Is it true that if you soak your brushes in to much water, so all the way up to the handle that it could lose backbone? I just bought a Semogue 830 and I think this could eventually be my go to brush and I don't want to mess it up. I am going to use the break in method of letting it soak in dawn and then sit with lather tonight, but just curious about soaking. I don't want to screw this nice looking brush up.
Question
- Thread starter tsimmns
- Start date
Usually it is the wooden handle brushes that suffer from having the wood handle soaked.
You should not have problems soaking any brush that has a non wood handle. The Semogue 830 has an acrylic handle so should not be an issue
I have gotten into the habit of just soaking the bristles on all of my brushes, filling my soak mug up to the point that just the very top (or bottom, depending on how you are looking at it) of the knot is barely out of the water.
You should not have problems soaking any brush that has a non wood handle. The Semogue 830 has an acrylic handle so should not be an issue
I have gotten into the habit of just soaking the bristles on all of my brushes, filling my soak mug up to the point that just the very top (or bottom, depending on how you are looking at it) of the knot is barely out of the water.
Not entirely true.
It won't lose backbone per say, but soaking the handle all the way up to the knot can *potentially* be detrimental to the epoxy used to hold the hair in the knot and hold the knot in the handle. Also, if you have something like a wooden handle, over time you *may* see some ill effects.
Soaking the brush 3/4 of the way up the bristles is more than adequate.
It won't lose backbone per say, but soaking the handle all the way up to the knot can *potentially* be detrimental to the epoxy used to hold the hair in the knot and hold the knot in the handle. Also, if you have something like a wooden handle, over time you *may* see some ill effects.
Soaking the brush 3/4 of the way up the bristles is more than adequate.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #4
If a manufacturer makes a brush that shouldn't be immersed in water, then you shouldn't buy a brush from that manufacturer.
Any brush I use gets soaked in a sink full of hot water while I shower.
Neither modern nor vintage makes have suffered any ill effects.
Any brush I use gets soaked in a sink full of hot water while I shower.
Neither modern nor vintage makes have suffered any ill effects.
Wood handles can expand and contract which can potentially crack the handle, pop paint off of the painted ones, and generally "ugly up" an nice custom burl handle.
On top of this, the constant expansion and contraction of wood can "loosen" the knot to the point that it can pop out.
A knot epoxied into an acrylic or modern man made material should not be loosened by soaking. Exceptions are always out there but I would say that epoxy is epoxy and as long as there is no movement in the handle the knot should not become lose in it.
I am a belt and suspenders kind of guy which is why I only soak the bristles of my brushes regardless of the handle attached to the hair.
What are your main, go-to brushes?
I don't remember hearing of a manufacturer advising against soaking brushes, but I've noticed some posts in response to questions about shedding that cited prolonged soaking as a potential cause. So I avoid it based on a combination of caution, ignorance, and possibly a little superstition.
Last edited:
The science is pretty simple. When you soak the brush the bristles of the brush become soft. So the less you soak the brush the more backbone it will have. Nothing wrong with soaking the whole brush, except it may be too floppy for some.
Muhle, Simpson, Saville Row, Omega, Gillette, Hoffritz, Star, Ever Ready, Rubberset, Burma Shave - heck even Tweezerman.
As far as breakage goes - There seems to be a lot of folks soaking brushes in vinegar or borax for "cleaning". Vinegar is a drying agent and can cause hair to become brittle.
Thayer says using borax to clean the brush voids the warranty.
NO !
Only handles (wood and horn) and maybe the knot-glue may be damaged from too much soaking - not the hair itself IMHO
Thanks. Was just curious. I do a 1-2 minute soak in about a 1:5 vinegar/water solution occasionally (maybe once in 30+ uses) based on the understanding that helps counteract build-up of deposits from hard water. Don't know whether that's fact or superstition.
Tried your method a little while ago (late getting around to weekend shave) and ended up with too much water and sloppy lather. But there's probably a happier medium between my usual practice, which often results in lather drying before I can finish, and what I did today. And the Chubby 2 I used might have contributed.
I hear you Mike and agree. I think we hit reply at the exact same time so my "not entirely true" statement was pointed at OP's question of it would lose backbone.
Same here.
Just a "DE newbie" here but I used a Kent T(tortoise... turtle??
) 8 for over 13 years and no problem at all.
Online discussion communities are double esge swords.
For one thing it helps users learn the difference between a manchurian and a 2 band, which is helpful.
But threads like these.....
Like said above, if they weren't supposed to be submersed, the company would mention it at least.
For one thing it helps users learn the difference between a manchurian and a 2 band, which is helpful.
But threads like these.....
Like said above, if they weren't supposed to be submersed, the company would mention it at least.
