Thread: Seraphim's brush bristle enhancer (patents pending)

OK, so I was thinking about going out and dropping some coin on a different brush. So, I read all the reviews, feedbacks, etc, etc.

One thing that seem to differentiate a really nice brush is bristle density (OK there are plenty of other things too, but let's concentrate on just this for now, OK?).

So, I bring my tried and true $45 Kingsley back to my laboratory to see what I could come up with....


What I did was to take two rubber O-rings, and slip them up over the handle to slightly choke up the brush bristles (see pics below). This resulted in a tighter brush with higher density.

So if bristle density can be defined as inversely proportional to the radius of the brush we have for the standard Kingsley a 3" diameter (1.5" radius), which gives us 1/1.5^2=0.44 BDUs(Bristle Density Units).
That same brush, with the Seraphim bristle enhancer unit installed now has a diameter of 2.5" (1.25" radius), which gives us 1/1.25^2=0.64 BDUs, a 45% increase in bristle density!

I suppose this all depends on a person's taste, but I like a brush that puts the lather where I want it to go, not to splay out and coat my earlobes, nose, and other non-shaving areas with lather. Test run this morning showed a very nice performance improvement. Whipped up the Valobra like a champ and put it on my face where I wanted it to go.

I give this product a full endorsement! The guy who invented it must be some kind of genius or something!

Kits are available by Paypaling me $29.95. A bargain compared to what you'd have to spend on a high quality Plisson!

Or, you can simply go down to the hardware store plumbing section and pick up some O-rings for about 25 cents.

The beauty of it is that if you don't like the feel of it, you can either remove the O-ring and get your original brush back, or add another O-ring (or smaller diameter O rings) to firm it up even more.

This may also allow for personal taste depending on what lather you are going to use: some fiolks prefer a stiff brush for soaps, and a floppier one for creams. Add some rings for the soaps, or take them off for the creams, one brush can do it all!

Nice writeup. I think I will try this just to see whether I would prefer the bristles more densely packed on my go-to brush.

Cool Idea!
Thinking outloud here... Would the lather decompose the rubber at all and that cause damage to the bristles? Or could taking off the O ring rip out the bristles.

Hmmm... I may have to take my AOS brush on a trip to Ace later on.


Bob

Depends on what the O ring is made of. They come in all sorts of materials. buna-N, viton, silocone, EDPM, PTFE, Flouro-silicone, you name it.

Check www.mcmaster.com they have achart of what material is resistant to what environment if you ar econcerned about it. Personnaly, I just grabbed an Oring and put it on my brush, since if my Oring fails I will shed no tears whatsoever. I will simply put another one on there.

I mounted and took off the O rings 5-6 times last night (put it on over the handle, took it off over the bristles) and did not have any hair loss whatsoever. If you're skittish about that, simply cut the ring off to remove it.

I think I'll try a rubber band - good idea, seraphim!

Yup, rubber band should work nicely! Maybe not look quite as "finished", but will let you play around with the adjustmenst easily!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Yup, rubber band should work nicely! Maybe not look quite as "finished", but will let you play around with the adjustmenst easily!

Well, you'll have to order the upgrade package as my proprietary restrictive casing will prevent simple hand modification. It's a bargain at $29.94

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

Well, you'll have to order the upgrade package as my proprietary restrictive casing will prevent simple hand modification. It's a bargain at $29.94

Let's go into business together!

We'll sell the rubber band "starter" kit for $29.94 (+ $12.95 for shipping).

Or the "deluxe" faux bog ebony carbon bristle retention ring upgrade kits (AKA O rings) for $49.95 (+15.95 shipping)

Like it?

Hate it?

Ruin their brush?

Improve their brush?

I have been using two rubber bands of approximately an inch and a half diameter almost at the base of my floppy badger brush knot. It helps noticably and although the brush is still floppy, it doesn't wander around as much. It doesn't seem to hold water or lather any differently and it hasn't made a difference for me whipping up cream, but it has helped somewhat with getting lather out of soap.

I have assembled a 7-day set of these rubber bands (14 bands in all) and am interested in seeing if this improves the shelf life of the rubber bands after being exposed to lather components every morning (save the occasional Sunday.) I also experimented with several different colors of rubber bands, and tried to press jimps into one of them for easier removal from the brush, but they just kept bouncing out until I pressed so hard that it snapped in two. Maybe I should try sanding them in?

Anyway, your simple idea has improved my morning shaves ever so slightly - thanks!