Fan versus Bulb knots

Hello good people!

I am looking for your comments on bulb versus fan knot shapes. I have some of each myself but often don't think about it when I use the brush. I believe a fan knot would load more soap and seems to make sense but I don't have a firm reason why I should choose a fan knot over a bulb knot. I am looking to add 2 restored handles to my brush collection and see that Maggard Razors offers the knots in both shapes. First world problem, I know, but I would love to read what you think!

(BTW, I am leaning towards fan, but realize vintage brushes were bulb, I think.)

If other things were always equal, I suspect that the difference between fan and bulb shapes would be bigger than it actually is.  You can find statements to the effect that bulbs offer more precise application and stiffer backbone in the central hairs, whereas fans may load faster and cover more territory quickly.  I wonder about the importance of all of these, mainly because technique and quality of the knot are very important.  That said, I myself generally prefer fan knots for face lathering, but I am not sure why I have gravitated to that preference.  I suspect it is due to the way my fan knots splay.

If other things were always equal, I suspect that the differences between fan and bulb shapes would be bigger than it actually is.  You can find statements to the effect that bulbs offer more precise application and stiffer backbone in the central hairs, whereas fans may load faster and cover more territory quickly.  I wonder about the importance of all of these, mainly because technique and quality of the knot are very important.  That said, I myself generally prefer fan knots for face lathering, but I am not sure why I have gravitated to that preference.  I suspect it is due to the way my fan knots splay.

Thanks for the comments! I have a badger knot from Paul T and I think it is a fan knot and love how it works for face lathering. But I don't notice much difference between fan and bulb Cashmere knots and SynBad knots that I have. Well, other than fans seem larger for the same knot size.

If other things were always equal, I suspect that the differences between fan and bulb shapes would be bigger than it actually is.  You can find statements to the effect that bulbs offer more precise application and stiffer backbone in the central hairs, whereas fans may load faster and cover more territory quickly.  I wonder about the importance of all of these, mainly because technique and quality of the knot are very important.  That said, I myself generally prefer fan knots for face lathering, but I am not sure why I have gravitated to that preference.  I suspect it is due to the way my fan knots splay.

Thanks for the comments! I have a badger knot from Paul T and I think it is a fan knot and love how it works for face lathering. But I don't notice much difference between fan and bulb Cashmere knots and SynBad knots that I have. Well, other than fans seem larger for the same knot size.

For me, splaying is the big factor. Thus, for me, it affects the stiffer knots more.

I gravitate towards things like the 2BED and G5C which I feel are mid (maybe low-mid) backbone but soft. Most of my knots are fans and work wonderfully.

As a comparison, I received a 2BED sometime ago that was a bulb knot. It has more face feel, hands down. Not bad, as the 2B is soft. But the way those hairs are arranged in a fan allows them to better fold out of the way... Minimal force.

My uneducated 2¢.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

If other things were always equal, I suspect that the differences between fan and bulb shapes would be bigger than it actually is.  You can find statements to the effect that bulbs offer more precise application and stiffer backbone in the central hairs, whereas fans may load faster and cover more territory quickly.  I wonder about the importance of all of these, mainly because technique and quality of the knot are very important.  That said, I myself generally prefer fan knots for face lathering, but I am not sure why I have gravitated to that preference.  I suspect it is due to the way my fan knots splay.

Thanks for the comments! I have a badger knot from Paul T and I think it is a fan knot and love how it works for face lathering. But I don't notice much difference between fan and bulb Cashmere knots and SynBad knots that I have. Well, other than fans seem larger for the same knot size.

For me, splaying is the big factor. Thus, for me, it affects the stiffer knots more.

I gravitate towards things like the 2BED and G5C which I feel are mid (maybe low-mid) backbone but soft. Most of my knots are fans and work wonderfully.

As a comparison, I received a 2BED sometime ago that was a bulb knot. It has more face feel, hands down. Not bad, as the 2B is soft. But the way those hairs are arranged in a fan allows them to better fold out of the way... Minimal force.

My uneducated 2¢.

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

Hi Paul! I have a 2BED fan on deck for next week I think. It has been in a box for a while and I just recently moved it into another handle. (I pulled lots of knots for last year's DecemBoar and have recently been both culling and redoing things!)

Fans tend to splay easier and feel softer than a bulb with equivalent base and loft sizes. For synthetics, I can't say that I really prefer one over the other. I think I prefer fans when it comes to badger knots though.

Fans tend to splay easier and feel softer than a bulb with equivalent base and loft sizes. For synthetics, I can't say that I really prefer one over the other. I think I prefer fans when it comes to badger knots though.

Thanks, Garrett, I appreciate your comments and I ordered the fan!

I think it is just a thing of personal preference. For years I preferred fans, but then I started also to like bulbs...now I have pretty much equal numbers of either one.
Fans do splay easier, and bulbs tend to be a bit more stiffer, i.e. more backbone due to the shorter outer hairs that support the knot. For years the brushes I made and sold were mainly fans, but in the last few years I do see quite an increase on bulbs, so I stock now both the two shapes in Shavemac two-band silvertip.
The synthetics I use, Muehle STF exclusively, are only available in one shape, one may call it a bulb/fan hybrid.

I think it is just a thing of personal preference. For years I preferred fans, but then I started also to like bulbs...now I have pretty much equal numbers of either one.
Fans do splay easier, and bulbs tend to be a bit more stiffer, i.e. more backbone due to the shorter outer hairs that support the knot. For years the brushes I made and sold were mainly fans, but in the last few years I do see quite an increase on bulbs, so I stock now both the two shapes in Shavemac two-band silvertip.
The synthetics I use, Muehle STF exclusively, are only available in one shape, one may call it a bulb/fan hybrid.

Thanks for that information. As a brush maker, you have a viewpoint we all appreciate!

Hello Eric. As others have already mentioned, fan knots splay out more and feel bigger. That’s clearly the biggest difference. Bulbs stay tight and focused. Both bring a different experience and personality I enjoy both equally. On the brush making front, I will say that badger fan knots out sell bulbs on most artisan brushes.