Well I don't know. If it's so great why not just stick your head in one instead of wasting water in a shower and all that shampoo?
Then let us know what happens. Take a bullet for the team.
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I did consider your suggestion, but decided to alter the experiment a bit so you could benefit from the findings, too. Borrowing a hamster from a friend (he actually is not aware that the animal was borrowed for experimental purposes, but those devils have been breeding out of control, and he has frequently expressed his intention to get rid of some of them), the test subject was placed into an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner (Brookstone 120W), which was filled only a third full of water. The ultrasonic bombardment was initiated for a period of 10 seconds. The lid was removed and the creature was observed to be extremely panicked. The lid was closed back and the bombardement continued for another 10 seconds. After this time interval, the creature appeared partially stunned and was relatively motionless. The test subject was then returned to its original enclosure. It could not be induced to run on its wheel.
It can therefore be induced that such ultrasonic devices do indeed have a detrimental effect towards living tissue, and caution should probably be excercised.
However, hair is not a living tissue. So go crazy.
I don't know about sonication of hair in particular, but I do know that it's used to break apart cells to get at their contents since the cavitation produces extremely high (but very localised) temperatures and pressures. Hair may be made from dead cells but I don't see how an ultrasonic bath would affect dead cells less than it would live ones.
As such, I feel the question that needs to be answered is how *much* damage is being caused over a typical cleaning cycle and whether it's substantial compared to the miniscule-but-present damage caused during every day use. Assuming we sonicate for 1 minute each time, and twice a year as per what decraew does for, say, 25 years, that comes out to a total of 50 minutes. Other than that it should be a straightforward test, just need to make sure that the hairs are hanging in the bath and not sitting on the bottom.
I've got some loose hairs from a new brush, but the people in my lab will go nuts and kill me if I run the ultrasonic for 50 minutes. Decraew, maybe something to try if you've got a loose badger hair or two?
Excellent observations, Blank. Many thanks for this. However, we did try this not only with the aforementioned hamster, but also with a plebeian brush prior to employing the method with a good brush. To wit, I let a TGN type knot sit in a generic US cleaner for several hours while watching a tv report on creationism. It was very entertaining. The report, not constantly switching on the cleaner, mind you.
The cleaner, it should be noted, came in a beautiful bright pink often found in costume brush handles. This may or may not have had an impact on the experiment.
Nothing, depending on whether you trust good old Nelson here more than a seasoned brush maker. When a brush maker with a few decades of experience tells me, "this is how you do it.", that is what I'll do. Germans, you know? We like to follow orders.
Rob, there is absolutely nothing to chuckle about. First, the software did exactly what it was supposed to do. That's good engineering, really. Second, you're from the UK, so your cars are either German or Indian - stop chuckling!
P.S. Ever since your cars went all German/Indian, I have had zero problems with them. Don't remind me of the exhaust system of that 12 cylinder Jag, though. English "engineering" at its bloody worst.
You can't stop me laughing Robin - no matter what you say. The UK car industry is not quite as bad as you make out - Jaguar Land Rover was owned by Ford and is now owned by Tata - that does not make the cars either American or Indian. In reality, car parts are sourced globally so trying to put a national identity on them is a little pointless.
Of far more importance is the fact that Automotive companies (including German ones) all copied the Japanese manufacturing and quality processes. We have one plant in Sunderland that produces more cars than the whole of Italy. So, German/Indian understates the true position.
Not for the first time is one of your arguments based on sand - but I forgive you.:tu
Don't tell my friends, though, Rob. They find the fact that I drive a six figure Indian car hilarious.
Oh, I know. That Ford engine is a bloody disgrace, though. Come next year, it will be replaced with an Ingenium one from Wolverhampton. And I doubt that much of it will be sourced elsewhere. Like ZF's 9HP transmission.
Where were we? Ah, yes. Brushes. Carry on, chaps.
On what planet do people view an software that works to supposedly deceive that a legally required standard is being met as being a "good" piece of engineering? There is more to being defined as "good" than merely works as advertised or in this case not really advertised.
Bob
How could I forget that putting a poor living creature into an ultrasound cleaner and turning it on until it's uncomfortable has anything to do with rinsing a brush when done using it...
On Planet Logic, Bob. I said, "First, the software did exactly what it was supposed to do. That's good engineering, really.", and that is correct. I did not say, "First, the software did exactly what it was supposed to do. That is sound ethical and legal behaviour." And you know why? Because it is not. But that was never the question.
Maybe from your consumer perspective, Bob. I was, however, talking about engineering.
Well, it was Nelson who suggested I experiment on humans. Given the somewhat shady history of Germans conducting experiments on humans, I thought it might be more palatable if I used a thing instead. Besides, hamster hair and badger hair are quite similar. Last, and that is possibly something Nelson forgot to factor in, not even a shrunken head would fit into a standard issue US cleaner. Or maybe it would. I might actually give it a try tonight.
And isn't this thread supposed to be about cleaning brushes? I mean, yes, cleaning hamsters is close, but, as we saw, not quite the same.
Carry on, chaps.
I doubt the software was designed to send VW to its first Quarterly loss in 15 years, start Class Action lawsuits around the world, penalize the company with billions in fines, with more to come, and perhaps criminal charges against its executive leadership.
What it was designed and eventually failed to succeed at doing, as the deceit of course came to roost in the criminal, financial, unethical and corrupt behaviour of its leadership, was mask the true emissions from detection, and since we are discussing that in this thread, obviously failed in a spectacularly global manner to accomplish what it was designed to do.
The brand has suffered irreparable damage, and may not recover.
That, in my opinion only of course, is not what I define as, "good engineering".
Actually I was thinking one of these industrial sized cleaners like we used to clean firearms. You could easily stick your head in that.
Phrank, that's all nice and dandy, but still completely beside the point. And you know that. How about something to actually chuckle about instead?
S0LITARYS0LDIER, If you pay for the ticket, I'll gladly stick Nelson's head in an industrial sized cleaner, and tell the police that you both wanted it.
Or maybe we should simply get back on topic? Just a humble suggestion, chaps.
If you did use a live hamster as a brush you might be able to train it to roll around in soap, go crazy rolling around until the soap froths up then crawl around your face. You could maybe extend the training to doing it while you are still asleep
After reading this thread I find it amazing that no one is wondering what kind of "soap" is being used on said brush.
Some so called soaps make my skin feel slimy. If I used them I can imagine they would do the same to my brush. Right now in my cup is a combination of what I think is VDH and the remnants of some other brand that it has been a few years since it was not enough to make a lather in the bottom of the cup that I saved because I am cheap and threw it in when the VDH was running low. I rinse the brush quickly under running water then squeeze and hang upside down. I have never had/seen any issue with soap buildup or to be honest never worried about it. Maybe now I will take a magnifying glass and separate the hairs and inspect the base of the brush.... NAH;)
My brush is probably the most washed thing in my house besides my toothbrush I am not worried about it being clean.
At the end of the day it is only a shaving brush no matter the cost and as such is a consumable. Very few survive 40+ years of continuous everyday use not needing re knotting or complete replacement. A reasonable amount of care will help to prolong the life of the brush. Personally, reasonable care is a good rinse, a quick shake or two and put away to dry thoroughly.
Bob
like bob said above,IMO this thread is much to do about nothing
Makes a man long for a "Tape, No Tape" thread,,,:rofl2:
Tape on a badger brush, reminds me of bubble gum in girl's hair 4th grade,,, got my arse beat many a time for that. :rofl2:
,,,,,,,,,,,,,you do know me Ed :D
Just to put things in perspective, and no I wouldn't put Robin's head in an ultrasonic cleaner but my dad was a painter and the best brushes you could buy were boar bristle brushes. They were used to apply oil based paints for decades and then water based and they were cleaned with turpentine and benzine and then soap and water and then wrapped in newspaper and you know what? My dad is gone but I still have those brushes after all those decades. They be as good as the day they were purchased back in the 1940s and 50s...maybe older.
They be tougher than you think.
They are. They are much like human hair. And like human hair, they don't appreciate an alkaline environment. That's why the soap residue has to go. An ultrasonic cleaner is just a convenient way to clean them. Hair shampoo will do the trick, too. Like hair conditioner will make them more supple.
So, jesting aside (once more), if you want to take good care of your badger brush, clean it thoroughly, and shampoo it once a week (if you use it regularly, like I do). That way, it will last for decades.
PS I would not put Nelson's head into an ultrasonic cleaner, either. Nelson is a good guy.
Robin, you do realize that your avatar looks like you are deep frying the hamster?