Boar brush journey...if I can make it.

[Rivguy]

I have been thinking about doing this for a while but my fondness for my silvertips seems to have pushed this project off. I am blessed to have some fine badger brushes in my den so my boar brushes do not see much use with the exception of my Semogue 2011 LE #2 which is a very fine brush. I know that we have a lot of folks on here that are very fond of or prefer boars but my preference for many years has been the badgers. I have a number of older boar brushes, some of which came with sets of other products like mugs, soaps, etc. In any event, I think that next week is the beginning of my boar brush journey. I will try to stay on track but will miss some of my favorites. A week without a Shavemac DO1, Da vinci, T&H etc. will be difficult to say the least. My first brush was a boar many years ago and I think that I have worn out a few since but it has been a while so I will give it my best shot.

I looked over my options and selected the brushes pictured below as the contenders. I am looking forward to revisiting some of these brushes so let the journey begin!



Best Regards,

Doug

 

[RobAtSGH]

I like my boar: an acrylic-handle Omega. I do find with hard soaps, however, that I usually have to go back to the puck at least once during the shave. Otherwise, it's a pleasantly firm, scrubby feeling, but not scratchy. I've found that boars produce a lather that best suits shaving with a straight razor - not too thick and heavy. Also, boars - even if you use a bowl - are more about building the lather on the face than anything.

 

[Cochese2323]

I usually go back to the puck too with my Semogue 620, but it's not a hassle, it is sitting right there.

 

[redrako]

Doug,

Nice pack of boars there. I particularly like the two barber brushes lying on their sides.

Good luck with your experiment.

 

[cryhavoc]

Can't wait to follow you on your Boar journey

 

[The M]

I actually have used A Barbershop Old Fashioned Luxury boar brush Like the one in the picture(thats laying down on the right) and It is not a bad brush. (well to me im sorta new to this)It is not as soft as my omega 49 though.

 

[Rivguy]

The journey began with the Old Spice brush on the left in the picture. If my memory serves me correctly, it was part of a gift set that included the soap, AS and cologne. The brush is a little guy having a 20 mm knot with a 51 mm loft and with a 102 mm overall height. The largest diameter on the handle is 33 mm. The only marking on the brush is the traditional Old Spice script with "made in W Germany" below.

Now the important part. I have used this brush a time or two so I understand that it is not fully broken in. Having said that, there is no funk smell at all. I followed my usual procedure of soaking the bristles in warm water while I showered. I thought it was only fitting to use Old Spice soap so I began lathering same and found that the brush produced a nice lather quickly. (I am convinced that you can get a great lather with a Q-tip with this fine soap.) While not a silvertip badger, the brush felt fine on my face. It spread the superb OS lather evenly and with descent density. My normal practice is to do a three pass shave with a fourth pass as a touch up as needed. Because of the size and not particularly dense knot, I had to return to the soap for additional product for the last pass. My overall impression of this brush is favorable and will most likely improve as the brush breaks in and my experience with it increases. The handle felt a bit small in my hand because it is a small handle and I am used to using brushes with larger handles. I did not find the feel to be a disqualifier...just different. It could make a nice travel brush.

The journey continues tomorrow but I will be at work so the report will most likely be later in the day. This is fun. I am being reunited with some items that I have not used for some time. I posted some time ago that I discovered a box in the basement that contained some old shaving products that I had forgotten about which included a few of these brushes and some great vintage soaps. I am still unable to find some of the old razors though I have not given up.

Regards,

Doug

 

[celestino]

Good luck with the boar journey, Doug. i also love my Semogue boars.

 

[Rivguy]

The second stop on the journey was the Barbershop brush that is second from the left in the above picture. This was also part of a gift set with other items including the excellent Barbershop soap. This brush is so similar to the Old Spice brush that I think that it may have been made by the same manufacturer in West Germany. The specifications are similar as well. The knot is 21 mm with a 50 mm loft and an over all height of 98 mm. The dark brown handle has the Barbershop logo and lettering in gold with W. Germany below also in gold. This attractive handle has a gold ring at the base of the knot.

In keeping with the theme, I used this brush to lather the excellent Barbershop vintage soap. I used the regular scent today. Again, I have only used this brush a time or two so I am sure that it is not fully broken in but there was no funk smell present on this brush either. I loaded the brush on the round for about forty five seconds and began to build lather on my face. This is one fantastic soap and the brush did a fine job building the lather and holding it as well. The feel on my face was similar to the Old Spice brush but for some reason it had a bigger feel. I had enough lather for four passes although the last pass was a bit thin which was fine since it is only a touch up pass. Like the Old Spice brush, the handle felt small but still comfortable. My over all impression of this brush is very much like the Old Spice brush. It was fun to use and performed nicely. I will use it again to become more familiar with it.

Tomorrow I think I will continue across the line so the Semogue 2011 LE # 2 is up. It is a great brush and I am looking forward to the shave. I may continue my use of fine vintage soaps as well. Stay tuned!

Regards,

Doug

 

[Rivguy]

Day three of the journey was very enjoyable. I used what I consider to be my finest boar brush which is the Semogue 2011 LE #2. I purchased this brush as almost as an afterthought when I purchased the LE Badger #2 and I am very glad that I did. This brush sees the most use of any of my boar brushes. My caliper measures this brush to have a 27 mm knot, 56 mm loft and 107 mm overall height. The marbled handle is both beautiful and very comfortable in the hand with excellent balance.

Again, keeping with the theme, I used this brush to lather another excellent vintage soap, which was Seaforth. Another wonderful tallow based soap from the past. Unlike the previous brushes, I do use this brush from time to time so I am more familiar with its characteristics and believe that it is fully broken in or certainly nearly so. I loaded the brush for about a minute. The larger knot felt great on my face and it did a fine job of working up a great lather. There is a noticeably softer feel to this boar than the others which is to my liking. I had enough lather for four passes although the last pass was a bit thin which was the case with yesterdays brush as well. This brush has definitely earned a spot in my brush rotation.

Tomorrow I will use the blue ceramic brush which, if my memory is correct, does a good job. It certainly is a beautiful brush.

Regards,

Doug

 

[Rivguy]

Well today is day four with boar brushes and so far I am enjoying them. Today I used a cobalt blue ceramic brush that is beautiful and has a nice knot. It was part of a gift set as well. It came with a matching mug and trac II razor that I will use occasionally just for a change. It is a beautiful set and I have posted a picture below. The specifications on the brush are 22 mm knot with a 52 mm loft and a 117 mm overall height. The markings on the brush base that are in gold are "Royal London Gentlemen's Gifts" along with a repeat of the crest. It also says made in Taiwan. I have a few pieces from this manufacturer that I received as gifts. I do not believe that there was any software included. I have seen a white set like this in an antique store but never in blue. My guess is that it is from the late seventies or early eighties.

Now on to the performance. Today I used Cella and loaded the brush for about a minute after soaking the brush while I showered. The knot seems to be fairly dense and held a nice load of lather. The first lathering was wonderful and had a nice feel to my face. The subsequent latherings were very nice with enough lather for four passes without going back to the soap. I am certain that this brush is not broken it yet just by the number of uses and the fact that it is a boar. It was a very enjoyable experience and I will continue to use this brush. The few times that I have used this brush I have been surprised that the handle is not as slippery as I expected. It has a nice feel in the hand and fun to use.



Well tomorrow is day five with the boars. I think that the Semogue 2000 is up.

Regards,

Doug

 

[TheLegalRazor]

Nice to hear you are becoming reacquainted with your boars. I started out with an Omega boar and gradually acquired a nice rotation of Vulfix and Simpson silvertips. However, I still use a boar brush once or twice every week and enjoy it as much as my silvertips.

 

[jamesj1578]

i am starting to fall in love with boar brushes more and more

 

[Rivguy]

Today is day five of what I have called my boar brush journey. I am revisiting some of my boar brushes that I have not used in a while. Today's brush is the Smogue 2000. It is a beautiful big brush that I have had for a few years and have used many times. It is a large brush with a 27 mm knot, 63 mm loft and 116 mm overall height. These specifications are a few mm larger than Smogue lists but what was accurately measured several times by my caliper. As I stated above it is a beautiful brush with good balance.

Today I used Proraso white and from past experience with this brush, I loaded it for well over one minute. The first lathering was very nice albeit with a bit of floppiness. The brush is large so it distributed the lather quickly and softly. This brush seems to eat the lather when placed in the warming scuttle between latherings. For pass three and the touch up fourth pass I had to go back to the soap. I have really tried to like this brush but it has fallen short of my expectations. I purchased this brush with high hopes after reading some glowing reviews on here and elsewhere. I kept using it to make certain it was broken in but the results showed only slight improvement and then plateaued. To be very honest, this is the brush that discouraged me from using boar brushes. Fortunately for me, another Smogue, the 2011 LE #2 completely changed my mind and was the reason that I decided to revisit some of my other boar brushes. I know that many of you have had a different experience with this brush and I don't mean to disparage a brush that you hold in high regard. I am just being honest with my experience with my brush. Perhaps my brush is the exception.

Tomorrow I will continue the boar brush journey with another Old Spice boar brush that does get used from time to time so I am looking forward to the shave...but then I always look forward to my shave.

Regards,

Doug

 

[redrako]

Interesting observation about the Semogue 2000. I have one that's still in the break-in phase and overall like it. I don't feel that it's completely broken in yet as an older Omega Pro 49 has much softer tips. Interestingly the 2000 is much more densely packed.

 

[Rivguy]

Robert, I am glad that you are enjoying your Semogue 2000. I hope that you don't let my experience change your mind about your brush. I think that your experience is more typical than mine. Perhaps my brush is just an anomaly.

Regards,

Doug

 

[Rivguy]

Day six of this journey unites some old friends. Today I used an Old Spice long handle boar lathering vintage Old Spice soap. This was part of a gift set that included the brush, ceramic holder and a Trac II handle. A picture is posted below. This brush gets used from time to time so it should be well broken in. This brush has a 22 mm knot with a 56 mm loft and an over all height of 150 mm. This is a fairly dense brush and the long handle provides a nice change of pace from the shorter handles I normally use. The marking on the brush consist of the Old Spice ship logo and lettering that is cast into the dark blue (almost black) part of the handle that reads "made in Taiwan R.O.C." There is also a gold sticker that says Genuine Boar Bristle.

After soaking the brush while I showered, I loaded it with the vintage Old Spice soap for about thirty to forty seconds which was sufficient. The first application of lather reminded me of how much I like this soap. The brush felt very nice on the face and the denseness was evident as it laid down a full load of luxurious lather. The brush has a nice full feel on the face and the bristles are very soft on the face as well but with sufficient backbone for building and holding plenty of lather. The subsequent latherings were very much the same. The brush held sufficient lather for four great passes with lather to spare. Some of the performance is due to the soap but the quality of the knot contributed greatly to the building of the wonderful lather. I enjoy using this brush and find that it is one of the boars that I reach for from time to time.

Tomorrow I will use another vintage long handle brush as this journey nears the end.



Regareds,

Doug

 

[redrako]

That is one fine looking brush. I'm glad that it performs as well as it looks.

Regarding your observation about the Semogue 2000. I've been around long enough to truly appreciate YMMV as well as the value of hearing other folks experiences.

Doug, I'm enjoying your posts as you go through your experiment, you write are an informative writer as well as a wordsmith. It's interesting to me to think how we can go back to earlier incarnations of our shaving careers and sometimes arrive at different experiences.

Best Regards,


Thanks!

 

[Rivguy]

Thank you for your kind words Robert. I am glad that you are enjoying this little experiment and I hope others are as well. It is always fun and interesting to revisit some of our earlier shaving experiences. One of the most glaring things for me is how much some of us have complicated the entire process. I have way more hardware and software than I need but I enjoy trying some new things so I guess you could say that is still another journey of sorts. I can't help to think what my father and grandfathers would say about all of this. I think I can hear them saying "it's just shaving son, what is all the fuss about. Just shave and get on about your business." I suppose it is a reflection of our affluent society and trying to find enjoyment in the little things in life, which I certainly try to do.

Regards,

Doug

 

[Rivguy]

Day seven of the boar brush journey brings me to another long handle vintage brush that has seen limited use. If I had to guess, I would say three or four uses which means that the brush is certainly not broken in as yet. The brush is a Franklin Toiletries Barbershop brush that was part of a larger gift set. A picture is posted below. I have been given quite a bit of the Barbershop brand products back when some relatives were alive and thought they made fine gifts. They were right, though I don't think that I appreciated them as much back then as I do today. The boar brush has a 21 mm knot with a 53 mm loft and an overall height of 141 mm. The knot does not appear as dense as yesterdays Old Spice brush. The only markings on the brush are the Barbershop logo with the words "pure bristle" in the oval and "Austria" under the logo. My guess is that it dates from the mid to late seventies.

It seemed only natural to pair this brush with the fine Barbershop soap. I used the regular scent. After soaking the brush while I showered, I shook it out a bit and lathered it for about forty five seconds or so and began the first lather. I difference between the Old Spice brush and this one was immediately apparent. This brush did not have as full of a feel as the OS brush nor the softness, but again, it is not broken in as yet. Still it did a nice job of spreading the wonderful lather of the fine soap. There was plenty of lather for the next two latherings albeit the third pass was a bit thin. I returned to the soap for a swipe or two for the touch up pass. My overall impression of this brush is that it needs breaking in before I can give it a fair evaluation, but I think that it has promise if it will bloom a bit more as the OS brush did. I don't think the quality of the knot is as good as the OS knot, or at the very least, certainly not as dense. Nonetheless it is a very serviceable brush worthy of use. As I mentioned yesterday, I do like the long handle as a nice change of pace.

As the journey nears its end only a brush or two remain in the queue. I will decide after tomorrows shave if the journey will continue.



Regards,

Doug