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So if I have a Plissoft and a Silver Tip, I don't really need a Mew/Synbad/Black/Cashmere or SilkSmoke? They are all the same except in the minds of wet shavers? :)
 
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So if I have a Plissoft and a Silver Tip, I don't really need a Mew/Synbad/Black/Cashmere or SilkSmoke? They are all the same except in the monds of wet shavers? :)

Almost, but not quite ;)

Yaqi seem to play around with lofts and densities depending on the knot, which changes the way they behave. My Mew has lower density and loft than a Tuxedo which results in softer (!) face feel, a bit less backbone (splays easier) and slightly better flow through... For me its an all round better knot and therefore brush but YMMV :)

I'm not saying the latest is always the greatest, the other colour variations recently released dont interest me a jot... I just like the 2-band look.
 
So if I have a Plissoft and a Silver Tip, I don't really need a Mew/Synbad/Black/Cashmere or SilkSmoke? They are all the same except in the monds of wet shavers? :)

Maybe for the YaQi range, although as @Rohleder notes, the construction can add a lot of variation. As for APShaveCo, the Synbad is definitely a new type of fibre (it could of course be identical chemically to others, just extruded differently) and I'm waiting for a Silk Smoke
 
For a newcomer I should think this is all a bit overwhelming as the Chicoms keep "spitting out" new knots it seems every month or so. :confused:


Greetings

Absolutely true, I have quite a few synthetics and I try to keep up to date with what people say about 'new' knots but most of the time I am just bloody confused!

One conclusion I have come to is that as all the new generation knots have a soft face feel I disregard that issue completely and I now feel the biggest factor is realistic loft height for the width of the knot taking into account the glue bump. I notice that Yaqi make many different stated loft heights for the same given knot diameter and many of them are in a different fibre or at least a different coloured fibre so you are rarely able to truly compare like with like.

This is where it all becomes very difficult and confusing and of course personal views/reviews whilst always helpful are always subject to the preferences/in built bias of the reviewer, for example I prefer my synthetic knots to splay easy so what I might call too stiff another person might consider ideal or even lacking in backbone. In the end you just have to try them by shaving with them, it's a shame there was not some truly scientific way of grading the behaviour of synthetic knots.

Regards
Dick.
 
The handle looks better up close:

DSC01322.jpg


Knot measures 25x50mm with a vanishingly small glue bump, 2-3mm only. They really nailed it with this one, performance is just right for face lathering.
Stunning. What size is the handle James? Being a face latherer, I prefer smallerish handles and I'm debating this or the AP SynBad in butterscotch swirl, when they restock.h
 
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Stunning. What size is the handle James? Being a face latherer, I prefer smallerish handles and I'm debating this or the AP SynBadshave in butterscotch swirl, when they restock.

Height is 62mm and diameter (at base) 35mm. Its very comfortable for face lathering, I wouldn't want it any bigger mind but am a fan of smaller brushes anyway.
 
Thanks for the reply. My tallest handle brush is a WW Bishop at around 58mm which is around the maximum for me ergonomically. The Yaqi should be about right.
 
...One conclusion I have come to is that as all the new generation knots have a soft face feel I disregard that issue completely and I now feel the biggest factor is realistic loft height for the width of the knot taking into account the glue bump...

This is where it all becomes very difficult and confusing and of course personal views/reviews whilst always helpful are always subject to the preferences/in built bias of the reviewer, for example I prefer my synthetic knots to splay easy so what I might call too stiff another person might consider ideal or even lacking in backbone. In the end you just have to try them by shaving with them, it's a shame there was not some truly scientific way of grading the behaviour of synthetic knots.

Regards
Dick.

This +1. The problem is that few if any want to buy every new & novel knot to be the "canary" in the coal mine so to speak. :(
 
One conclusion I have come to is that as all the new generation knots have a soft face feel I disregard that issue completely and I now feel the biggest factor is realistic loft height for the width of the knot taking into account the glue bump.

You managed to capture what I was trying to say but in one perfect concise sentence, so bravo! The rest of that particular post was superb as well and I agree with everything entirely.
 
I fail to see the big deal really, these brushes are lunchmoney... Around £15 each to your door, less if you wait for a sale (Yaqi are now reducing one or two brushes each day in 24 hour flash sales, its the 28mm Watermelon Cashmere and 24mm Silksmoke Chianti today... You can land the pair for £15.)

Give them a go, if not to your taste sell on for a minimal loss, you'll literally lose a couple of quid.
 
I fail to see the big deal really, these brushes are lunchmoney... Around £15 each to your door, less if you wait for a sale (Yaqi are now reducing one or two brushes each day in 24 hour flash sales, its the 28mm Watermelon Cashmere and 24mm Silksmoke Chianti today... You can land the pair for £15.)

Give them a go, if not to your taste sell on for a minimal loss, you'll literally lose a couple of quid.
How do you find out about the flash sales?
 
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