Time to dig this post back up from the grave. I’ve spent enough time now playing around and researching each material to offer my observations.
Brass - the heaviest squeegee material; up to 15% heavier than steel and up to 70% heavier than aluminum. The softest material of the 3, followed by aluminum, then stainless.
Brass’ subjective pros: Heavy. When using soft rubber it works perfectly under its own weight and inertia. Ettore brass channels also have square corners that stabilize the rubber just a tiny bit more than rounded corners do. The extra stability lends itself to tight cut-ins and less towel detailing. Brass is also quite soft, so it is easy to cut channels for a particular length. Develops a cool patina with age to show you are not a noob.
Brass’ subjective cons: Heavy. Carrying two or more brass squeegees plus a wet mop can pull your belt down and hurt your hips after a while. Soft. Over-tightening the handle can cause the channel to bend or bow, leading to streaks. Dropping the channel on a hard surface can bend it. Develops a patina with use that may appear neglectful to some.
Aluminum: The lightest of the 3. Medium softness but very rigid for its weight. Wide body channels are machined from aluminum for this reason, among others.
Aluminum’s pros: VERY light. Hardly a noticeable weight addition to belt/boab setups. Soft enough to cut easily for a specific channel length. Does not patina or corrode easily.
Aluminum’s cons: Can be almost TOO light. Has little mass of its own so the operator may perceive a need for more hand pressure to perform properly. Rounded channel corners from the factory offer slightly less stability than the square corners of Ettore brass and stainless channels.
Stainless Steel: Medium weight. Highest strength and rigidity.
Stainless Steel pros: Super strong and basically will never bend, even if dropped from great heights. Highly resistant to corrosion and wear; likely will appear clean and new even after decades of use without maintenance. Ettore stainless channels have square corners like the brass for added stability.
Stainless Steel cons: Very hard material makes it much more difficult to cut a specific channel length unless you have access to power tools or a machine shop.
