What's so special about Wald Brushes?

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 

Thanks Dave.  You're always ready to help a brother out. 

Mine arrived today.  I'll use it in the morning, and share my thoughts.  
By the way HighSpeed what in particular made you choose a bulb over a fan?

Mine arrived today.  I'll use it in the morning, and share my thoughts.  
By the way HighSpeed what in particular made you choose a bulb over a fan?

You pretty much found the perfect brush to match that soap dish (or vice versa). Great picture!

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Mine arrived today.  I'll use it in the morning, and share my thoughts.  
By the way HighSpeed what in particular made you choose a bulb over a fan?

First off congratulations, and FWIW I agree with mrdoug about how nicely the brush and bowl pair.  

As to your question, let me begin by explaining that I am expecting either a fan or bulb to deliver a "luxuriously soft feeling" without strong backbone, high levels of exfoliation, or appreciable feedback - especially no "springyness".  For me, this is very different from the collection of more or less stiff backbone fans I tend to reach for, and I am expecting to build and apply lather differently with the Wald A1.  But please note that the things the A1 does not deliver are the things for which I prefer the fans, which I already own plenty of.  OTOH maybe the bulb will offer more precise application, as bulbs tend to do.  I could really go for a non-springy, luxuriously soft, precise synthetic bulb knot.

All that said, I chose a bulb mainly because I think the bulb shape was likely the creator's (Jannick's) primary focus and the center of his vision for the A1, and I decided I wanted to experience the creator's vision as closely as possible.  I figured that to some extent, the bulb must be a better bet for that because the initial design and development were done with the bulb, and the fan was added afterwards.  None of this proves that the bulb is better than the fan - I would expect either shape to be an excellent knot - but based on what I am looking for and what is important to me, the bulb seemed like a better bet.

I used my new Wald Calyx for the first time this morning, with Dr Selby's 3X.  It was unlike any other brush I've ever used, and will take some time to get used to.  The face feel was softer than I'm used to, and the lather was thinner and less aerated.  Also the brush seems to hold water for a long time; the picture below was taken a few hours after I used it, and it's still damp.  Lastly, I don't have a stand large enough for it, so I'm going to have to fab one out of a wire coathanger.  I'm going to use it a few more times before I opine on it.  That's all folks.

Second use today with the same soap and razor, Dr Selby 3X & Yaqi Romulus with a Feather Pro Super Blade.  Again it produced a thinner and less aerated lather.  I think next time I'll use a bowl.  This does not seem to be a good brush for face lathering, at least for me.  Since I much prefer face lathering, I am beginning to think this may not have been a good choice.  But I will give it a few more efforts before moving  it on.

Second use today with the same soap and razor, Dr Selby 3X & Yaqi Romulus with a Feather Pro Super Blade.  Again it produced a thinner and less aerated lather.  I think next time I'll use a bowl.  This does not seem to be a good brush for face lathering, at least for me.  Since I much prefer face lathering, I am beginning to think this may not have been a good choice.  But I will give it a few more efforts before moving  it on.

I face lather and it works great for me. Maybe you need to load more soap than you are doing.

Second use today with the same soap and razor, Dr Selby 3X & Yaqi Romulus with a Feather Pro Super Blade.  Again it produced a thinner and less aerated lather.  I think next time I'll use a bowl.  This does not seem to be a good brush for face lathering, at least for me.  Since I much prefer face lathering, I am beginning to think this may not have been a good choice.  But I will give it a few more efforts before moving  it on.

I love my Calyx so far after two shaves, and will post a review after I have a few more under my belt. This dense knot can hold a lot of water, and I’m wondering if your thinner lather is the result of too much water initially.

If you haven’t done this already, I would try giving it a very quick dunk and then squeezing it with your hand so it seems almost dry. Then try your lather. If the lather is too pasty at first, add water bit by bit then. I’ve only bowl lathered with mine so far, but I’ll try a face lather tomorrow and report back.

Second use today with the same soap and razor, Dr Selby 3X & Yaqi Romulus with a Feather Pro Super Blade.  Again it produced a thinner and less aerated lather.  I think next time I'll use a bowl.  This does not seem to be a good brush for face lathering, at least for me.  Since I much prefer face lathering, I am beginning to think this may not have been a good choice.  But I will give it a few more efforts before moving  it on.

I love my Calyx so far after two shaves, and will post a review after I have a few more under my belt. This dense knot can hold a lot of water, and I’m wondering if your thinner lather is the result of too much water initially.

If you haven’t done this already, I would try giving it a very quick dunk and then squeezing it with your hand so it seems almost dry. Then try your lather. If the lather is too pasty at first, add water bit by bit then. I’ve only bowl lathered with mine so far, but I’ll try a face lather tomorrow and report back.

+1

Start with a dryer brush.

Second use today with the same soap and razor, Dr Selby 3X & Yaqi Romulus with a Feather Pro Super Blade.  Again it produced a thinner and less aerated lather.  I think next time I'll use a bowl.  This does not seem to be a good brush for face lathering, at least for me.  Since I much prefer face lathering, I am beginning to think this may not have been a good choice.  But I will give it a few more efforts before moving  it on.

I pretty much bowl lather when I am home with any brush I use. Face lather only when traveling. I think the trick, especially with the Wald synthetic brushes, is to start with a brush that is well shaken out, actually I do this with all synthetics (I have a better feel for the water in a badger....). Then I go over the soap with the brush and then start to make lather in the bowl ( a tiny bit of water is left there from the soaking, yes, I soak every brush I use). Then I add water in small amounts until I get the lather I want. I think it is also a bit soap depending, but I use mostly Grooming Department soaps. I have not used Dr Selby, so I am not familiar with this soap. But, my Wald just works perfect.