Longevity of Shave Brushes

[Magicmdj]

How long are shaving brushes good for? Given normal ware and tear.
While we are on the subject, what is proper shave brush maintenance?

The reason I ask is that the art of shaving says that shampooing it once a month is all you need. While Mantic and Geo say that you need to soak in borax/ vinegar mixture from time to time. My shave brush was bought back in September/ October. Is it time for ye old borax?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[dpm802]

Giving it a thorough rinse and a good dry after each shave is about all the maintenance that I do. I shampoo my brushes about once a year, but sometimes I forget. Shampooing will restore a brush, but it doesn't really make a big difference, and its short-lived at best.

The only brush that's ever worn out on me is my Semogue 1305, but its also the one that I used the most. After 3.5 years of faithful service, it started to feel like it was past its prime. It didn't hold as much water as before, and it had gotten floppier than I like. It was not shedding, though. It still has plenty of useful life left in it, but its just not as good as it was at its peak. Then again, neither am I.

I gave the 1305 a shampoo in J&J Baby Shampoo, and it restored a little bit of the water-holding ability. But its still got too much flop, and I decided to retire it to the shelf.

I recently replaced it with a Semogue 620, and I'm putting that through its paces for full break in. Its coming along nicely.

 

[Marco]

I have seen brushes of +30 years in perfect shape.

 

[njpaddy]

How long are shaving brushes good for? Given normal ware and tear.
While we are on the subject, what is proper shave brush maintenance?

The reason I ask is that the art of shaving says that shampooing it once a month is all you need. While Mantic and Geo say that you need to soak in borax/ vinegar mixture from time to time. My shave brush was bought back in September/ October. Is it time for ye old borax?

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Every so often, I just lather my brushes up using a Neutrogena facial bar, my face soap. I used to do the Dawn, then vinegar rinse but the glycerin face bar works just as good. I tried Borax once and did not like the feel of the brush afterwards. Thater specifically recommends against using ".... strong detergents like Borax...." in their instructions.

 

[beisler]

After about 4 or so years, I toss my brushes---Time for something new

 

[facetime]

Good quality should last quite some time. Until discovering B&B a little over a year ago (and now owning somewhere north of 20 brushes ), i was using the same 2 brushes i started with in early 90's - a Simpson small ("case"??) travel brush in tube and a larger Vulfix 2235, private labelled for G.F. Trumper. Still have one and recently pif'ed the other. So from experience I know they can last 20 years or so.

 

[Ollie4ISU]

I have a decent badger brush that I got from em's place at least 10 years ago that is still going strong. It was my only brush for most of those 10 years. It seems to me that if they are well rinsed and dried they will last quite some time. As of yesterday, I now have at least six decades of brushes to run through. I can only hope I am still wet shaving at 104.... (Who am I kidding? I hope I am still BREATHING at 104...)

 

[Relentless]

I've actually had an AOS pure badger for going on 5 years. Good rinse and fluff on the hand after every shave, and every few months I'll gently run a coarse comb over the surface to straighten the bristles. Looks as good as the day I bought it and feels softer than it used to; even with my hard water. When I've tried pre-shave oils in the past I needed to use a little shampoo to get rid of the residue every couple weeks. I expect to have it for 10-20 more years now that I've picked up a couple nicer brushes, and it doesn't get used every day.

 

[Magicmdj]

Every so often, I just lather my brushes up using a Neutrogena facial bar, my face soap. I used to do the Dawn, then vinegar rinse but the glycerin face bar works just as good. I tried Borax once and did not like the feel of the brush afterwards. Thater specifically recommends against using ".... strong detergents like Borax...." in their instructions.

Thanks I will stick to the shampoo/bodywash.

 

[Magicmdj]

Thank you all for your input! I love this Forum!

 

[Wingnut]

Before I found B&B, I had used the same Kent Silvertip badger brush that my parents gave me in high school for over 30 years of daily shaving. Now, I'm the kind of guy who uses things UP, but before Rudy Vey reknotted it, here's what I was working with:





After Rudy did his magic of re-knotting and polishing, I now have a brush that will no doubt outlast me:

 

[Magicmdj]

Wingnut, what is this reknotting you speak of? Is that where you replace the badger hair?

 

[Wingnut]

Wingnut, what is this reknotting you speak of? Is that where you replace the badger hair?

Exactly. The old knot is taken out and thrown away, and a new knot is inserted into the old handle and it's glued into place. It's a great way to give new life to an old brush (or, for that matter, a great way to turn an antique store brush with a blown out knot into a great brush for pennies on the dollar).

BTW, if you're thinking of using someone to do this for you, I can HIGHLY recommend Rudy Vey. He's a member here (member name Rudy Vey), he does absolutely superb work, and is a joy to do business with.

 

[Mojo88]

I was told by Don at Imperial Shave that a brush with daily use should last at least 5 years. After that the glue works loose and it can start to shed.

 

[Magicmdj]

So, it seems like the handle could be just as important as the hair. Got it. So know any places that sell just the handles?

 

[Wingnut]

Whipped Dog (http://www.whippeddog.com/products/find/brushes-knots) sells both handles and knots separately (and will also assemble them for you for an additional fee, IIRC.) They are an economical way to get a very nice brush.

Rudy Vey will also turn a custom handle for you, and then set the knot of your choice in it. There may be others that I can't recall, but if so, someone will be by in a bit to fill you in on the details.

 

[Magicmdj]

I fell in love with the Art of Shaving Nickle engraved shave handle that is a silver tip. But $250 is a bit much. Plus I'd like to do the whole synthetic brush thing. Hence wanting them separate.

http://www.theartofshaving.com/Engr...refv1=Silvertip|Silvertip Badger&navid=search

 

[Wingnut]

Whipped Dog sells synthetic knots as well as silvertip. Don't have any more info on them other than that, though...

 

[Magicmdj]

I see and thank you!

 

[Oscroft]

I've never shampooed a brush - they get thoroughly washed with soap every time I use them!

I'd expect a good quality brush to last somewhere between 5 and 30 years, depending on how often it is used.