My 2 New Vig Shaving Brushes

I bought a 23.5mm Vig Shaving Silvertip on Amazon for $17.60 after discount including free Prime shipping, and a 26mm Vig Shaving 2 Band Finest with handle and stand for $19.00 shipped on Ebay. The Silvertip measures just under 24mm at base with my digital calipers and the 2 Band measures 28mm x 57mm, and handle is 45mm tall.

Both knots feel and look luxurious and are densely packed. I haven't used either yet but can't imagine both not performing spectacular. Also worth mentioning is that the Silvertip does not have any badger funk smell at all. The 2 band had a light chemical smell but no badger funk that I can detect. After letting it sit and air out for a couple days it hardly smells at all.

Nice.

I picked up the two band also. Took a little bit to deliver but arrived sooner than the estimate.

I'm going to bust mine out of the handle though.

Nice.

I picked up the two band also. Took a little bit to deliver but arrived sooner than the estimate.

I'm going to bust mine out of the handle though.

You could have bought the knot alone since you don't want the handle but I think the knot alone cost as much. It's a great deal regardless. Mine took less than 2 weeks to arrive. The free stand was nice too.

I updated my post above because I hardly detect any chemical scent at all now. I let it air out for a couple days and it smells fine, but I'm getting ready to test lather it and clean it so I'll find out how much scent is left in it.

Congratulations and enjoy!

I wanted the stand it came with. It was on sale when I ordered it for $17 some cents with free shipping. Less than the knot by itself.

I have the same knot in another brush. I think you'll like it. Similar to brushes that cost a heck of a lot more.

I am not happy with the handle it came with being so stout or how high they set the loft. Just preference. I'm sure it's perfectly fine in both regards, but I don't feel like using it the way it is for as little as I have into it.

I wanted the stand it came with. It was on sale when I ordered it for $17 some cents with free shipping. Less than the knot by itself.

I have the same knot in another brush. I think you'll like it.  Similar to brushes that cost a heck of a lot more.

I am not happy with the handle it came with being so stout or how high they set the loft. Just preference. I'm sure it's perfectly fine in both regards, but I don't feel like using it the way it is for as little as I have into it.

I just used it a few minutes ago and it's a keeper. I washed and lathered it a few times with soap and shampoo and then went ahead and shaved with it. The higher loft is what I wanted since I don't like a lot of backbone for face lathering. Turns out it's the perfect loft and backbone for me at the 57mm loft. It still loaded the soap much easier than my silvertip and synthetics, but on my face it was easy to splay while still providing good backbone. I didn't detect any scritch but it has great scrub, and the tips felt very soft.

I actually like the handle, which is a surprise because I didn't think I would based on the pictures. It's comfortable in my hand and has a nice grip. If I continue to enjoy it as much as I did today then I will probably buy another 2 band knot to set in a custom handle.

The Silvertip is the one I really look forward to using. I need to get a handle for it first of course. The knot though feels and looks awesome. For the price I'm not sure either of these brushes can be beat. I also plan to try one or two of the same from Ace Shaving to see how they compare, but Vig wins on price because of free shipping. Most of the Ace Shaving brushes are similar price plus shipping.

I wanted the stand it came with. It was on sale when I ordered it for $17 some cents with free shipping. Less than the knot by itself.

I have the same knot in another brush. I think you'll like it.  Similar to brushes that cost a heck of a lot more.

I am not happy with the handle it came with being so stout or how high they set the loft. Just preference. I'm sure it's perfectly fine in both regards, but I don't feel like using it the way it is for as little as I have into it.

Which method of extraction are you going to use to remove the knot?

I have been trying to decide.

Probably going to play it safe and destroy the handle.

Dremel with a cut off disk or hammer? I mean I don't think I would ever reuse the handle it came with.

I did mock up using the top part and leaving the knot in the handle. Trim the handle at the bottom of the widest part and set it on a vintage barber handle. I have a nice barber handle brush that the top cup is warped. Use it as the new finial as is. The loft though is just not my style.

I wouldn't boil it or steam it out. Might make it a shedder.

I ordered the new PAA aluminum brush handles. Probably going to use it in one of them.

This is what I was considering.

I have been trying to decide.

Probably going to play it safe and destroy the handle.

Dremel with a cut off disk or hammer? I mean I don't think I would ever reuse the handle it came with.

I did mock up using the top part and leaving the knot in the handle. Trim the handle at the bottom of the widest part and set it on a vintage barber handle. I have a nice barber handle brush that the top cup is warped. Use it as the new finial as is. The loft though is just not my style.

I wouldn't boil it or steam it out. Might make it a shedder.

I ordered the new PAA aluminum brush handles. Probably going to use it in one of them.

I thought about the boiling technique but I think you're right about it possibly loosening the glue on the knot itself and leading to shedding. I wanted the higher loft since it is a 2 band, which worked perfect for my preference of easier splay with just the right amount of backbone. My silvertip I will set lower at around 48 to 50mm loft. I have a Whipped Dog Silvertip set at 50mm, and this Vig 2 band 57mm loft has more backbone than the WD.

Good call on the PAA aluminum handle. I might have to try one as well.