Hello all, I have a Semogue 1305 that's about 2 months old. I have not yet dropped or banged it that I am aware of. Well, today I went to use it, and there are 3 LARGE chips out of the handle, just out of the blue. It can't have just happened spontaneously... right? I've been otherwise happy with the brush but I wanted to share this disappointment.
Weak finish on Semogue 1305
- Thread starter aaaargh
- Start date
Has anybody tried applying a clear coat to protect their painted handle semogue? If so any tips on brands?
Could it be from water saturation?
This is why I steer clear of wood brushes especially painted ones.
I've used a 1305 for probably 3/4 of my shaves, and the point I always liked was that it could take a kicking and keep on ticking. I've dropped mine, kicked it, cat played with it, you name it. Mine at least, seems indestructible. Wonder why yours is different. 
- Thread starter
- #6
I use it every day, and it usually rests on its side to dry. I live in a damp climate. It's possible it sat in a drop of water all day, or something.
This isn't unusual for this brush unfortunately. I've seen a few threads regarding this problem. I vaguely remember something about quality control issues or perhaps not using a primer on the handle before painting. Regardless, for the money it's a pretty good brush (paint issues aside).
Wood expands and contracts and even though the epoxy they use is tough stuff it can pop off when the wood gets wet and expands. It's just the way of the beast.
Why on its side? I agree with you it could have been sitting in something. I would shake out the brush, brush it lightly over a towel and set it on its base. I guess you have an excellent "beater" brush now.
I will be getting a 1305 one of these days. I hope I get lucky with the paint holding up.
- Thread starter
- #10
I usually rest it on the lip of the bowl. Somewhere I read that setting it on its base gets water into the knot, which is bad; but that might be from one of those threads where people comb and blow-dry their brushes every day.
I do sometimes rest it on the base, when the mood hits me, but I don't see how that would make it less likely to sit in a drop of water (if that was what happened).
I usually rest it on the lip of the bowl. Somewhere I read that setting it on its base gets water into the knot, which is bad; but that might be from one of those threads where people comb and blow-dry their brushes every day.
My philosophy is that brushes are meant to dry standing up on their base. If you've squeezed out the excess water from the knot there should be no problem with this.
Very sorry to hear about the paint flaking off your 1305. I have mostly stayed away from the painted Semogues because of the reported fragility of the finish (I do have a new 1438 that I am breaking in and will be on the look-out for any issues...). Don't suppose you are soaking the handle?
I lost a huge chunk on my 1305, started out with 2 large cracks at roughly 10 and 2 going up the top half to the ring, and then the whole panel in between the cracks fell off. Just got a nice chip on my 1438 too, and I tend to be pretty careful about making sure not to bang the handles against things. There's multiple threads about it being an ongoing issue with Semogue's, which is too bad
- Thread starter
- #13
No, I soak it in a bowl, which when filled to the brim, reaches to just below where the handle begins. I haven't done anything extraordinary to protect it from splashes, but the handle has never been immersed.
