Talk to me about pure and best badger

Discussion in 'The Brush' started by Linuxguile, Feb 27, 2018.

  1. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    In the world of badger knots is seems like finest and silvertip (and their variations) knots get all the love while the lowly pure and best badger knots get overlooked. Why is this ? Is it actually due to inferior qualities of the hair itself or is it due to poor brush designs and improper settings ? Does anyone have a pure/best badger brush that they love ? Care to show some pics ?
     
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  2. TobyC

    TobyC Well-Known Member

    Comes from a different part of the animal, usually too soft and floppy for most folks.
     
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  3. Enrico

    Enrico Popcorn

    I have a black badger ...
    IMG_0340.JPG
    It's a nice brush, just a touch prickly, but barely noticeable.
     
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  4. jar

    jar Well-Known Member

    Most of my badger brushes are pure and best badger by far.
     
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  5. Jorvaljr

    Jorvaljr Operation Daytona 8000

    I bought several knots if best badger and they were not dense nor had the backbone. They simply were too flimsy and floppy. Setting them deeper didn’t do anything .
     
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  6. COMPNOR

    COMPNOR Well-Known Member

    I have the Simpson Case Best Badger brush for traveling and rather enjoy it.
     
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  7. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    Daleski / @PanChango refurbished a handle that I lovingly call Chubbz 1 with a TGN knot in Best Badger.

    Chubbz 1 is a great brush! Perfect for any lather method.
     
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  8. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    So it seems like there is a bit of a split in opinions. Which make me think that my question about handle design and appropriate setting is relevant

    Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
     
  9. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    And I guys also knot construction as I imagine not all ate created equally

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    Last edited: Feb 27, 2018
  10. PanChango

    PanChango Not Cute

    Sure it wasn't a 2 band finest? It's been a minute and I am not remembering correctly. Great brush though. Used Chubbz3 last week.
     
  11. jar

    jar Well-Known Member

    Remember that names applied to types of badger hair are and always have been pretty much meaningless beyond aesthetics and marketing. Black or white or grey may have some pretty easy to identify meanings but pure or best or silvertip or two band or three band or super or finest tell us nothing beyond what we already get from the pricetag.

    Here is the reality. This picture contains "Pure Badger", "Best Badger", "Silvertip", "High Mountain White" and "Manchurian" knots. Look at the working parts...

    [​IMG]
    Anyone want to explain how different they will feel?

    Honestly, many of my best working most comfortable shaving brushes are just labeled "Pure Badger".

    What I can say is that over time my Simpson brushes have generally been the densest, the Thaters the floppiest, the Kents the softest and the Vulfix the most consistent and the vintage Rooneys the most variable. In US made brushes the Peerless have been the densest, the MadeRites the softest, the EverReady the floppiest and the Rubberset the most consistent.
     
  12. TobyC

    TobyC Well-Known Member

    http://www.whyiwetshave.com/making-sense-of-shaving-brush-knots/

    "We start with “Pure Badger” knots. While this seems to denote quality, it is in reality most often the cheapest grade of badger shaving knot. These bristles do not come from any specific part of the badgers body and often these knots are machine made and cut to shape. These are very cheap knots. Coloring of “Pure” badger bristle is usually a light tan but can lean toward black bristles as well."
     
  13. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    Perhaps it is 2 band finest... So many years have passed.
     
  14. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    The only Best Badger knot that I like is in a Simpson 1 Chubby. I find that 2 Band have been my most consistent knots. The Envy White is one of the best knots on the market. IMHO.
     
  15. Linuxguile

    Linuxguile dating an unusual aristocrat

    IMHO your HO carries a lot of weight and experience, Doug!
     
  16. Douglas Carey

    Douglas Carey Wildman

    Very kind of you say Andrew. Both @clint64 and @Boojum1 have been very helpful with their knowledge and experience.
     
  17. Boojum1

    Boojum1 Valet Parking Available Here

    :signs011: Another Two Band Knot fan here. IMO Doug is right! Simpson Best Badger knots are great, as in my Commodore X-3. I agree that the Envy Supreme White Two Band knots are among the best on the market.
     
  18. stingraysrock

    stingraysrock PIF'd away his custom title

    Hrmmm... curious.
     
  19. Arnout

    Arnout Well-Known Member

    I have pure and best badger straight from China, it is a matter of giving the bristle some support while loading, and making more of a painting motion rather than circles, but they work fine!
     
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  20. blitz

    blitz Member

    i have yet to see any actual machine made knots. have any concrete examples?
     

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