First Impressions of the Duke 2 Best Badger

I received my brush today (Technically yesterday), ordered from Phil on Tuesday and the brush was here Thursday

I nearly crapped myself when I pulled the brush out and unwrapped it, a perfectly packed, perfectly shaped brush, by Simfix....

They seem to have finally figured it out, or started to care again, now they need to learn how to mount the stickers... They creased it and I don't feel like taking nail polish to a new brush, hopefully it won't spread.

With that being said, I used to hate the daylights out of their brushes, I think my mind was changed today with the D2.

Onto the actual workings of the brush, its hefty and at first I wasn't quite sure if the shape and double rings were going to work out. After messing around with it, I got used to the smallish chunky handle, the rings could be a little bit higher up for my taste.

The knot, well its gorgeous and denser than the early versions I used, finally I don't feel like I'm using the illegitimate son of a gofer.

Behold, a proper knot


The brush was shampooed, soaked and lathered once with Proraso Aloe and Green Tea, not to my satisfaction, the brush was somewhat stiff.

I let it settle and soak again, this time I tried some C&E Sandalwood in a bowl, heres the result, note the retarded amount of lather out of the fresh brush.

I love how auto-focus zooms on everything BUT the handle :happy102


Bloom, quite awesome if I do say so


A flock of badgers


I must say I have some great expectations for this brush, can't wait to face lather it and have it break in.

 

Very nice!

 

That's either a styptic pencil, or a marijuana joint in the upper-left corner of those first two pics.

Either way, nice brush!!!

 

A "flock"?
A "gaggle", perhaps?
Maybe a "fold", or "throng"?
:think002
*shrugs*

Anyway - a sweet looking brush, and flock, there, Aaron.
If that D2 performs half a good as she looks, your in for some great shaves.
Use it in good health.

 

Welcome to the Simfix club

Congratulations Aaron! Glad you like Duke! BTW like your collection my friend. May you have many bountiful lathers.

FWIW, the sticker was off on my Beaufort and Case but it's not that big of deal. Of 3 I have only the Case has bulb/dome head.

How close is your Duke 2 to these specs:

D2 Ht: 88 mm Loft: 47 mm Base: 41 mm Knot: 21 mm

 

Its a marijuana joint, they're quite effective at stopping the bleeding from nicks and cuts, I smoke a styptic pencil when I'm stressed :happy102

Yeah, I had a Flock of Seagulls stuck in my head.....

Yeah, I don't like the new "Clear" stickers they're using, probably going to bubble up and come off soon anyway, whatever.

The knot is closer to 22mm x 47mm which is good, I'll take it, its kind of hard to get an accurate measurement on the handle though due to its make-up.

I probably will buy another Simpson in the future, depending on what I want to try next.

 

Aaron,

Thanks I think going to lean towards a Duke 1. I'll probably contact them to see how big difference it is from D1 and D2. If the latter really is just 1mm taller and 2 mm loft advantage I'll stick with the D1 since I fancy smaller.

Dense brush isn't it? Wee hasn't shed as far as I can remember.

 

Good stuff and great group of pictures. Have you tried or thought about the Duke 3?:happy096

 

I don't think I would go up to a D3, the D2 is about as much brush I want for face lathering.

The D2 is on the border of being a lather hog, adding an extra 2mm of hair would only make it worse. However I'm sure once broken in, my brush will fair better, I'm not saying its horrible, its actually decent for a brush this dense.

 

Aaron, an impressive lineup of brushes there....do you routinely store your brushes with the brush up? I know there's a lot of debate out there, I haven't read it all but since I'm a return-to-wet-shaving newbie, I'm curious.

bill

 

In the family portrait, what is the second brush from the left?

 

Then Sodapop what is that Big Boy doing lurking on the far right all dressed in horn; that sucker is really, really, BIG :1respect

 

I dry them upside down and store them right side up once they're completely dry.

Bakelite Klenzo, with an 18mm Grade A Silvertip

That was my first Badger brush actually, its a Rose Acrylic 24mm x 50mm Grade A Silvertip


I just gave my GF 2 of my boars, and one of my Omega's was drying, hence why they were not in the picture.

 

Thought the same thing... it's my spotty past coming through... :happy102

Was going to ask about this one as well.. that's a beauty!! Any idea what the specs are on this one?

 

You quoted the specs lol.... 24mm x 50mm its a Penworks!

 

Awesome! Real nice, looking to get something similar for myself since I have given away all my brushes to family and have been on a small knot shaving brush for awhile! that blooom shot looks great.

 

Now that there is funny...

I am scouring the PenWorks website and can't find that brush...not the handle material or the knot size.. was that a custome design??

Any chance you have more info on it?

 

PM sent

 

Aaron,

What's the verdict? Is it by far your favourite brush? Has it changed since then or remained the same?

 

Yes, Ivan my favorite and its the best performing badger brush I currently use.

The newer knots from Simpson in best are superb, I still want a Plisson though... :happy102