2nd Marvy #5 boar received... NO STINK.... NO FLUKE

[bald1]

The William Marvy #5 is an Omega #80005 beechwood handled boar brush with stand. Also the same as the Omega 10005 and 30005 (Ht 110, Handle 55, Loft 55, Knot 24).

I had bought one after reading comments by Dr. Chris Moss (of the Moss scuttle and Shavemac variable height brush fame). He's basically put up all his high end badgers and uses this boar brush instead. I made the buy despite a very bad experience with a boar some 50 years ago....if memory serves I though it more probable as made from a porcupine.... it was an ugly episode in my shaving history. But like I said, all the current fuss piqued my curiosity to try one once again.

Anyhow I've had mine for a few weeks so the break in is still in process. What I found interesting upon receipt was that it had no stink contrary to all the warnings and posted procedures for defunkifying boar brushes.

My son is a soap only guy and has been using a nice Shavemac pure badger for the last 8 years for his needs. I thought he might get a kick out of trying this inexpensive boar so I ordered one for him too. Well darned it it too was scentless upon delivery. Perhaps Marvy does something to the Omegas they sell to kill the stink before they put their little sticker on the bottom of the brush handle. Regardless it is a GOOD THING

 

[bald1]

Kinda surprised.... 55 looks but no comments.

Is it not that unusual to get a boar brush that is scentless? If so, I guess I've been misinformed.....

 

[domino]

I just ordered the same brush..
I'll update when it arrives

 

[Bobtrumpet]

My Omega 10049 (black handle) had almost no funk to speak of. And it only took about 5 uses to get really soft.

I have an Omega 80005 coming in within the next couple days (also prompted by some posts over at SMF). I'm looking forward to it.

Where did you get your Marvy?

 

[domino]

I picked up mine off the Bay . To help speed up the break in I use a warm hair dryer . The hairs start to split quickly as a result...

 

[pcb01]

Got an Omega 31064 last week. No smell I could detect.

 

[bald1]

Where did you get your Marvy?

I too bought from a bay seller in Minnesota.

Got an Omega 31064 last week. No smell I could detect.

Is this a new trend? Folks getting new Semogues too are reporting no smell in threads new this week.

 

[domino]

I too bought from a bay seller in Minnesota.



Is this a new trend? Folks getting new Semogues too are reporting no smell in threads new this week.

I didn't get lucky. My Marvy #5 came in today and it has the usual boar funk...

 

[Dave Deluxe]

I have one too, when it first arrived it had the slight smell of stale moth balls. It didn't hang around long.

"To help speed up the break in I use a warm hair dryer . The hairs start to split quickly as a result..."

I too use a hair dryer on mine. It does cause the bristles to split & get soft faster. But the reason I started using the dryer wasn't for that reason. It was because this brush takes a long time to dry and I didn't want it to pick-up a musty smell after getting rid of the stale moth ball smell.

DD

 

[domino]

I have one too, when it first arrived it had the slight smell of stale moth balls. It didn't hang around long.

"To help speed up the break in I use a warm hair dryer . The hairs start to split quickly as a result..."

I too use a hair dryer on mine. It does cause the bristles to split & get soft faster. But the reason I started using the dryer wasn't for that reason. It was because this brush takes a long time to dry and I didn't want it to pick-up a musty smell after getting rid of the stale moth ball smell.

DD

Good idea, a boar brush does take for ever to dry. I like the kool stand that comes with it..

 

[SRock]

I've owned only two boar brushes an Omega (no funk) and a Semoque (funky but faded very fast).

 

[Bobtrumpet]

I've been using my Omega 80005 for about 5 days now. No funk to speak of, and it works very well. I expected it to have a little more backbone. It does well with soaps and creams. It doesn't seem to need much break in, but I'll know more after a few more weeks with it to see if the performance changes.

I don't expect to be replacing my badgers with it any time soon, but its a very good boar brush and would be a good first brush for a new brush user.

 

[Peto]

I have my Omega 31064 for about 10 days. It has very little smell after the first shave and now it smells like MWF .

 

[bald1]

I've been using my Omega 80005 for about 5 days now. No funk to speak of, and it works very well. I expected it to have a little more backbone. It does well with soaps and creams. It doesn't seem to need much break in, but I'll know more after a few more weeks with it to see if the performance changes.

I don't expect to be replacing my badgers with it any time soon, but its a very good boar brush and would be a good first brush for a new brush user.

That was my experience too Bob. It certainly doesn't match my last boar experience of almost 5 decades ago. That one I swear was more akin to porcupine bristles than boar