Flat top knots

I don't like the pointiness of a bulb shape in a brush with backbone, I prefer fans. But to get back to the flat top. Mine is 20mm but it feels like a 24mm fan on the face. I just swirl with it like a normal brush, painting also works great.

Loft with a flat top?

All other things being equal. Say a knot of the same hair as a bulb, a fan, or a flat top. What would be the optimal loft. I know many say 2 to 1 ratio of loft to knot base diameter for regular brushes. Does that translate well to flat top knots?

The Stirling badger has also come to the top of my rotation - one of the best brushes I own and I have to say the price point on the brush is great.

I am also glad to see the Golden Nib knots get a thumbs up. Currently I am taking a machinist class and once we finish the class project we are allowed to make our own projects. I am planning on making a couple of brass handles and wanted to make bee hive brush handle.

For a little perspective. The knots below. You can see how big flat knots are.

Both are 50mm loft

Knot on Left: 30mm Brad Sears Manchurian FAN

Knot in Right: 26mm Shavemac Silvertip D01 FLAT

Yeah.

That's a lot of splay.

Yes.

It's nice.

Exact same hair as their other Silvertip Grade A knots.

It's very tall. I set the knot to a very low loft because it felt floppy at anything even close to 2/1 ratio.

Honestly it's a little bit floppy for my taste. Not enough backbone. I think this shape of knot needs to be a finest grade. I see why Shavemac uses their D01 hair for flattops.

It's similar to the Stirling fan but softer and flatter.

TGN should try it in Finest I think.

It's not a good shape for Silvertip. The face feel is nice but I had to set it so low in the handle to stop it from being floppy that it was a little frustrating.

I'll have to look later this evening.

44mm loft.

what's the appeal with the flat top knots? I always thought they were quite ugly looking compared to the bulbs.

what's the appeal with the flat top knots?  I always thought they were quite ugly looking compared to the bulbs.

Feels bigger on the face.

+1; that means you can get a smaller knot and it will feel like one that is larger in Blub or Fan, at times, and it will save you some money.