What's so special about Wald Brushes?

If rudyvey  (a master brush maker) likes it, then it must be a good brush.  I'll know soon.

Thanks for starting this thread draebeard, and also to Rudy and the many other knowledgable contributors.  I just pulled the trigger a 29mm A1 brush.  It looks like this:  



Now the waiting begins.

I recently purchased the 27mm Calyx brush and had made reference to it being smaller feeling than a couple of my brushes in my cabinet and although the Calyx actually measuring 27.6mm where it leaves the handle I would've swore it was less than 25mm as it looks smaller than my STF XL and Timberwolf knots... 

Great pics and info, muzichead! How would you describe the Calyx in use? Does it feel much smaller than 25mm STF XL? Does it seem like a full-size brush or more like a travel brush? Thanks for any additional impressions. 

I wouldn't say the Calyx feels that much smaller than the STF XL but there are differences. the main differences is in how the brush splays and has zero backbone compared to the STF XL and it only takes about half the amount of soap to load the brush and its always a thicker and more abundant lather that it produces. As to whether its feels full sized I would say yes it does.

I think the Wald synthetic fibres are very soft and plush...perhaps too much of a good thing.
That said, I did not get along with this brush and returned it. I may be the only one who has done so.

Revisited by Muhle STF 25mm and after 2 weeks of daily use it has somehow become soft and bordering
on luxurious (when in the past it had some scritch). I think I will stick to and my this Omega EVO for now.

I wouldn't say the Calyx feels that much smaller than the STF XL but there are differences. the main differences is in how the brush splays and has zero backbone compared to the STF XL and it only takes about half the amount of soap to load the brush and its always a thicker and more abundant lather that it produces. As to whether its feels full sized I would say yes it does.

Fantastic, thank you for the info muzichead. I bought the Calyx as a birthday present to myself, and just wanted to hear from another owner before I used it. It sounds like exactly what I wanted. Looking forward to my shaves with it!

If rudyvey  (a master brush maker) likes it, then it must be a good brush.  I'll know soon.

Thanks for starting this thread draebeard, and also to Rudy and the many other knowledgable contributors.  I just pulled the trigger a 29mm A1 brush.  It looks like this:  



Now the waiting begins.

Good choice on the bulb. Love mine.

If rudyvey  (a master brush maker) likes it, then it must be a good brush.  I'll know soon.

Thanks for starting this thread draebeard, and also to Rudy and the many other knowledgable contributors.  I just pulled the trigger a 29mm A1 brush.  It looks like this:  



Now the waiting begins.

GORGEOUS Mike, exactly what I would have picked !

Thanks to rudyvey and Dave in KY for the kind and encouraging words.

Before this thread, Wald was a vague blip on the edge of my radar.  I would look at the website occasionally, but never thoroughly, and never with a good answer to the questions others have asked about price.  But after two pages of responses here, I shifted into homework mode, snooped around the forums a bit, and gave the website a thorough read.  Remarks from forum customers were for the most part positive.  But they were not unanimous, and it was the Wald website that impressed me the most.  

The website provided a lot of detail with no fluff, and it came across as the voice of a passionate and dedicated artisan (Jannik) - all a refreshing contrast from marketing oriented storefronts.  It was Jannik's detailed remarks on the Synthetic knots page which tipped me away from a fan and towards the bulb.  In fact, they tipped me away from the firm backbone fans I often use.  This brush won't be anything like them.

Could this buy be a huge mistake?  I don't expect so, but that's always possible, and the only way to know is to get the brush wet.  Either way, I will report.

I think the Wald synthetic fibres are very soft and plush...perhaps too much of a good thing.
That said, I did not get along with this brush and returned it. I may be the only one who has done so.

Revisited by Muhle STF 25mm and after 2 weeks of daily use it has somehow become soft and bordering
on luxurious (when in the past it had some scritch). I think I will stick to and my this Omega EVO for now.

I didn't know Wald had a return policy?

Thanks to rudyvey and Dave in KY for the kind and encouraging words.

Before this thread, Wald was a vague blip on the edge of my radar.  I would look at the website occasionally, but never thoroughly, and never with a good answer to the questions others have asked about price.  But after two pages of responses here, I shifted into homework mode, snooped around the forums a bit, and gave the website a thorough read.  Remarks from forum customers were for the most part positive.  But they were not unanimous, and it was the Wald website that impressed me the most.  

The website provided a lot of detail with no fluff, and it came across as the voice of a passionate and dedicated artisan (Jannik) - all a refreshing contrast from marketing oriented storefronts.  It was Jannik's detailed remarks on the Synthetic knots page which tipped me away from a fan and towards the bulb.  In fact, they tipped me away from the firm backbone fans I often use.  This brush won't be anything like them.

Could this buy be a huge mistake?  I don't expect so, but that's always possible, and the only way to know is to get the brush wet.  Either way, I will report.

If it was a huge mistake, I may be your Huckleberry

I didn't know Wald had a return policy?

Special concession..cant say more...signed a NDA