Colonel 2XL & Duke 2 lathering?

[Pulley]

I just received both of those brushes last week. I have tried each with Cella & Nancy Boy cream. I am having a hard time getting enough lather for 3-4 passes, I face lather. I've never had a problem with either my Shavemac D01 or my Vulfix (that my son now owns).

My prep is still the same - Fill the sink with hot water and soak the brush while I shower. Squeeze the excess water out the brush, load with soap or cream and then face lather. One odd thing I did notice is that there seems to be water seeping from inside the handle.

Any suggestions?

 

[beginish]

I don't have either brush, but there should not be a significant difference between the brushes to have such a dramatic effect on lathering. The only thing I can think of is that the water that is at the base of the brush is not being incorporated into the soap/cream very well. Are you dipping the tips of the brush or dribbling any into the brush directly from the tap while you're face lathering?

Also, starting tomorrow, the Brush Chronicles will spend two weeks focusing on the Duke 2, and that will be a good forum to get pointers on how to troubleshoot that brush.

 

[Ignatius]

My guess is that your two old brushes are ideal cream brushes, your two new ones aren't. I own and regularly use a D2, but I can't imagine ever lathering a cream with it for a 4-pass shave.

 

[gobeavs]

Are you not using enough product?

 

[Optometrist]

Don't know if this will help but I got my Colonel X2L about 6 weeks ago, having been using an EJ Silvertip, and it took about 4 or 5 days of use to get the lather flowing. I was certainly beginning to have doubts to the purchase, but now, as a soap user mainly, this X2L is my go to brush, and it lathers with ease now.

David

 

[JPDyson]

Simpsons brushes are generally dense and lather-hoggy. Either use more product, or milk your brush for the last bit that's hiding in there.

 

[TMH478]

Don't know if this will help but I got my Colonel X2L about 6 weeks ago, having been using an EJ Silvertip, and it took about 4 or 5 days of use to get the lather flowing. I was certainly beginning to have doubts to the purchase, but now, as a soap user mainly, this X2L is my go to brush, and it lathers with ease now.

David

I agree! It works great for soaps and good for creams. It's definitely got backbone!

 

[john parker]

My Colonel works quite well with creams; better with soaps, but well with creams and I face lather. Have no problem with three passes, which is where I stop. Probably plenty for four or more passes. I start with a fairly dry brush, and dip the brush through hot water as necessary.

 

[Pulley]

My Colonel works quite well with creams; better with soaps, but well with creams and I face lather. Have no problem with three passes, which is where I stop. Probably plenty for four or more passes. I start with a fairly dry brush, and dip the brush through hot water as necessary.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I may be using too much water.

 

[djh]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I may be using too much water.

The flip side of this is that you may be using too little product. It is obviously easier to add water during lathering than it is to add more soap/cream if you have started with more water than you should have.
I haven't yet tried the Colonel, but like Adam (Ignatius) I have and use a Duke2 in Best regularly. It is a great brush and we are about to do a report on it in the Brush Chronicles here on B+B. I'm sure that with a little more break-in and some practice that both of these brushes will serve you admirably.

 

[Pulley]

The flip side of this is that you may be using too little product. It is obviously easier to add water during lathering than it is to add more soap/cream if you have started with more water than you should have.
I haven't yet tried the Colonel, but like Adam (Ignatius) I have and use a Duke2 in Best regularly. It is a great brush and we are about to do a report on it in the Brush Chronicles here on B+B. I'm sure that with a little more break-in and some practice that both of these brushes will serve you admirably.

I really loaded the Colonel with Nancy Boy Replenishing Shave Cream this morning and had fantastic lather!!

Thanks to all. I think it was just a minor adjustment.

If you're not green and growing you're ripe and rotting.

 

[shaveBandito]

I had the same results with my newly acquired X2L - and use it with both TOBS sandalwood soap and CR Salter's Indian Sandalwood (separately). Over the past 4 days of use the brush has become better and better - although I could not discern the difference in performance between the soap and the cream. Both did well for me for 2-4 passes. Thanks to all the advisors!

 

[chrisgee47]

I have been using a Simpson Colonel X2L Best for about 4 years now, and get fantastic lathering, using Taylors creams in a bowl. Yesterday I treated myself to a Simpson Duke 2 Best, and my first shave this morning was anti climactic and very disappointing, producing a rather thin watery lather. I am just hoping (and praying!) that things will improve as the brush breaks in, and that it has nothing to do with any quality issues following the sale to Vulfix. I really can't remember if Simpson badger hairs have or need a breaking in period before they achieve optimum lathering performance. I would be interested in any feedback on this.

 

[Optometrist]

I have been using a Simpson Colonel X2L Best for about 4 years now, and get fantastic lathering, using Taylors creams in a bowl. Yesterday I treated myself to a Simpson Duke 2 Best, and my first shave this morning was anti climactic and very disappointing, producing a rather thin watery lather. I am just hoping (and praying!) that things will improve as the brush breaks in, and that it has nothing to do with any quality issues following the sale to Vulfix. I really can't remember if Simpson badger hairs have or need a breaking in period before they achieve optimum lathering performance. I would be interested in any feedback on this.

I had the same problem with my Duke 3 acquired at Christmas. Now after several uses, it is coming in to it's own and perfoming well. Keep at it. I think you will find the same.

David