Thread: Boaring Virgin

Well I'm still looking for a new badger brush, but reading JimR and others' comments about boar brushes made me want to see what was really going on with them so I had decided to get one when it was convenient. Of course, being at the drug store yesterday I though, "I'll just check and see what they've got here, if anything", to myself and wouldn't you know it, a decent Omega:



It smelled heavily of moth balls. Even after washing with liquid soap six times there's still a lingering scent, but I'm sure it'll fade out pretty soon.

As for the lather, the first time went alright and I'm sure that will get better too. It does appear to take a little longer to make lather, but again, once the brush is broken in a little bit more I'm sure it will be easier to tell exactly how much longer. The bristles are very firm, but not really much scratchier than my badger best. I imagine that once time has done its work on the brush the sensation will be comparable. One thing I notice is that the boar brush holds an amount of water closer to what is actually needed to produce lather.

I'm happy to hear any pointers from the boar users.

X

If it’s like my Omega 4P, get barbaric on it with dish detergent and boiling water. The smell will go away, but it will take some aggressive scrubbing. That boiling scrub will also do wonders for the stiffness of the brush and it’s water retention qualities. It will not get wimpy, just nice. Sometimes a fellow just needs a good rugged lusty scrub, IF you know what I mean. A few months down the road I still need a pre shave soak in boiling water to get a really terrific lathering experience, but it still does almost as well with just hot tap for the $12 I paid for it. All in all, I grab it every bit as often as the better badgers sitting on the counter. A much under-rated asset, especially if you like a little variety or just want to keep a little use off of the over priced badgers.

NOOOOOOO!!!!! Don't boil it, don't get barbaric. If you want to break in a brush, LATHER with it. Make practice lathers, and if you like use a rougher bottomed bowl, but boiling water can damage your knot, and that wooden handle won't like it much, either. No sanding, no hammering, just use it. In about a month, it will be even better.

It took about ten lathers for my brush to lose all its smell, and it was pretty funky. Use something cheap with a potent smell (got any Arko?).

As you use it, the hairs will get split ends and they will get much softer and smoother. And yes, the brush holds just about the right amount of water to make lather, not MORE than you need. Especially for soaps. Well spotted.

I don't know how long it takes to make a good lather, but it shouldn't be long. I mean...I get a good lather in a little over a minute...is that long? I face lather, though, except for sopa, when I use the Zach method. I've posted that video a couple of times, and it works like magic for me.

Nothing quite like the sensation of boar's hair on the cheeks...

So, I've been lathering with this brush just to get the smell out. Did a vinegar soak once too. It's almost gone, but I'll be damned if it can make lather. From the cream anyway. Maybe it's me. I hear there's a bit of a break in period. What can I expect? I'm about seven lathers in, they're not very good lathers and the cream lather especially sux.

X

I'm going to go with Kahuna on this one. I had to soak my boar brush in almost boiling water for it to be worth while when making lather- it was just too stiff otherwise. I haven't noticed any adverse effects due to the boiling for what it's worth

EDIT: One boil was all it took mine

I face lather creams, and have no problem getting 3 good passes worth of thick lather. Bowl lathering? Never tried it, so I'm not sure. I'll make some experiments and let you know...

Well I don't know what kind of badger you have used but if its silvertip going to a boar from that is like going from a Cadillac to a Yugo. Most guys go the other way. Boar just doesn't hold water a well as badger so building lather just takes longer and it has to be broken in just by using it a lot.

In the end it works and its cheap.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

I'm going to go with Kahuna on this one. I had to soak my boar brush in almost boiling water for it to be worth while when making lather- it was just too stiff otherwise. I haven't noticed any adverse effects due to the boiling for what it's worth

EDIT: One boil was all it took mine

+1 on the boiling water soak. Big difference.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Well I don't know what kind of badger you have used but if its silvertip going to a boar from that is like going from a Cadillac to a Yugo. ...

I don't know if this is some kind of protocol foot-in-mouth, but I just put a pair of post on another board about this very issue...

Before my "conversion": Boar brushes...why? - Page 4 - Badger & Blade
and after: Boar brushes...why? - Page 5 - Badger & Blade