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- #521
Sure, I'll take a series to illustrate the issue.Maybe some pics of the knot? @Rudy Vey must have set hundreds of Shavemac knots maybe he can pinpoint the problem.
Sure, I'll take a series to illustrate the issue.Maybe some pics of the knot? @Rudy Vey must have set hundreds of Shavemac knots maybe he can pinpoint the problem.
SOTD
A quick two-pass shave with acceptable results.
- Rockwell 6S/R4
- Nacet (19) - OBiF
- Mike's Lemongrass and Eucalyptus
- Shavemac Butterscotch Beagle Fan
- WH w/menthol, LTFT
- Stirling Orange Chill ASB
- Vintage Avon Bay Rum AS
I'm concerned about a little hole that seems to be developing in the middle of the Beagle's knot. I've heard that this can be the result of aggressive swirling and mashing. While I do swirl, both on the puck and when face-lathering (which I do exclusively), I don't mash the brush. I've tried to gently comb out the knot, as I know this is a way to relieve the issue with a horsehair brush, but it doesn't seem to make any difference and I'm not convinced that the center of the know is tangled, anyway.
Today, I tried loading with painting strokes...which didn't work, and actually seemed to make the hole more pronounced. I switched to light swirling and the hole all but disappeared. Then I face-lathered with painting strokes and saw the hole again; switched to swirling and the hole all but disappeared.
I'm at a loss as to the cause and the cure, but I'll keep using the Beagle. While I'm concerned about the appearance, it's really the performance that matters. The brush works reasonably well, even if I'd like the knot to be a touch bigger, so I'll use it as I like - swirling and painting - until it doesn't work anymore...or until I trade it.
Onward!
Great minds think alike, they say...@JAHE you have great taste in soap!
I've been doing two things lately:I'm sure Rudy can provide more insight.
I've heard of hole/voids developing if there is some soap residue that's been trapped at the base of the knot. I'd try giving the brush a really good clean to see if that remediates the issue.
I've been doing two things lately:
However...your point is reasonable. I will look into doing more of a deep-clean on the brush to see how that works.
- I use a two-brush rotation. The just-used brush (A) gets a solid rinse, then gets set on the windowsill with the window cracked open to allow full drying. When the second brush (B) is used the next day (or later), it goes through the same process. Brush A is now on the counter, ready to go, while Brush B dries at the window. I shave four to five days per week, so each brush gets at least 48 hours of drying time.
- Roughly once per week, I do a hand-soap palm lather for each brush. This little spa treatment should help to keep things clean and reduce build-up.
The odd thing is that, of the 20+ brushes I have used, this is the only one exhibiting this behavior. It's possible that the smallish knot is set deeper than others and just traps lather. I do have a scrubby little badger from Elite that I asked to be set deep (probably too deep, really) and it doesn't do this. Still, a good cleaning might be the answer, and there's no harm in trying.
The rates are very reasonable...Ah, wonder if it may be specific to the knot then.
Those sound well taken care of. Might have to send my brushes to your den for the spa treatment
Mine does the same thing, but oddly enough it seems to come and go. Mine combs out though, so it's interesting that yours doesn't respond to that. I've perhaps lost maybe 3 hairs total so far and it's pretty broken in, so it's not like a legitimate bald spot in mine.I'm concerned about a little hole that seems to be developing in the middle of the Beagle's knot. I've heard that this can be the result of aggressive swirling and mashing. While I do swirl, both on the puck and when face-lathering (which I do exclusively), I don't mash the brush. I've tried to gently comb out the knot, as I know this is a way to relieve the issue with a horsehair brush, but it doesn't seem to make any difference and I'm not convinced that the center of the know is tangled, anyway.
I used it yesterday and put it on the windowsill to dry, then didn't shave today, so it's still on the windowsill. When I looked this morning...no hole. Yeah, it's weird behavior, all right. I'm going to give it (and several other brushes) a day-spa treatment of borax, followed by white vinegar, followed by dish soap, followed by a good rinse. We'll see how my little wet dog behaves after that.Mine does the same thing, but oddly enough it seems to come and go. Mine combs out though, so it's interesting that yours doesn't respond to that. I've perhaps lost maybe 3 hairs total so far and it's pretty broken in, so it's not like a legitimate bald spot in mine.
Weirddddddddd.