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Thread: Good boar brush

  1. #1
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    Default Good boar brush

    What would you recommend as a good boar brush? I've got a silver-tip brush whcih I really like, but sometimes I need something that is much quicker to generate a lather (can sometimes take me about 5 minutes to generate one with my silver-tip). Something with quite stiff bristles would be nice.

    Also, if possible, a good UK source.

    Cheers,

    Steven

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    Cheapskate Honer Wildtim's Avatar
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    Look for Bass brand brushes out of Germany, or the Omega brand brush. I think Vulflux( sp?) also makes one
    Last edited by Wildtim; 02-20-2008 at 07:37 PM.

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    Libertarian Freak Dewey's Avatar
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    +1 for the Omegas. Nice boar brushes, especially if you replace the handle. I had some help turning a nice handle for mine by fellow member Spazola. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=15847 The Surrey brand brushes carried at drug stores and WalMart are nice for the $$$. Here in Texas they're $5 and have a nice heft.

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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    I haven't used a boar in a very long time but from what I remember making lather took a lot longer than with a badger.
    No matter how many men you kill you can't kill your successor-Emperor Nero

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    Senior Member BrianB's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by thebigspendur View Post
    I haven't used a boar in a very long time but from what I remember making lather took a lot longer than with a badger.
    From what I remember it depends on what you're trying to lather up with. Hard soaps lather faster with stiffer bristles, like the boar, while creams lather slower. I bought the little cheapo brush from Wally World and it works fine with the hard soaps. Then again, I have no experience with any other brush. lol

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    Razorsmith JoshEarl's Avatar
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    I use hard soaps, mainly D.R. Harris, and the boar brush reigns supreme in this realm. I have two Shavemacs that cost four times what my boar brush did, and I use the boar brush the most.

    Mine is an Omega. It shed a bit when I got it, but it seems to be settling in now. The bristles soften over time, I've read.

    One good tip with the boar brushes is to soak them for a few minutes before you use them. After a good soak, the bristles are as comfortable as badger bristles are, in my opinion.

    Josh

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    Libertarian Freak Dewey's Avatar
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    Yeah Josh, they do soften over time. I have an old pewter boar brush from England that has definitely softened up a ton over the years. The pre-shave soak in really hot water works well, too. Good point.

    As far as BigSpendur's comment, I think that boars do a a few extra seconds to whip up the lather - but for me, literally only a few extra seconds not even 30 seconds. I will concede that it takes a firmer grip and stir than with a badger.

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    I use a Vulfix VS 5 which you can get at classicshaving.com for $11.00.

    It's amazing. It lathers my soaps quickly, does not shed at all, is comfortable in the hand. I use quality soaps (Tabac and stuff from Mama Bear) and this brush totally does them justice.

    Hope this helps.
    Ron

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    Razorsmith JoshEarl's Avatar
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    A boar brush might take longer when lathering creams, but I actually think it's faster with soaps, at least the triple-milled soaps. For me, the key with hard soaps is to get enough soap on the brush to make a decent lather. When I first started using Harris, I was getting thin lather that dried out quickly. It didn't seem much better than Williams.

    Switching to a scrubby pure badger brush allowed me to get enough soap on the brush, but the bristles were harsh. My boar brush works faster, and the bristles are softer than a pure badger brush.

    I'd prefer to use my two nice Shavemacs, but most days I go for the $20 Omega.

    Josh

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    Shaves like a pirate jockeys's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DEwey View Post
    +1 for the Omegas. Nice boar brushes, especially if you replace the handle. I had some help turning a nice handle for mine by fellow member Spazola. http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=15847 The Surrey brand brushes carried at drug stores and WalMart are nice for the $$$. Here in Texas they're $5 and have a nice heft.
    +1 on the Surrey brushes, they make lather very quickly, however, I have found that if you let them soak in hot water too long, they shed like a sick dog.

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