Thread: It's a puzzle

Moved recently and just discovered a brush I did not know I had. There is no makers name and I think it is a boar knot. The handle appears to be varnished wood already starting to check/crack after a few uses. All in all a very low end brush by appearances. It had a nice feel on the face from the start and bloomed a bit right away. Not used to either with the Omega boar brushes I normally use. A real pleasant surprise that along with the ease it makes an excellent lather. There is a lot to be puzzled about with this brush. How and where did I get it and why does it perform so well despite looking like it is cheaply made. I guess the point is you never know how something works till you try it even if it looks shaky.

Bob

IT appears to be similar to ones offered with shaving soap a few years back. That knot ring means they did take the time to surround the knot with metal which prevents the swelling wet knot from cracking or breaking the handle.
And, yes, they can be great user friendly latherers!
JMO, YMMV

~Richard
PS. Some of the Omega brushes will let go of the knot if left in too hot water. Their brush structures can be/ are different than most other makes.

Originally Posted by Geezer

IT appears to be similar to ones offered with shaving soap a few years back. That knot ring means they did take the time to surround the knot with metal which prevents the swelling wet knot from cracking or breaking the handle.
And, yes, they can be great user friendly latherers!
JMO, YMMV

~Richard
PS. Some of the Omega brushes will let go of the knot if left in too hot water. Their brush structures can be/ are different than most other makes.

Now that you mention it, it may have come with a shave soap as a kit. The only boar brush I have used that needed no breaking in. A real little sweetheart.

Bob

The knot as bloomed and the metal ring remind me of boar brushes from Portugal.

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

The knot as bloomed and the metal ring remind me of boar brushes from Portugal.

Yes, I was thinking of the Semogue boar brushes because of that also. They bloom like that in photos I have seen and have the metal ring. None of my Omega boars bloom like that. I may have to try a SOC boar brush out.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Yes, I was thinking of the Semogue boar brushes because of that also. They bloom like that in photos I have seen and have the metal ring. None of my Omega boars bloom like that. I may have to try a SOC boar brush out.

Bob

Nooooo Bob, don’t do it! I tried a SOC brush out a few years back. It took a few weeks to get it broke in and get it to hold 4+ passes worth of lather. Now it is my goto brush that I use 29 out of 30 days a month. My omega pro sits lonely in the cabinet.

I actually prefer Omega boars to Semogues; but if the mystery brush BobH has is working well for him, why not just stay with it? Another coat of varnish and that baby's good to go. Also, what are the specs?

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

but if the mystery brush BobH has is working well for him, why not just stay with it? Another coat of varnish and that baby's good to go.

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Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

I actually prefer Omega boars to Semogues; but if the mystery brush BobH has is working well for him, why not just stay with it? Another coat of varnish and that baby's good to go. Also, what are the specs?

I have only one Semogue 1305 and also prefer my Omega boars. The SOC boar looks to be different than the 1305 and similar to the no name one. So I am curious to try the SOC. I have an SOC 2 band badger that I like and the handle is pleasing too.

The specs for the no name are: width at ring 23 mm and a loft of 54.5 mm.

Bob

Bob, congratulations on the surprising find.

Regarding the Semogue SOC boar brush, you might find it splays much too large. I had two and the splay on both was too much for me as I found the loft too high for the size of the knot.
However, you might enjoy it.