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Gave up my first brush a Semogue 820.

Recently I've been looking at my first brush a red Semogue 820. I kept it only because it looked nice on a stand by the tub paired with Red Speed Gillette. Monday I decided to give it a whirl and remembered why I stopped using it. Find the knot to be be too thin and have no substance and barely holds a lather. Also for reasons unknown it's also difficult to build a decent lather with it vs another boar brush I use a Omega 10098.

Got a guy at work interested in the old school safety razor shaving. Gave him some shave soap and the Semogue 820 as a starter kit and mentioned that he will want to move up to a better brush. I tend to eventually move items that don't perform for me.

Does Semogue make a more substantial boar brush? Other opinions on the Semogue 820 welcommed.
 

mrlandpirate

Got lucky with dead badgers
the 1305 is my #1 goto 709.jpeg
 
The 610 is nice; it is just a bit shorter loft. I prefer it for face lathering.

How many shaves did you give it? A Semogue can take quite a few uses to break in.
 
Recently I've been looking at my first brush a red Semogue 820. I kept it only because it looked nice on a stand by the tub paired with Red Speed Gillette. Monday I decided to give it a whirl and remembered why I stopped using it. Find the knot to be be too thin and have no substance and barely holds a lather. Also for reasons unknown it's also difficult to build a decent lather with it vs another boar brush I use a Omega 10098.

Got a guy at work interested in the old school safety razor shaving. Gave him some shave soap and the Semogue 820 as a starter kit and mentioned that he will want to move up to a better brush. I tend to eventually move items that don't perform for me.

Does Semogue make a more substantial boar brush? Other opinions on the Semogue 820 welcommed.

I always find these complaints interesting. I've got two Semogue boar brushes and an Omega badger/boar combination that I made wonderful lather with immediately. Is my water better for making lather? I don't know.
 
I always find these complaints interesting. I've got two Semogue boar brushes and an Omega badger/boar combination that I made wonderful lather with immediately. Is my water better for making lather? I don't know.

Lathering is not an issue with my other 7 brushes of which one is boar and rest varying badger, horse hair sold. Same water with all brushes.

N.B. I did notice better lathering since adding a water softener 3 years ago.
 
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Lathering is not an issue with my other 7 brushes of which one is boar and rest varying badger, horse hair sold. Same water with all brushes.

N.B. I did notice better lathering since adding a water softener 3 years ago.

I wonder if it has hard water scale/residue on it? might try a 4/1 water/vinegar soak for it to see if it alleviates the issue.

It sounds like something on the brush is killing the lather. A dawn bath might be in order if it could be an oil or grease in it.
 
Sound's like it just needs to be broken in a little more. Semogues can take up to a month of daily shaves to break in. My 830 is a lather making machine.

Clayton

Sent from my LG-K450 using Tapatalk
 
Maybe the guy just didn’t appreciate the brush the way you guys do. To each their own right?


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Maybe the guy just didn’t appreciate the brush the way you guys do. To each their own right?


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Well, of course. However, some of the negative reviews stem from driver error/environmental conditions and not the quality of the brush.
 
Thanks for all your replies. I don't regret moving it to a more appreciative home. For whatever reason reason the knot felt thin and low density compared to other 22mm brushes. On a positive I like the feel and material quality of the handle and the added metal ring at base of knot. If I try another Semogue I'll be sure to go with a 24mm minimum knot.

Here's an picture early on after purchase and some usage.
Group.jpeg
 
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