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Post by mjclark on Nov 30, 2014 9:05:42 GMT -6
I used a Virginia Sheng Pur Tech 19mm synthetic this morning and am making comparisons with my other three synthetics: a Muhle HJM Black Fibre, Kent Infinity Silvertex and the L' Occitane Plisson.
First off, the Plisson is in a league of its own. It's the softest by far but quite floppy, although it is so efficient that it still handles soaps excellently which is quite a surprise. It's like a cloud from another planet.
The Black Fibre is the scritchiest and springiest of all, taking more pressure to splay but still excellent like a super-boar. It scores lowest in all the categories here but is still amazing, especially when I'm yearning for a bit of rough scritch after the eiderdown soft caresses of the Plisson.
The Silvertex is the big surprise for me. It looks cheap (which it is) and is billed as generation 3.5 fibre like the BF but it actually feels softer than the gen 4 Pur Tech. Also the Silvertex does seem to break in, as the fibres become more pliable with use. It has a good sturdy backbone (but not excessively springy like the BF) and a great feel in the hand.
Now for the Pur Tech. It doesn't initially feel as soft as the Silvertex, which is unexpected as I read that the Pur Tech knots are almost identical to the Muhle STF only denser. It has much less backbone than the Kent and HJM but actually feels just right to me, firm but easily pliable.
And it terms of efficiency the Pur Tech is a near miraculous lather machine, even better I think than the Plisson!
Does anybody have both Pur Tech and Muhle STF? How similar are they really?
It seems that this technology is levelling out. Even the Black Fibre which comes in fourth place here, is absolutely awesome and a great pleasure to use. The other three are stellar brushes - I need to use the Pur Tech more but it's level of backbone and lather making ability certainly rank it up with the Plisson.
And I need to work out how to rotate these quick drying brushes. They're all so good they could each be my only brush.<br /> Maybe Plisson for creams and sticks or maybe just use one brush a week, or maybe one for straights and another for SEs? Time will tell.
I'm very interested to hear what others who are using these synthetics think of them and how they compare.
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Post by PJGH on Nov 30, 2014 9:49:18 GMT -6
Plisson for Sunday best? It's nice to keep something aside for special.
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ShadowsDad
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"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
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Post by ShadowsDad on Nov 30, 2014 10:41:05 GMT -6
Marcus, I have a (taken directly from my inventory list otherwise I'd forget) Frank Shaving Pur-Tech 28 x 54mm Gen 4 V2 STF black handle syn’ and a latest fiber version STF but nowhere near the size of the FS brush as it's a 20mm. IMO, put together a lot of fibers and that changes the characteristics so I can't really compare the 2 brushes. Too, my STF is out on loan so there goes that immediate side by side comparison. I might get it back this week.
I can compare the FS brush to the Simpsons CH2 syn' with 54mm loft, and IMO there is no comparison. The Simpsons fiber is clearly nicer IMO. Same incredible backbone but with gel soft tips. One knows the brush is there due to the feedback of "pushback" on the face, but other than that the fibers can't be felt. If you can imagine this, it's like lathering with a force field. You know how magnets repel without touching? With the FS brush it's as though I can feel every fiber in comparison. For what the FS brush was selling for the last time I heard, it's very difficult to justify. It's the only FS brush that I have. Of course the FS brush just looks cheaper too. I have no idea why, but it does. It works fine though. But it does lose in comparison.
I agree that the fibers are maturing. Frankly, I don't know how the best of todays synthetic brushes can get any better. I've never used a Plisson, but from what I've been reading I think there might be a synthetic for every taste.
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Post by mjclark on Nov 30, 2014 10:56:13 GMT -6
Wow! That Simpsons synth sounds amazing, like a Plisson with some backbone.
The level of springiness in the Pur Tech is perfect for me but it's not as soft as the ethereal Plisson or the Silvertex. I'm still surprised at how soft the Silvertex is as it's not gen 4, but it's not quite as efficient, though still excellent.
Like you say, now there's a synthetic for everybody.
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Post by PJGH on Nov 30, 2014 11:26:27 GMT -6
I know I've said that I really don't want another brush, but the Simpsons is really grabbing my attention ...
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ShadowsDad
Gem Star
None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Nov 30, 2014 12:02:20 GMT -6
If you get a CH2 be certain to specify the higher loft. I tested a prototype at 54 mm loft and that's what I told Mark that I wanted. DO NOT get one of the shorter lofted CH2s. Loft is absolutely critical with a synthetic. The fibers need length in order to flex.
I'd loan you mine, but the shipping is just uneconomical round trip. It's less expensive to buy one and if you don't like it sell it for a slight loss.
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Post by mjclark on Nov 30, 2014 14:13:37 GMT -6
You make a really good point about the loft Brian. I guess the danger for synthetics is too much backbone.
And I'm very interested in the relative efficiencies of the brushes. Perhaps this, rather than softness, is what really differentiates the generations. The gen 4 Plisson and Pur Tech seem to magically produce incredible lather, whereas the gen 3.5 Silvertex and Black Fibre take a little bit more work.
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Post by mjclark on Dec 2, 2014 15:03:24 GMT -6
And I'm comparing efficiency now by lathering some VDH Deluxe with each one in turn - the Black Fibre (gen 3.5) performs easily as well as a natural but is nowhere near as efficient as the Pur Tech (gen 4) which produces a much richer lather for the same amount of effort. I'll try the Silvertex (gen 3.5) tomorrow morning and I already know that the Plisson (gen 4) will be a lather wizard and wonder if it can beat the Pur Tech...
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Post by mjclark on Dec 3, 2014 4:22:35 GMT -6
Ok - used the Kent Infinity with the VDH this morning.
It's definitely more efficient than the Black Fibre but less efficient than the Pur Tech. However, the face feel of the Silvertex fibres is gorgeous, a close second to the Plisson.
And, contrary to everything we've been told about synthetics, the Kent is definitely becoming more pliable and less springy with use. So perhaps Silvertex fibre actually does break in.
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Post by PJGH on Dec 3, 2014 15:05:54 GMT -6
I've used my Kent almost exclusively for the last six months at least. It does seem to have broken in - first few uses, it was flinging water everywhere face lathering but now it seems to hold it much better. Perhaps I just got that micro-fine knack of exactly how much water is right and have unconsciously adjusted? No splay, though, but I don't really want it to.
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Post by mjclark on Dec 6, 2014 19:34:41 GMT -6
So these results just in: Softness of tips - 1. Plisson 2. Silvertex 3. Black Fibre 4. Pur Tech Backbone - 1. Black Fibre (springy) 2. Silvertex (breaks in with use) 3. Pur Tech (perfect) 4. Plisson (floppy) Efficiency - 1. Pur Tech 2. Plisson 3. Silvertex 4. Black Fibre Face Feel - 1. Silvertex 2. Plisson 3. Black Fibre 4. Pur Tech The Pur Tech is notably scrubbier than the other brushes but still way softer than any natural. It's shockingly efficient and has the perfect level of backbone so that it eats soaps but still splays great. The Plisson is marginally less efficient than the Pur Tech but so incredibly soft that it makes face lathering into an ecstatic experience. Its floppiness can be a little disconcerting but it still deals with soaps easily and really does take brushes to a whole new level. The Black Fibre has very soft tips but is the least efficient and can be unpleasantly springy, so I've sold mine And the big surprise is the Kent Infinity Silvertex. It's half a generation behind and definitely not as efficient as the Plisson or Pur Tech but it still outperforms any natural and its feel on the face is the very best of all these brushes. Very soft tips, decent backbone and good splay. And contrary to what we're told about synthetics, it's breaking in so I guess its characteristics will continue to change with time. Actually all four of these brushes are great. I've got rid of the Black Fibre but the other three form the new brush rotation and each one has qualities clearly different from the others and is superb in its own right. I'm looking forward to hearing comparisons with the new Simpson synthetic now.
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Post by fram773 on Dec 6, 2014 20:32:34 GMT -6
The Black Fibre has very soft tips but is the least efficient and can be unpleasantly springy, so I've sold mine Wow I didn't see that coming. I sold mine too. It's now in HoosierTrooper's hands. Not a bad brush I just think the STFv2 and the Plisson are better. By the looks of it I won't get a Pur Tech because of the scritchiness. The Plisson's lack of scritch makes it such a heavenly experience face lathering.
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ShadowsDad
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None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Dec 7, 2014 2:40:38 GMT -6
Minor point, but I think it's a stretch to call the PurTech scritchy. It would only be considered so in comparison to the other synthetic fibers. But compared to natural hair it simply isn't. What it isn't is gel like soft at the tips and won't compare favorably to that. When I use mine, comparing it to other synthetics it's as though I can feel every fiber. It's not bad, just different, it's definitely its own fiber type.
What it should be (IMO) is much lower in price. The one I have is IMO far too high in price today, at least from what I've read. It's priced as though it's a Simpsons and it isn't built like one. Technical Maine term coming... it's gaumy. It feels like a dump truck rather than a sports car. That's the best I can describe it. It has a significant glue bump too. It's simply not made as well. Nor was any pride taken in the packaging. It was just stuffed in and the hell with the way it arrived was the attitude.
To put this into perspective I have the 28 x 54mm PurTech. Maybe the smaller brushes are different, but I wouldn't know.
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Post by mjclark on Dec 7, 2014 4:25:26 GMT -6
Your right that the Pur Tech is only scritchy in comparison to the other synthetics, but I have been using them exclusively so it is really noticeable. By comparison to naturals however it is still very soft indeed but cannot compete with the Silvertex or Plisson.
My Pur Tech (knot only) was only £7 from Virginia Sheng. The HJM Black Fibre was £17 new. The Silvertex was £12 new. And the Plisson was £35 new so price is not an issue here and the Plisson is so amazing that it is worth every penny.
What is the backbone of the Simpson like in comparison to the Pur Tech? In this aspect the Pur Tech is perfect for me.
And what is the tip softness of the Simpson like in comparison to the Plisson? Is it possible that anything could be softer?
Ha ha - I feel the quest for the perfect synthetic coming on!
But in reality it will be, as with razors and soaps, a rotation of the most excellent...
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ShadowsDad
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None boring shaver!!
"It's not the bow, it's the Indian"
Posts: 4,534
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Post by ShadowsDad on Dec 7, 2014 17:45:38 GMT -6
Marcus, the Chubby2 has tips so soft that they aren't even felt (gel like). It's like lathering with a force field. (imagine similar magnetic poles- they repel but never touch). Maybe tomorrow I'll be getting my CH2 back in my hot little hands and I'll try to remember to do a side by side to refresh my memory of the CH2 and the Pur Tech. The CH2 is a wall of gel, that I distinctly remember.
The Classic 1 syn' (production version) uses the exact same fiber, so I've read, as the CH2 and feels much the same, just less of a good thing. Neither of my Classic 1 syn's can be compared to anything else I have in the cabinet.
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