I've used it for both face and bowl lathering and it's a great knot.

**Absolute Mustard** · 07-19-2012, 12:26 PM

I might have to get me a finest

**Gingerbread** · 07-20-2012, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by Absolute Mustard

I have to get me a finest

Fixed for you.

**saliavin** · 07-20-2012, 09:47 AM

You are going to love the finest. I have the 30mm bulb, and it is like face lathering with a cloud. As a bonus it is not floppy(compared to my tweezerman) and holds enough lather for a face and head shave.

**bobfarvour** · 07-20-2012, 09:51 AM

If you don't like prickly, as stated in our OP, you will prefer the Grade A over the Finest.
Finest is probably the most popular knot they have, the tips are soft, but its overall a scritchy knot. The Grade A is just soft. Little to no prickliness. If you want no prickly, go with Grade A. If you want stiffer, sturdier, scritchy then go with Finest.

**SteveWms** · 07-20-2012, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by bobfarvour

If you don't like prickly, as stated in our OP, you will prefer the Grade A over the Finest.
Finest is probably the most popular knot they have, the tips are soft, but its overall a scritchy knot. The Grade A is just soft. Little to no prickliness. If you want no prickly, go with Grade A. If you want stiffer, sturdier, scritchy then go with Finest.

Thanks. I've already ordered the Finest. If I don't like it as much, I'll order a Grade A and make another one.

**azhawk0516** · 07-20-2012, 10:58 PM

I have the 23mm finest two band knot, and I really love it. The tips are nice and soft and the brush has great back bone. It work great with soap and cream.