I should have listened

[DoctorTattoo]

My Simpsons Colonel X2L came in today. I just couldn't wait to use it so I went ahead and pulled it out of the box sniffed it, it didn't smell too bad so I thought why not? Let's give it a go, man oh man do Badgers STINK!!! Once that thing got wet it was worse than wet dog, rat and cat mixed together. Oh well, aside from the smell it worked great! I think I'm just going to keep using it to get rid of the smell. Shouldn't take that long, right?

Shawn

 

[DE Shaver]

Once you clean it and soak it in soap, the smell largely disappears. Here is a thread that outlines an effective brush break-in procedure.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=139297&highlight=breaking+badger

 

[ssultan]

Great brush! Congrats on the purchase. I love mine...!

 

[john parker]

Love my new Colonel, as well. I tried the Ambrose method of deskunking, but hurried the job because I wanted to try the brush! Smelled a bit for about two shaves, but was deskunked after that.

 

[chuckr9]

I tried the brush break-in link on a couple of my (smelly new) badger brushes and it worked great!

 

[ssultan]

Haven't had to worry about this with my recent 2-band binges...but going with the ambrose method has helped in breaking them in rapidly...and they do smell nice afterwards...

 

[DoctorTattoo]

Love my new Colonel, as well. I tried the Ambrose method of deskunking, but hurried the job because I wanted to try the brush! Smelled a bit for about two shaves, but was deskunked after that.

I love it as well, seems almost the perfect size for me. I used Proraso with it tonight and I just sniffed it again now it smells like mentholy stink , but no where near as bad as it was in the beginning. I figure 2-3 more shaves with it and it will be fine.

Shawn

 

[Darjeeling Express]

Its a great, great brush. I put a single "O" ring on mine to tighten up the knot's density. I too am delighted with the Colonel. 2 more shaves and that Badgery scent will disappear.

 

[DoctorTattoo]

Its a great, great brush. I put a single "O" ring on mine to tighten up the knot's density. I too am delighted with the Colonel. 2 more shaves and that Badgery scent will disappear.

I think I saw pics of that somewhere. Maybe I'll look in my O Ring kit and see which one fits to try it out. It did loose like 5-6 hairs but I guess that is pretty normal for a new brush.

Shawn

 

[tweedcab]

That is a novel approach to tightening up a loose brush, but if you want to do that to this new brush maybe you should have looked at a shorter loft brush. I can't imagine that the agitation of the knot during use, coupled with the friction on the rubber, won't eventually have a negative impact on the integrity of the hair that the O ring comes in contact with. If you like the brush, why already consider a change. Give it some time and learn to use the brush in it's intended form before changing for changes sake. YMMV

 

[faster_than_u]

Out of the 3 badgers I have so far 2 have had a little odour but it was neither bad or lasted long. Maybe you got a bad badger lol

 

[huntmol]

I say don't do any of those "breaking in your brush" tricks.

Just use it for a week or so and the smell will go away.

 

[jwhiskercut]

I coined a term in another term in another thread, 'Proraso Bomb'.

I basically whipped up a nice batch of Proraso lather with a new brush and let it sit for a few minutes. A couple rounds of that for a night or two pretty much tamed the badger funk beast.

 

[gaj90027]

I say don't do any of those "breaking in your brush" tricks.

Just use it for a week or so and the smell will go away.

Not an option for me and I don't generally have a weak stomach. My first use of a badger brush (Edwin Jagger BBB) I almost threw up once the smell hit my nose - the funk was incredibly strong on that one. Now I don't even chance it, just make a few "test" lathers (4 or 5 usually does it) and the brush is funk free.

 

[huntmol]

Not an option for me and I don't generally have a weak stomach. My first use of a badger brush (Edwin Jagger BBB) I almost threw up once the smell hit my nose - the funk was incredibly strong on that one. Now I don't even chance it, just make a few "test" lathers (4 or 5 usually does it) and the brush is funk free.

That bad? Hm, maybe I've just never gotten a bad one before...

 

[Klarion]

Man, then you didn't get my Rooney. The stink was worse than all the other brushes I'd had combined. Normally, every brush of mine gets a wash in a mild detergent (usually my face wash), then a couple of aggressive latherings to knock out any manufacturing residuals (dye especially, for banded boars), and I start face lathering like normal. The Rooney, however, spent several days lathering and drying, trying to lose the god awful smell, still turning the water brown during the first few days. Didn't even bother to use the lather that came from it. Wet badger butt is about the only explanation. Seriously.

 

[andrew98]

I say don't do any of those "breaking in your brush" tricks.

Just use it for a week or so and the smell will go away.

I agree. The only thing I do with a new brush is bowl or palm lather up one of my most fragrant soaps to clean the brush and knock back the badger smell. I rinse that out, then use the brush.

-Andy