Semogue SOC lifespan?
- Thread starter Raybanjan
- Start date
Good question 
I actually got mine about two weeks ago but every time I intend to start breaking it in I have a rushed morning so it's STILL sitting in its little plastic tube.
I actually got mine about two weeks ago but every time I intend to start breaking it in I have a rushed morning so it's STILL sitting in its little plastic tube.
I've had mine for a little over a year and used it probably a hundred times. I bet it's lost < 5 hairs. We should get at least a decade out of these gems!
Just make sure you shake it pretty dry after each use. If you can hang it upside down afterwards, even better!
Just make sure you shake it pretty dry after each use. If you can hang it upside down afterwards, even better!
It should last decades. Look down the list of posts in this forum and see a guy who bought a brush 51 years ago, used it for all of those 51 years, and then passed it down to his son who's now using it.
I can't see any reason a good brush wouldn't last several decades. As the collection of brushes gets larger the brush will last even longer with proper drying after each use. So, what's the next brush?
The SOC boar is more than likely going to be the next brush I get. I have a WSP pure badger brush right now, but I think everybody should try both badger and boar. And since boar brushes are so affordable relative to badger, I figured why not just get the best boar brush.
Not specific to the SOC, I think the lifespan of any brush is totally dependent on number of uses and not years of use. If you only have one brush and use it every day it will probably last a few years (let's say 3-4 years for discussion). If you have several brushes and use them all equally then you can multiply that by the number of brushes that get similar use. With reasonable use and care I can easily see a quality brush lasting 10-20 years.
Maybe we can hear from some guys that have actual "filed experience" with a brush they are still using from back in the day.
Maybe we can hear from some guys that have actual "filed experience" with a brush they are still using from back in the day.
- Thread starter
- #8
oh, awesome. i'm actually surprised and pleased that it hasn't lost any hairs (yet). splaying just a touch, but that's what it sounds like it's supposed to do. and no split ends yet, but using it 3-4x a week i'm thinking it may be a bit. nothing really to compare it to, but it makes me happy every time i see it sitting there on the shelf!
Like with every tool or equipment, there is a wide range from 1 year to 50 years I would say.
If you don't abuse it :
soaking in boiling water for long time (>5 min.)
soaking a natural material handle esp. wood
pressing down on the soap and forcing it deep into the knot,
not properly cleaning and
storing in a closet or worse: a plastic tube
But taking good care :
soaking in only medium warm tap water
swirling gently on the soap
using only the upper 1/3 of the hairs taking up soap
cleaning it properly after use, getting rid of all remaining soap
shaking water out
drying it on a towel
leaving it well ventilated
cleaning as recommended in shave wiki on a regular basis (dep. on water hardness)
it can well last a lifetime or you can destroy it in less than a year.
Depends on the user.
If you don't abuse it :
soaking in boiling water for long time (>5 min.)
soaking a natural material handle esp. wood
pressing down on the soap and forcing it deep into the knot,
not properly cleaning and
storing in a closet or worse: a plastic tube
But taking good care :
soaking in only medium warm tap water
swirling gently on the soap
using only the upper 1/3 of the hairs taking up soap
cleaning it properly after use, getting rid of all remaining soap
shaking water out
drying it on a towel
leaving it well ventilated
cleaning as recommended in shave wiki on a regular basis (dep. on water hardness)
it can well last a lifetime or you can destroy it in less than a year.
Depends on the user.
Oil the handle every now and then - they shine great, look clean, and make it last longer.
Good question
I actually got mine about two weeks ago but every time I intend to start breaking it in I have a rushed morning so it's STILL sitting in its little plastic tube.
Just start using it. All three of my SOCs (boar, mixed boar / badger and 2 band) have been great from the very first shave and didn't require any special treatment. Why wait?
What kind of oil do you recommend? I'm not a DIY kind of guy and know nothing about working with or preserving wood, so your advice would be appreciated. Do I just put the oil on a rag, wipe down the handle, and let it dry? I'd like to keep these wooden handles looking nice for as long as possible.
Nick
As far as oiling the handle goes, here's what I use:
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Feed-N...=1382637262&sr=8-2&keywords=howard+feed+n+wax
I like the orange oil and beeswax. If it's good enough for the stocks on my rifles and tobacco pipes, it's good enough for a shaving brush! Just follow the instructions on the bottle. Really good stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Feed-N...=1382637262&sr=8-2&keywords=howard+feed+n+wax
I like the orange oil and beeswax. If it's good enough for the stocks on my rifles and tobacco pipes, it's good enough for a shaving brush! Just follow the instructions on the bottle. Really good stuff.
Im coming up on a year with my SOC in Super Badger. Great brush, used almost every day since I got it.
Regards
Dave
Regards
Dave
My first brush...30+ years old. Still using it though not as much as others. Great for creams like TOBS, Trufitt & Hill, and the like.
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