Semogue 620 vs. Semogue 1800

[shm]

The Semogue 610 vs. 620 thread caused a question; How would the 620 compare to the 1800?
Curiosity got the best of me, so here is the comparison

The Semogue 620 and 1800 has something in common, they both have a knot with Extra 75% tops. But where the 620 only consist of that hair grade the 1800 is mixed with Premium 90% tops.
Apart from that they don't have much in common at all when comparing looks and hard data.


Here we go:

I soaked the brushes while showering and then lathered up with Proraso Shaving Soap.

Loading: I saw the first very clear difference when loading the brushes. The 620 loaded in a very short time, it actually started to form a thick cremy lather before I got it transferred to the bowl. The 1800 took more work to load and it didn't start creating lather until it was in the bowl.

First pass: It was very hard to tell the two brushes apart from the feel, they felt equal in backbone and prickliness. The 1800 has a little more loft so it splayed a little more, but I would have been surprised if it had not done that.

Second pass: A blind test doesn't make any sense as the two handles are so different, and it can make it a little harder because even though I try to keep an open mind, I will of course have some sort of opinion of the performance of the brushes going into the test.
Despite the higher loft of the 1800, they felt equally firm and the tips on both brushes were soft with just a touch of prickliness when using circular motions, and I couldn't tell them apart.

Third pass: Still no difference. I am a little surprised that the 1800 felt just as firm as the 620, but trying to apply the same amount of force on both brushes couldn't reveal a noticeable difference. Of course if I added more pressure I could get the 1800 to splay more, but that was only because of the higher loft.

Fourth pass: I was really trying to detect the slightest difference between the two brushes, circular motions, painting motions, pressure and trying on different areas of the face to see if the more sensitive parts could show something - but no. They are remarkable alike when it comes down to applying the lather.


Data:

	620	1800
Hair type	Extra 75% tops	Extra 75% + Premium 90% tops
Handle	Acrylic, clear/black	Wood, beech, natural
Weight [gram]	60.0	53.4
Knot diameter [mm]	21.8	21.4
Loft [mm]	50.2	54.7
Total height [mm]	96.8	112.0

Trying to show the loft difference

Result
I was really surprised that these two brushes were so identical in performance, when they not only look so different, but also are different when looking at the data (hair grade and loft).
I only found one area in which they showed very different behaviour; the loading and lather creation. Here the 620 was way ahead of the 1800. It picked up soap faster and it made the soap into a thick creamy lather significantly faster than the 1800.

I am so happy I got both the 620 and the 1800, they are fantastic boar brushes and they have made me really appreciate the Extra 75% tops hair grade, which I just might find the best of the Semogue grades - and yes, that includes the Special Grade Boar.

 

[lt114]

Great review Søren. These are two of the best brushes Semogue makes. I prefer the handle on the 1800, but otherwise, as you said, these brushes perform almost identically.

 

[djh]

That is a great review Soren, thank you. I have precious little experience with boar brushes but you are bringing me up to speed!

 

[Den]

Great comparison once again! Thanks for putting this out for us Søren.

I didn't think the 1800 could stand up to the backbone of the 620, but apparently they aren't that far apart. I was also expecting the 620 to be more scritchy than the 1800. Good to hear this wasn't an issue.

I find the 1800 the most interesting of all Semogues due to it's very unique combination of hair grades. I love these threads since there's always some unexpected results, which just adds to the fun.

I still can't decide which to get first, the 1800 or the 620, so my solution is to just get both. They were both going to be mine in due time anyways.

 

[sea]

Søren, thanks for reviewing these two against each other. I have been reading all these posts about the different Semogues to see which one is the right one for me. These are two of the ones I was looking at.

 

[GMofmiami]

My 2 favorite Semogues....each slightly different but both very effective and wonderful to use....Great review BTW.

 

[Absolute Mustard]

Great review Søren. These are two of the best brushes Semogue makes. I prefer the handle on the 1800, but otherwise, as you said, these brushes perform almost identically.

I would have to say the two best are the OC and the 1305

 

[Brandon P K]

Awesome review, Soren, this is exactly the information I needed to see! I've been loving my 620 (it's beating out all my quality badgers), but I was tempted to try out one of those wood handled brushes (1800, 2000, SOC), thinking I might be missing something. Since I face lather, and prefer the acrylic handles, I will continue to stay content with my 620 - maybe just getting a companion to it for alternating days.
Thanks again!

 

[shm]

Great comparison once again! Thanks for putting this out for us Søren.

I didn't think the 1800 could stand up to the backbone of the 620, but apparently they aren't that far apart. I was also expecting the 620 to be more scritchy than the 1800. Good to hear this wasn't an issue.

I find the 1800 the most interesting of all Semogues due to it's very unique combination of hair grades. I love these threads since there's always some unexpected results, which just adds to the fun.

I still can't decide which to get first, the 1800 or the 620, so my solution is to just get both. They were both going to be mine in due time anyways.

Thank you all, gentlemen


I was surprised of the similarity in backbone as you mention, I really thought the 1800 would be softer.

I just love unexpected results - it is so much fun looking at data and conclude just to find a brush to behave different to the conclusion.

And there you go, my solution every time; If in doubt - get both

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Thanks Soren, I have a Semogue 1800 on the way now. Will be my first boar brush, and this review caused the purchase

 

[shm]

Thanks Soren, I have a Semogue 1800 on the way now. Will be my first boar brush, and this review caused the purchase

Just don't hold me responsible for anything

 

[Prof. Moriarty]

Just don't hold me responsible for anything

Well will be interesting to see whether I like it or not.

 

[bkflyfisher]

Another awesome comparison, shm. Thank goodness I already own both! I've enjoyed your other Semogue side-by-sides in the past; was a handy reference when I was on a 'Semogue buying binge' the last couple months. I now own 5: the SOC, 1305, 620, 1800, and 1250. Great brushes-I'm VERY happy with all of them; so beautiful and inexpensive as well.

My 1800 is the newest and still in the breaking in phase but should be put into rotation shortly.

 

[DavidB]

How do the brush heads of the 1250, 1305 and 1800 compare? I believe that the 1305 and 1800 are identical and perhaps a tiny bit better grade than the 1250, but is it detectable in use?

Dave

 

[oversaturn]

My God, Soeren! This is an extraordinary review and write-up!
thank you for sharing your thoughts about these two extraordinary brushes.

 

[nav]

My experience was quite different. I found the 620 to be very scrubby, too much for my face. The 1800 on the otherhand is a fantastic combo of backbone and softness at the tips. I think Semogue did great with the combo hair.

 

[shm]

Another awesome comparison, shm. Thank goodness I already own both! I've enjoyed your other Semogue side-by-sides in the past; was a handy reference when I was on a 'Semogue buying binge' the last couple months. I now own 5: the SOC, 1305, 620, 1800, and 1250. Great brushes-I'm VERY happy with all of them; so beautiful and inexpensive as well.

My 1800 is the newest and still in the breaking in phase but should be put into rotation shortly.

Thank you.
I am also quite happy with all my Semogues

How do the brush heads of the 1250, 1305 and 1800 compare? I believe that the 1305 and 1800 are identical and perhaps a tiny bit better grade than the 1250, but is it detectable in use?

Dave

The 1305 and 1800 are not identical, they have different hair grade in the knot. And you can't say that the 1250 is of lower grade, it is of a different grade and whether you like that particular feel and performance is a matter of your personal preferences in a brush - some guys like it, others don't

Check this thread for a comparison of the three brushes you mention; post #8 1305 vs. 1800, post #21 1305 vs. 1250, post #25 1250 vs. 1800 and post #39 shows the hair grade in the different Semogue boar brushes.

My God, Soeren! This is an extraordinary review and write-up!
thank you for sharing your thoughts about these two extraordinary brushes.

Thank you very much.
And I agree, the brushes are really extraordinary in the goooood way

My experience was quite different. I found the 620 to be very scrubby, too much for my face. The 1800 on the otherhand is a fantastic combo of backbone and softness at the tips. I think Semogue did great with the combo hair.

And this is one of the things I try to mention when I do those tests; the test only show the performance and feel of exactly those two brushes, similar typed brushes may get another result because the hairs come from another animal or the knot being set a little different.
Some characteristics will however be identical to that specific type of brush, and all I can do is to describe how I interpret the small differences of the brushes.

 

[DavidB]

Soren, thank you so much for the great comparisons of the Semogue brushes. Extremely helpful. I have just ordered a 1305. Can't wait!

Dave

 

[nav]

And this is one of the things I try to mention when I do those tests; the test only show the performance and feel of exactly those two brushes, similar typed brushes may get another result because the hairs come from another animal or the knot being set a little different.
Some characteristics will however be identical to that specific type of brush, and all I can do is to describe how I interpret the small differences of the brushes.

Soren, my statement was in no way a knock of your comparison. It was just my version of the comparison. In this game, there are no right or wrongs.
After reading your comparison, I was just amazed at how different my experience was where the 620 got sold off and the 1800 is the only boar to have made it into frequent use.

 

[shm]

Soren, my statement was in no way a knock of your comparison. It was just my version of the comparison. In this game, there are no right or wrongs.
After reading your comparison, I was just amazed at how different my experience was where the 620 got sold off and the 1800 is the only boar to have made it into frequent use.

Please excuse me if my comment came off as I took offence - I didn't. I actually think we agree

We all have different perceptions or feels of a brush, and even two identical brushes can behave differently, and that was just what I wanted to express, maybe I expressed it poorly in my comment. I do appreciate your comment because it is a very good way to show that it is not a "either-or" or "black or white" thing.
And just as a similarity; there is a lot of love for Simpson brushes, I'm just not one of those guys, I am actually disappointed and think there are better options out there - which again show your are right when you say:

In this game, there are no right or wrongs.