#1

Member
Florida
(This post was last modified: 01-30-2020, 04:15 AM by shaveSymptomatic.)
Was wondering if anyone has one of these and would like to comment on how much or how little backbone it has and how it compares to other synthetics, especially tuxedo knots.
I'd like to get one, but the fact that they call the fiber "silversynth" suggests that they are trying to replicate the feel of silvertips and I can't stand silvertips due to the lack of backbone.

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#2

Merchant
Santa Rosa - CA
(This post was last modified: 01-30-2020, 05:02 AM by GroomingDept.)
I bought one. The fiber is identical to the Muhle STFV2. I have the Muhle in 21mm and 23mm. The Omega knot construction is different from the Muhle. The Omega is a huge knot for a synthetic. It feels very nice. I don't like or use synthetic knots. But I like the Omega. It doesn't feel like any of the Plisson descendant knots. The fiber strands are thicker in diameter than typical synth knots. It doesn't dry quickly due to the density. It's very well constructed, there is no glue bump to speak of. It easily releases lather. The handle is well proportioned and feels nice. It's not floppy, splay is good, but that's it's weakest point. I don't regret the purchase, I still prefer badger brushes.

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#3

Member
Florida
(01-30-2020, 05:01 AM)GroomingDept Wrote: I bough one. The fiber is identical to the Muhle STFV2. I have the Muhle in 21mm and 23mm. The Omega knot construction is different from the Muhle. The Omega is a huge knot for a synthetic. It feels very nice. I don't like or use synthetic knots. But I like the Omega. It doesn't feel like any of the Plisson descendant knots. The fiber strands are thicker in diameter than typical synth knots. It doesn't dry quickly due to the density. It's very well constructed, there is no glue bump to speak of. It easily releases lather. The handle is well proportioned and feels nice. It's not floppy, splay is good, but that's it's weakest point. I don't regret the purchase, I still prefer badger brushes.
Thanks Mo!

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#4
I’ve only used the new Omega once, but it left a nice impression for me. It seemed to hold water better than any other synthetic for the one try it go so far. Still not as good as badger sadly. Out of all the fibres, Muhle would probably be the closest match for V2 synthetic.

Mine has no glue bump, and a previous brush I had shipped to me that I returned had none either. The glue bump in synthetics kill those brushes for me if poorly implemented. The thing that stood out for me that I liked the best in its first use is that the individual hairs didn’t get lost in a massive lump, that the brush had room inside for lather generation so to speak and the fibres were able to better keep a degree of separation than what many brushes do. Tuxedo knots and their like seem to be very notorious for this.

I dabble with synthetics and interested to see if they can get to badger quality, but I’d much rather use any animal hair brush before a synthetic. They sure have come a long way in the past 10 years, but just not there yet for me to replace badger. Too springy, too soft in the tips, and the water retention isn’t up to Silvertip badger quality yet. The fact the Omega fared so well in not getting water everywhere when lathering my face had me happy, and that’s the one I’ll probably be using more in the future to see if it was a one time thing or not.

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Joe
#5
(This post was last modified: 02-01-2020, 01:38 AM by kooshman7.)
(01-30-2020, 04:14 AM)shaveSymptomatic Wrote: Was wondering if anyone has one of these and would like to comment on how much or how little backbone it has and how it compares to other synthetics, especially tuxedo knots.
I'd like to get one, but the fact that they call the fiber "silversynth" suggests that they are trying to replicate the feel of silvertips and I can't stand silvertips due to the lack of backbone.

I realized reading back I forgot to comment on the backbone. If you don’t like 3-band Silvertip due to the lack of backbone, I’m not sure if you would like any synthetic brush. 3-band has bounds more backbone than any synthetic. The fiber of synthetics does not taper to a fine point at the tip with a wider shaft. It is consistently thin throughout.

That might make it seem like synthetics have no backbone at all. They have a backbone to a degree, but it is much springier and resistant. Plissoft and Plisson Evolution splay better thanks to the lack of density. They generate lather faster too because of this. Muhle STF does an excellent compromise of giving more density, while still splaying well and generating lather well.

My Chubby 2 synthetic is a stubborn jerk with a pointy bulb that refuses to splay. It is better backed inhibiting the flow slightly. It laughter at attempts to use it in circular motions and demands painting motions in particular. I suspect that is just my brush as I’ve seen better knots on others’ brushes. Tuxedos have absurdly thin hairs allowing for a more densely packed brush, but all the lofts on my Tuxedos are longer being larger brushes. Honesty even a large Plissoft with a large glue bump has more backbone than the Tuxedos. My Ubersoft 2 fan synthetic has probably been my favorite to now with a good balance of backbone, density, flowthrough, and ease of use. It isn’t so resistant as others that you can’t push the brush in a bit when lathering.

I used the Omega again today, and again I am surprised at how well it retains water. My original thought was with my first use I was being more careful which was causing reduced splatter, which I found to be true for this time, but after sufficient lathering in a bowl I was able to get the water and lather stabilized and had no problems with it. I was quite vigorous with my second application of lather with no problem. Overall it continues to impress me. It has a larger knot which I prefer, the loft is shorter and combined with an excellently shaped knot head works well for lathering. Density and backbone are sufficient for my tastes. The backbone isn’t so springy that you can’t face lather, and doesn’t feel like a mop either.

Really I would say it is the best done out of all my synthetics thanks to the shorter loft for better control, sufficient fiber thickness, a hybrid knot construction, no glue bump, clamped fibers to help with water retention, and sufficient density to promote flowthrough and backbone. I could possibly see this becoming my synthetic brush of choice when I travel and at home if it continues to impress me and I make my way through my other new synthetics.

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Joe
#6
[Image: GSnLBxX.jpg]

A picture of the Omega pre use with some other synthetics of mine. Using my phone right now and couldn’t get it in as I wanted in previous post.

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Joe
#7

Member
Florida
Did you guys get the stone or the marble version? I'm looking to buy the stone but they'll be out of stock for a few weeks Sad
#8

Member
Singapore
^
White or gray, they both look great.

shaveSymptomatic likes this post
#9
Yeah I noticed just about everything is out of stock. I got the speckled one. Green flecked, I believe it gets referenced as military on some sites.

[Image: gfql6Dv.jpg]

Another one I really liked is the middle Graal. Haven’t seen it anywhere though.

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Joe
#10
I always read comparisons that conclude, that even the new synths do not perfectly replicate badger.

Perhaps you should let go of the animal past?
I'm quite new only wet shaving for about 25 years. For the first 20 years I could not afford a decent brush, so I used a really cheap badger and a cheap boar.

After a particularly bad rebound to canned goo I tried to inform myself. I soon realized that a really good badger would set me off 200$ or more.

So after reading about progress I ventured into synthetics. 200$ gets you between 4 and 10 brushes.

I now own a whole shelf of different brushes now. That they all differ from each other makes my experience interesting. But all work quite well. As I never owned a really good badger i have no clue how they would compare. But i have come to the conclusion that I do not care 300+$ enough to care / find out. +

Are you comparing to badger for feel or are you able to broaden you assessment to focus on how it works?

br
godek

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