"Starter Brushes"

antdad

antdad

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I'm looking for brush recommendations for badgers within a certain price range say £5 - £50. This seems to be the range with the biggest minefield, so it would be good to get a list up, brushes beyond this price point well that's more down to personal preference.
I'm looking for good all rounders with soaps and creams and to me that excludes some Vulfix's in this range unless you know different.

I'll start things off...

Vulfix 404 mix - £8

Golden Nib Finest (standard/Xtra hair) knotted brush either bought directly or made by one of our resident brush makers (£30 - £50??)

Anything decent between £10 and £30?? some boar brushes I suppose lets see what turns up.
 
For the range of money I will say;
Kent H8 best badger(for 50 pounds is a bargain!!! being a Kent)
Semogues:all boars but specially the 2000/1800/630(with 50 pounds youll buy them all)
Omega;10049/10048/10006
Here in USA you can get a Tweezerman pure badger brush for 15 dollars,like 9 pounds.
The Golden Nib knots are really good(specially the finest badger ones) but you need to make/restore a handle.
I have heard wonderful things about the Vulfix 404 mix boar and badger (through our good friend Fido) but cant get it here in USA.
 
Golden Nib best (correct me if I'm wrong about this please Neo), described here:
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Definitely an all-rounder.
 
For the range of money I will say;
Kent H8 best badger(for 50 pounds is a bargain!!! being a Kent)
Semogues:all boars but specially the 2000/1800/630(with 50 pounds youll buy them all)
Omega;10049/10048/10006
Here in USA you can get a Tweezerman pure badger brush for 15 dollars,like 9 pounds.
The Golden Nib knots are really good(specially the finest badger ones) but you need to make/restore a handle.Also you can get a Penchetta or even a Penworks for that price range too.
I have heard wonderful things about the Vulfix 404 mix boar and badger (through our good friend Fido) but cant get it here in USA.
 
have a look here Teiste

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it's not the same handle but you could enquire as to the dimentions
 
hando said:
have a look here Teiste

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it's not the same handle but you could enquire as to the dimentions
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Thanks mate!The Vulfix looks much better but those could do the job too.
 
I've got a Simpson Special in Best Badger that I used almost exclusively until I bought my current Vulfix. I think it cost £27.00. It sheds a bit, and isn't large, but works well enough.

Ian
 
antdad said:
Vulfix 404 mix - £8
Click to expand...

Dunno, but going by the comments on this brush that were aired recently, I would guess it would make a better than average bush, and not only for starters...

Golden Nib Finest (standard/Xtra hair) knotted brush either bought directly or made by one of our resident brush makers (£30 - £50??)
Click to expand...

Or a similar/same knot in silvertip, but sourced directly from China. 30-50 quid looks like a good target to me, with price depending on handle material, shape, and finish. I generally charge Eur 45 (around £40 currently).

Anything decent between £10 and £30?? some boar brushes I suppose lets see what turns up.
Click to expand...

Methinks you can get a decent Semogue in that price frame.
 
My starter was an Edwin Jagger Best medium and I stand by this as one of the best starter, it is not too big and not too small. I think as a first brush you want a little bit of luxury especially since it will probably be your only brush for at least a few weeks.

At £23 this is luxurious enough to make you feel like you have a proper brush and is practically broken in on the first use. Classic styling and the handle is nice to hold in the hand. I think C&E made a similar one a while back and this is almost identical in size and price.

If you are talking starter brushes I think a boar requires a degree of skill that a beginner may not have developed and primarily you are starting on creams. the EJ is a great cream brush and it even comes with a stand.

Picture from The Gentleman's Shop where this brush is available

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Audiolab said:
My starter was an Edwin Jagger Best medium and I stand by this as one of the best starter, it is not too big and not too small. I think as a first brush you want a little bit of luxury especially since it will probably be your only brush for at least a few weeks.

At £23 this is luxurious enough to make you feel like you have a proper brush and is practically broken in on the first use. Classic styling and the handle is nice to hold in the hand. I think C&E made a similar one a while back and this is almost identical in size and price.

If you are talking starter brushes I think a boar requires a degree of skill that a beginner may not have developed and primarily you are starting on creams. the EJ is a great cream brush and it even comes with a stand.

Picture from The Gentleman's Shop where this brush is available

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Click to expand...

+1 to the above :) This is the brush I got to start with and stuck with for 18 months, only reason I moved on was I got a custom from neo.
 
Focussing on the request for badger brushes below £50 which are good all rounders.

I assume a badger all rounder includes not only working well with creams and soaps but also must be a brush with backbone for face lathering, About the only brush I have under £50 that fits the bill is the Vulfix 404 badger/boar mix. I now have examples of all the well known makes - 26 at the last count, including several Rooneys! None of my badgers below £50 have the kind of backbone ideal for face lathering. But many will work well with soaps and creams for lathering in a bowl and a painting style of application. Later this week I want to have another good look at the Simpson range at Hungerford. Although small, the Duke 1 in best will surely be the best allrounder below £50 at £49. The Eagle range of pure badger might be interesting if they are as dense as other Simpsons.

When I have tried all the brushes I am assembling for my collection, I will post reviews on my blog.

The Rooney 1/1 from the USA in super is a pretty good all rounder. I have a UK 1/2 in super which is dense but much softer and a little floppy. I won't recommend anyone to buy a Rooney until I have had a good chance to assess those I have.
 
I vote for the Jagger Best. Great value starting at about £18. Durable and does a great job. Also available in three sizes. Also nice to look at in ivory, horn or ebony.
 
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