Another G5C Synthetic

p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
P.S.
When the 26mm G5C knot was set too low it was awful: difficult to splay, too dense which pushed the lather around rather than allowing it to spread and too much backbone. All the comments I've read about this knot say to set it as high as it possible. It also means that the bore hole needs to be wider than you'd use for other 26mm knots to ensure the knot isn't pinched tighter.
 
BlacknTan

BlacknTan

Forum GOD!
p.b said:
The past 5 shaves have been with the Noir knot, Evo knot and GC5 in 24 (tortoise 400 handle) and 26mm (ebonite handle)

For some time the Noir knot in the heavy aluminium handle has been my favourite synthetic, I've had two others but they haven't had quite as much backbone as this particular knot, this one has just enough backbone to make it enjoyable but far from too much to make it uncomfortable.

The Omega Evo V2.0 is set like a fan and has no glue bump but that doesn't stop it from having plenty of backbone. I've found it very scrubby but never harsh. However, for my personal taste I find the loft too low - it has that habit of 'pushing' lather around as there's not enough give in the knot and the handle seems to encourage lather to drip down it. Those that love a good scrubby brush will love this one.

The 26mm G5C knot has been set at 3 different lofts and is now set at about 54mm which means it's as high as I can get it without seeing the plug and the width of the bore hole is wide enough to have barely any influence over the behaviour of the knot. When face lathering and once loaded with soap the knot takes some effort to splay, despite it being set at it's most 'open'. However, once the lather has been worked up into a bit of volume and the knot forced open it splays easily and has the best characteristics of the other knots: the splay and easily to build lather of the noir and the backbone of the Evo. The 24mm knot is also set at it's highest and in a 27mm bore hole and is a bit easier to splay than the 26mm and also has slightly less backbone.

To order them I'd place them thus:
  1. G5C 26mm
  2. Noir
  3. G5C 24mm
  4. Evo
Click to expand...
Indeed @p.b

Ny G5C has continued to impress me with it's performance and versatility. I'd like to try others, but when you've found Nirvana, I guess you stay there.. :)
 
Ventastic

Ventastic

Forum GOD!
p.b said:
When face lathering and once loaded with soap the knot takes some effort to splay, despite it being set at it's most 'open'. However, once the lather has been worked up into a bit of volume and the knot forced open it splays easily…
Click to expand...
Excellent analogy! I could almost have written this myself about the 28mm. For this reason, I load this knot with a similar amount of soap as I would a badger.
 
D

Dragon

Forum GOD!
It still remains an art to set the loft optimally even for synthetic knots. They have nuances and much more performance in the right hands. The progress is astounding. Anyone not playing with synthetic knots is getting left behind.
 
Chris

Chris

Forum DOG!
Staff member
@p.b how do the tips feel on the Omega? I like scrubby but have had a couple of synths where the tips were kind of prickly.

Edit - “had had” :facepalm:
 
Last edited:
N

Nav

Forum GOD!
Where do you rank your Muhle silvertip fibre against these fine brushes?

p.b said:
The past 5 shaves have been with the Noir knot, Evo knot and GC5 in 24 (tortoise 400 handle) and 26mm (ebonite handle)

For some time the Noir knot in the heavy aluminium handle has been my favourite synthetic, I've had two others but they haven't had quite as much backbone as this particular knot, this one has just enough backbone to make it enjoyable but far from too much to make it uncomfortable.

The Omega Evo V2.0 is set like a fan and has no glue bump but that doesn't stop it from having plenty of backbone. I've found it very scrubby but never harsh. However, for my personal taste I find the loft too low - it has that habit of 'pushing' lather around as there's not enough give in the knot and the handle seems to encourage lather to drip down it. Those that love a good scrubby brush will love this one.

The 26mm G5C knot has been set at 3 different lofts and is now set at about 54mm which means it's as high as I can get it without seeing the plug and the width of the bore hole is wide enough to have barely any influence over the behaviour of the knot. When face lathering and once loaded with soap the knot takes some effort to splay, despite it being set at it's most 'open'. However, once the lather has been worked up into a bit of volume and the knot forced open it splays easily and has the best characteristics of the other knots: the splay and easily to build lather of the noir and the backbone of the Evo. The 24mm knot is also set at it's highest and in a 27mm bore hole and is a bit easier to splay than the 26mm and also has slightly less backbone.

To order them I'd place them thus:
  1. G5C 26mm
  2. Noir
  3. G5C 24mm
  4. Evo
Click to expand...
 
p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
Last.

In comparison with the latest knots the Muehle is pokey and too stiff, but it does splay well. I remember being massively impressed with the V2 XL Muehle knot when it first was released but I’m now shocked at how poor I find it, I very rarely use mine now despite it being epoxied into my favourite type of handle the 400. If I hadn’t used epoxy I’d have swapped out that knot by now.
 
N

Nav

Forum GOD!
p.b said:
Last.

In comparison with the latest knots the Muehle is pokey and too stiff, but it does splay well. I remember being massively impressed with the V2 XL Muehle knot when it first was released but I’m now shocked at how poor I find it, I very rarely use mine now despite it being epoxied into my favourite type of handle the 400. If I hadn’t used epoxy I’d have swapped out that knot by now.
Click to expand...
Fair enough.

I was wondering about your experience because I used the Evo and Chubby 2 synths and still prefer the STF over them.

I've yet to try the G5C though.
 
p.b

p.b

Forum GOD!
Nav said:
Fair enough.

I was wondering about your experience because I used the Evo and Chubby 2 synths and still prefer the STF over them.

I've yet to try the G5C though.
Click to expand...
In that case you may still prefer the STF as the G5C might be too soft for you but enjoy the trial 😁
 
  • Like
Reactions: Nav
N

Nav

Forum GOD!
p.b said:
In that case you may still prefer the STF as the G5C might be too soft for you but enjoy the trial 😁
Click to expand...
I've ordered the G5C knot to install in an omega acrylic handle.
Looking forward to trying it but I also suspect I won't like it as much as the STF.
 
  • Like
Reactions: p.b
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top