Shavemac or Rooney?

**strat1117** · 06-26-2009, 11:56 AM

I am ready to treat myself to a new brush, and I have narrowed it down to the 23mm Shavemac silvertip offered by WCS (similar to, but not exactly like a 177, according to John), and one of the Rooney "super" silvertips (either a 1/1 or the 3/1 "special" from VB, LLC). Unfortunately, e-commerce being what it is, I cannot see/feel/hear/touch the brush before I make my decision, and neither vendor carries both, so I am looking to you Gentlemen for your unbiased opinions as between these choices.

I will be using the brush primarily for tallow-based soaps, and I lather on my face, rather than in a bowl.

Thanks!!

**domino** · 06-26-2009, 12:02 PM

My vote is for the Rooney 1/1,it is one of my favorite brushes

**andrew98** · 06-26-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by domino

My vote is for the Rooney 1/1,it is one of my favorite brushes

+1. I only use soaps and I face lather. I wouldn't rule out a cusom Shavemac in Finest with a 45mm loft. I'm torn between that and my 1/1 Super. Both equally great brushes but quite different from one another.

-Andy

**GoldenMonkey** · 06-26-2009, 12:07 PM

No opinion on the Shavemac (but high opinion of John @ WCS!), but I LOVE my Rooney 3/1 Super. It's a soft yet stiff backboned brush and works well with either soap or cream...fantastic brush, IMO.

**Dustinl** · 06-26-2009, 12:12 PM

Originally Posted by GoldenMonkey

No opinion on the Shavemac (but high opinion of John @ WCS!), but I LOVE my Rooney 3/1 Super. It's a soft yest stiff backboned brush and works well with either soap or cream...fantastic brush, IMO.

+1

They Rooney 3/1 is great for both creams and brushes. The super silver feels like your rubbing silk on your face. Excellent brush.

DL

**MrFusion** · 06-26-2009, 12:15 PM

I have a Rooney 3/1 super and a Shavemac D01.

You really can't go wrong with either as they are both great brushes. If I had to choose which of my two brushes to keep if I could only have one, I would keep the Shavemac. I think it just barely edges out the Rooney (just barely).

Of course, YMMV and all that. I'm just glad I don't have to make a choice and can keep both of them!!!

**biomesh** · 06-26-2009, 12:53 PM

They are all good brushes, but I would go with the Rooney 1/1 or 3/1 depending on the handle you like the most.

**Bertilak** · 06-26-2009, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by MrFusion

I have a Rooney 3/1 super and a Shavemac D01.

You really can't go wrong with either as they are both great brushes. If I had to choose which of my two brushes to keep if I could only have one, I would keep the Shavemac. I think it just barely edges out the Rooney (just barely).

Of course, YMMV and all that. I'm just glad I don't have to make a choice and can keep both of them!!!

I also have a Rooney (1/2) and a Shavemac D01 but for me the Rooney has just the sliver of an edge over the Shavemac. The rest of that I agree with!

**Confilo** · 06-26-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by MrFusion

I have a Rooney 3/1 super and a Shavemac D01.

You really can't go wrong with either as they are both great brushes. If I had to choose which of my two brushes to keep if I could only have one, I would keep the Shavemac. I think it just barely edges out the Rooney (just barely).

Of course, YMMV and all that. I'm just glad I don't have to make a choice and can keep both of them!!!

I agree, it is an easy choice get both and use one while the other one dries

**Oldguy** · 06-26-2009, 01:04 PM

It's a little hard to compare these brushes. They are different in both the cut of the bloom and the height of the bristle. For a tallow based soap I would recommend either of the Ronney's. I have two 3/1's so I'm a little biased. The 3/1 Special is a neat brush.

Len

**Hodari D.** · 06-26-2009, 01:20 PM

i think the 23mm shavemac will be too large for your purposes. i'd get the rooney (which handle you like better, style 3 or 1).

d01 shavemac as others have mentioned is a nice brush, but it bumps you up into a difference price range.

**curtis909** · 06-26-2009, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by strat1117

I am ready to treat myself to a new brush, and I have narrowed it down to the 23mm Shavemac silvertip offered by WCS (similar to, but not exactly like a 177, according to John), and one of the Rooney "super" silvertips (either a 1/1 or the 3/1 "special" from VB, LLC). Unfortunately, e-commerce being what it is, I cannot see/feel/hear/touch the brush before I make my decision, and neither vendor carries both, so I am looking to you Gentlemen for your unbiased opinions as between these choices.

I will be using the brush primarily for tallow-based soaps, and I lather on my face, rather than in a bowl.

Thanks!!

+1 on the rooneys

**Bruce** · 06-26-2009, 01:47 PM

WCS???

**strat1117** · 06-26-2009, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bruce

WCS???

West Coast Shaving

**ari95** · 06-26-2009, 02:10 PM

This is a tough call. Three years ago I had a similar situation, and I bought both. 23mm Shavemac is not too big for face lathering, it has a compact loft even at 60mm. The Shavemac density is also about perfect for me, back bone, but also not so dense that it hogs the lather. I feel though, that the Rooney Special may be the winner specifically for the intended purpose of using soap and face lathering. I think the shape of the loft on a Rooney fits better onto a puck of soap. Shavemac with ilght bulb, and high peak of the loft, eats up the center of soap fairly quickly. I honestly feel that Rooney really is the best value in a brush out there. Good luck with your decision. Here is another one for you. Simpson Comodore X1 or X2, likely my next brush.

**huntmol** · 06-26-2009, 02:30 PM

Get a Rooney first, then later get a Custom Shavemac in D01 or Finest

**ambrose** · 06-26-2009, 04:31 PM

Rooney 1/1 in this case, but I would spend a bit more money on a bigger knot though a rooney 1/2.

**strat1117** · 06-26-2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by ambrose

Rooney 1/1 in this case, but I would spend a bit more money on a bigger knot though a rooney 1/2.

Money is not the primary factor; I am looking for that Goldilocks "just right" brush -- not too big, not too small, not too stiff, not too floppy. Just exactly perfect.

At the moment I am leaning toward the Rooney Special 3/1, but I'm not quite ready to pull the trigger yet because, while the Rooneys seem to be the overwhelming favorites, there is still a part of me that really wants the Shavemac.

I might have to buy both, although that would just be stupid.

Wouldn't it?

**Mr. Igg** · 06-26-2009, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by ari95

This is a tough call. <snip> 23mm Shavemac is not too big for face lathering, it has a compact loft even at 60mm. The Shavemac density is also about perfect for me, back bone, but also not so dense that it hogs the lather. <snip>

While the Rooney will probably carry the day here in the thread--and I'd hardly want to argue against Rooney brushes, as I happily own the 3/1 in Super myself--I wanted to foot-stomp this point that the Shavemac 23mm works very, very well as a face lathering brush for me, too. I also think it's the perfect brush for me, for exactly the same reasons: enough backbone, dense enough, ridiculously soft, not a lather hog. If the Shavemac sounds like something you'd like, don't be afraid of it on the grounds that it won't face lather.

My punch line is to echo what others have already said: While they're different brushes, they're both completely and totally wonderful brushes, and I can just about guarantee you'll be happy with any brush by either manufacturer!

**Cheech** · 06-26-2009, 05:26 PM

I have the 3/1, 3/2, 1/1 and Alibaba 1. I may be a little partial to Rooneys.

I've also had Shavemacs, and they are also great. IMHO, the Rooney tends to have a little more backbone, and is more dense. The Shavemacs feel a little softer in the loft to my face. Personally, I'd go with the Rooney.

Keep in mind that the larger brushes tend to be a little softer in the loft, but are still nice and dense. So, a 3/1 is going to be softer than the 1/1, but still dense.

Just my opinion.

And you can always sell anything you don't like and make someone else happy. You know what they say about its own reward...