My new SOC

[Hex]

I have had the SOC for about 2 weeks now and have used him every other day, so about 15 times. I had broken him in by lathering him up, rinsing, and drying.

I have gotten rid of the noxious aroma and was wondering if he will ever start to look as beautiful as my badger.

 

[Klarion]

Unless you're a total boar lover, it'll never look "beautiful", in the manner of a badger brush. But that's not even close to being fully broken in. Hasn't fully "bloomed" or anything, and the tips still have a while. A few more weeks should get it working well (at least IMO), but I'm expecting 1.2 to 2 months worth of use before I'd consider it to be broken in well.

 

[Hex]

Unless you're a total boar lover, it'll never look "beautiful", in the manner of a badger brush. But that's not even close to being fully broken in. Hasn't fully "bloomed" or anything, and the tips still have a while. A few more weeks should get it working well (at least IMO), but I'm expecting 1.2 to 2 months worth of use before I'd consider it to be broken in well.

Thanks for the comments Klarion.

What happens to the tips and will they look like after being properly broken in ?

 

[Klarion]

Well, more of them will split (or barb, if we're really being correct). Right now, I'd say my SOC is about 4 months behind my Excelsior LE 09. Since they're the same bristle and all, that's the estimate I've got going for the rate of development. Don't worry, at 30+ latherings the thing should be swell, but reaching full potential if going to be a journey. You'll notice that, as your brush gets more use, the inside of the knot will start separating, instead of being clumped like that. The bristle should also start to absorb water much more quickly. Some people soak several minutes, up through a full on shower. That will no longer be necessary on a properly aged brush.

That's just what I think, anyway.

 

[Leon]

was wondering if he will ever start to look as beautiful as my badger.

Boar brushes don't bloom the same way as badger does. They won't have the same "uniform" splay badger has, if that's what you're referring as "beautiful".

 

[HokieGeek]

Boar brushes don't bloom the same way as badger does. They won't have the same "uniform" splay badger has, if that's what you're referring as "beautiful".

symmetry is beauty, didn't you know?

 

[drandall]

I've just found a new growth industry....the selling of pre-broken in boars. Pay a little extra and get a boar it won't take 2 months of mediocre shaves to enjoy. ka chilling!

 

[vegaskid74]

Unless you're a total boar lover, it'll never look "beautiful", in the manner of a badger brush. But that's not even close to being fully broken in. Hasn't fully "bloomed" or anything, and the tips still have a while. A few more weeks should get it working well (at least IMO), but I'm expecting 1.2 to 2 months worth of use before I'd consider it to be broken in well.

Thanks for this. Patience is not my strong suit. I've had my SOC for a couple weeks and was starting to get frustrated. I have no problem getting great lather with inexpensive badger brushes, but I can't get this thing to lather for anything. The funny thing is, my shaves haven't suffered. It just takes a lot more work and several trips back to the puck during a shave. The last couple days I've stopped using the SOC for my shave, and I just do two or three lathering/drying cycles each day to continue the break-in process. I guess I'll keep this up for another two or three weeks and then put it back into service. I think drandall is on to something; I'd pay decent money for a boar that's ready to go out of the box.

 

[Klarion]

I've just found a new growth industry....the selling of pre-broken in boars. Pay a little extra and get a boar it won't take 2 months of mediocre shaves to enjoy. ka chilling!

Hah! That's what I was thinking of. But more to get people to actually give boar more of a chance, instead of making the bucks.

Thanks for this. Patience is not my strong suit. I've had my SOC for a couple weeks and was starting to get frustrated. I have no problem getting great lather with inexpensive badger brushes, but I can't get this thing to lather for anything. The funny thing is, my shaves haven't suffered. It just takes a lot more work and several trips back to the puck during a shave. The last couple days I've stopped using the SOC for my shave, and I just do two or three lathering/drying cycles each day to continue the break-in process.

Haven't you seen the wolfman's plan?

You know that's what they still make Williams for right? Buy a $1 puck and go to town until the puck is gone/your brush is broken in. Plus the strong citronella smell helps to defunkify that boar smell!

 

[Hex]

Thanks for this. Patience is not my strong suit. I've had my SOC for a couple weeks and was starting to get frustrated. I have no problem getting great lather with inexpensive badger brushes, but I can't get this thing to lather for anything. The funny thing is, my shaves haven't suffered. It just takes a lot more work and several trips back to the puck during a shave. The last couple days I've stopped using the SOC for my shave, and I just do two or three lathering/drying cycles each day to continue the break-in process. I guess I'll keep this up for another two or three weeks and then put it back into service. I think drandall is on to something; I'd pay decent money for a boar that's ready to go out of the box.

Well, mine is certainly not like this. Using Mama Bear's soaps, I get a ton of lather.
Too much actually, I wind up throwing a lot out. I need to improve my technique, though it is a blast whipping up a frothy mess-o-suds.

 

[HokieGeek]

though it is a blast whipping up a frothy mess-o-suds.

yes it is!!

 

[rodeo]

Thanks for this. Patience is not my strong suit. I've had my SOC for a couple weeks and was starting to get frustrated. I have no problem getting great lather with inexpensive badger brushes, but I can't get this thing to lather for anything. The funny thing is, my shaves haven't suffered. It just takes a lot more work and several trips back to the puck during a shave. The last couple days I've stopped using the SOC for my shave, and I just do two or three lathering/drying cycles each day to continue the break-in process. I guess I'll keep this up for another two or three weeks and then put it back into service. I think drandall is on to something; I'd pay decent money for a boar that's ready to go out of the box.

The SOC is a water hog when new, so add lots more water when making lather. Mine was only used about three times so far and I get great lather. (Soap mfgr is not important - but I will say anyway that I do use QED) Experiment making lather but add alot more water and you'll see how good it already is. In fact I soak my brush in water all the way up while I shower and when I am ready to shave, I dont even shake the brush out. I just pull it out of the bowl of water and go right to my soap tub. It's like a sponge this brush and needs lots of water or else it will soak up and dry out your soap. Try it! Sooner or later the need for H2o will decrease but until then, give it all it needs. Water is free!

 

[vegaskid74]

The SOC is a water hog when new, so add lots more water when making lather. Mine was only used about three times so far and I get great lather. (Soap mfgr is not important - but I will say anyway that I do use QED) Experiment making lather but add alot more water and you'll see how good it already is. In fact I soak my brush in water all the way up while I shower and when I am ready to shave, I dont even shake the brush out. I just pull it out of the bowl of water and go right to my soap tub. It's like a sponge this brush and needs lots of water or else it will soak up and dry out your soap. Try it! Sooner or later the need for H2o will decrease but until then, give it all it needs. Water is free!

Great tip. I stumbled upon this earlier today myself. I was making a practice lather and did just what you mentioned - took a dripping wet brush to the soap and viola, my first really good lather. Early in my DE career I read through the tutorials that recommend taking a nearly dry brush to the soap and then adding small amounts of water gradually, but this just hasn't worked with the SOC. The lather seemingly goes from too dry to unusable with no stop in between. I think I've got it now though. I'll gradually cut back on the water as the brush breaks in.

 

[rodeo]

Great tip. I stumbled upon this earlier today myself. I was making a practice lather and did just what you mentioned - took a dripping wet brush to the soap and viola, my first really good lather. Early in my DE career I read through the tutorials that recommend taking a nearly dry brush to the soap and then adding small amounts of water gradually, but this just hasn't worked with the SOC. The lather seemingly goes from too dry to unusable with no stop in between. I think I've got it now though. I'll gradually cut back on the water as the brush breaks in.

 

[VT_Hokie]

Glad I found this thread. I'm having a heck of a time getting proper lather from this thing now. At first it was ok but it has gotten worse..I'll try a soaking wet brush, but how do you face lather with that? I'll have water flying everywhere...

 

[rodeo]

Glad I found this thread. I'm having a heck of a time getting proper lather from this thing now. At first it was ok but it has gotten worse..I'll try a soaking wet brush, but how do you face lather with that? I'll have water flying everywhere...

No, you wont. Trust me, this brush holds it's water like a camel in the desert. Try it and see.

 

[Leon]

symmetry is beauty, didn't you know?

Assymetry is also beauty, didn't you know?

 

[W_B_K]

Assymetry is also beauty, didn't you know?

 

[rodeo]

There are now several videos posted in this thread showing lather making using several Boars, to include several Semogues (SOC too.) FYI

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=160824

(Two or three vids on face lathering, one on Bowl lathering and one using a soap stick.)