Thread: Boar brush recommendations please

Originally Posted by BobH

A boar brush that I do like and use is an Omega 10066 Omega 10066 Boar Shaving Brush | Maggard Razors - Straight Razor Restoration, Custom Scales and Wet Shaving Products . Takes about 2 two weeks of daily use to break in and then you are off to the races. It won't break the bank either. The Omega 10066 and the Semogue 1350 are the only boar brushes I own and either would serve you well. Yes, if it says bristle it is boar.

Bob

I ordered the Omega 48 and Semogue 620 already. Now you want me to order an Omega 10066??? Kidding. They are out of stock on the site you provided so I put myself on the waiting list. I'll get an email when they are back in stock. I won't order another until I play with the two I have coming to see if I like them after they get broken in. I'm going to use the soap in hand some to break them in sooner than just shaving with them.

PS
I just got a message that the manufacturing of the Semogue 620 is slow for some reason. May be 2-3 weeks before I get that one. Probably good. That will force me to use only the omega 48 brush getting it broken in and performing consistently that much sooner.

Originally Posted by Jack0458

I ordered the Omega 48 and Semogue 620 already. Now you want me to order an Omega 10066??? Kidding. They are out of stock on the site you provided so I put myself on the waiting list. I'll get an email when they are back in stock. I won't order another until I play with the two I have coming to see if I like them after they get broken in. I'm going to use the soap in hand some to break them in sooner than just shaving with them.

PS
I just got a message that the manufacturing of the Semogue 620 is slow for some reason. May be 2-3 weeks before I get that one. Probably good. That will force me to use only the omega 48 brush getting it broken in and performing consistently that much sooner.

You never can have too many brushes.

Bob

1305 and 1800 are my Piggy Brush of choice...

But one of the great things about Boar brushes is there are a lot of great choices and they won't break the bank (unless you buy all of them)

Smooth shaving...

I like Omega knots. This is a 10049 rehandled and relofted on the short side.

I have a Semogue 830. It's great, not soft, but stiff just enough to be felt like a boar brush. I highly recommend it.

I have the Semogue 1305. I like the size of the handle and the backbone of it. Now that it has broken in and some of the tips have split it has become less scritchy. I'm still waiting for more of the tips to split and it seems to be taking a while for that to happen. I have used it on average every other day for almost two months. The tips on the perimeter of the knot have all split nicely but the interior hairs are not (a few are). I wonder why this is? Overall it feels less scritchy to me but maybe I just have gotten used to it.

I have been eyeing the SOC. How is that one in comparison to the 1305 other than knot size. Is it supposed to get softer while still retaining good backbone? Is there really a difference in the grade of the hair? I mainly face lather and I like the large handles, easier for me to control than shorter, stubby style handles.

First shave with a boar brush today. It was the Omega 48. When I took the brush out of the box I was amazed at how big it is.

Vulfix 2006 and Omega 48


Until now the brushes I've used have been the same size. Or not enough difference to be obvious. This size difference is obvious at a glance. I really liked the feel of the stiffer bristles. In fact I hope they don't soften up too much as they break in. I don't think I'll get the Semogue 620 for a couple of weeks or more. This one should be broken in by then I hope. I'm going to create lather in my hand to help speed things up as others have suggested. I'll also use the few different soaps/creams I have to see how the boar is to create lather with soaps or the softer creams. Today I used Mitchell's Wool Fat soap. This is continuing to be my favorite soap or cream. This brush covered twice the amount of face when applying the lather than the badger brushes I've used. I like this brush so far and like the difference. I'll be able to use different brushes in the future for one reason or another once I have more experience.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.

I use boar brushes For similar reasons I like the backbone, And a bit of scritch.

First thing I do when I get a new brush is to sit with it for a few mins. Running my fingers through the bristles in sections. While doing it look for hairs that are noticeably thicker. These are hairs that have flipped when they made the knot. When you find them just pull them out. Those hairs don't split or bed in.

Aside from that boar is remarkably durable. I'd advise getting 2 if you shave every day so you can rotate daily to give each brush proper drying time. If you shave every other day then this isn't a problem. It'll just stop them smelling and becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. (edit just read that you have ).

Once broken in they don't loose backbone, They loose scritch, As the tips split but the shaft remains mostly intact.

Also expect to loose a few bristles. Mine have shed a lot in the first few shaves, then they calm down shedding the odd hair here and there. There are enough bristles that you will never notice the loss. I think it's just the nature of boar and the fact the hair is tougher but more prone to snapping at the knot with wear.

I got the Semogue 620 boar brush today. I used it and love it. I like it much more than the Omega I got. The 620 is smaller and the bristles are a little bit stiffer. They may feel stiffer because they are shorter. I'm interested in seeing how it does after it breaks in but I'm not going to try to speed it up. I like it as is. Great brush IMO. Shaving today I used Mitchell's wool fat soap. I soaked the brush in hot water and loaded the brush like I always do. This time however the soap seemed to just explode into a nice lather as soon as I started swishing the brush around in the scuttle. The only thing that was different today was the brush. The only other explanation is I just got lucky with the amount of water and soap. Or maybe I am absolutely the best lather maker in the world. Yeah, I doubt that also. I think I've become a boar brush man.