Some advice please. I have only one Simpson Best brush (D3) and it’s doesn’t have much backbone compared to the Super knots I have. There are a few Fifty series brushes on the website a the knot dimensions are 24/59. Is that too high for a Best knot to provide a bit of backbone?
I would be interested to know what super knots you refer to.
Being that I face lather, backbone is important to me. All of my Duke best brushes (1,2 and 3) have good backbone. My 50 series brushes (57, 58 and 59) are very floppy with the exception of the 58 which has some backbone. My Chubby 1 and 2 Best have the most backbone of any of my Simpson Best knots. Surprisingly my Colonel Best has very good backbone.
All that being said there are a few guide lines to watch for. The ratio of knot diameter to loft should be very close to 1:2 for good backbone. Knot density really effects backbone as does excessive glue bump height.
Because there are fluctuations in loft and density they do very from what Simpson posts as their specifications. When I bought my Colonel from Maggards, Brad was kind enough to send me a picture of his Colonels lined up so I could pick the shortest loft. Turns out that brush is one of my best brushes.
Hope this helps some.
