Thread: i hate my bodyshop brush

so i have a few brushes now and i have to say i feel stupid having that bodyshop synthetic brush laying around and me never wanting to use it.. i just don't like the way it feels and it has no spread.... i simply don't like it.. i could just throw it away or give it to someone or something.. but i'd like to figure out a way to enjoy it.. i know that i have to use the paintbrush technique rather than circular motions.. but are there any other suggestions? perhaps certain soaps or creams that would be recommended just for that brush.. or maybe something i could do to loosen it up? you think boiling it in water would give it some spread?

thanks in advance.

I vote for a VDH brush for $7.

i used one for years before getting into straight razor shaving and i threw it out for some stupid reason.. i guess my days were just done with it.. i now currently have a aos pure badger, an aos sampler brush, a simpson wee scot, and my boring bodyshop brush..

the wee scot being my favourite..

oh, ok, I thought that it was your only brush.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

so i have a few brushes now and i have to say i feel stupid having that bodyshop synthetic brush laying around and me never wanting to use it.. i just don't like the way it feels and it has no spread.... i simply don't like it.. i could just throw it away or give it to someone or something.. but i'd like to figure out a way to enjoy it.. i know that i have to use the paintbrush technique rather than circular motions.. but are there any other suggestions? perhaps certain soaps or creams that would be recommended just for that brush.. or maybe something i could do to loosen it up? you think boiling it in water would give it some spread?

thanks in advance.

I suggest cutting the hair/bristles down, drilling out the epoxy and setting a nice new knot of your choosing from the Golden Nib into the handle. That's a great way to make a brush that you'll appreciate out of one that you don't care for.

thanks for the replies gentlemen.. i only paid $9 for the thing.. so i didn't really want to put to much effort into it.. i suppose i'll just give it to one of the kids so he can play with it while i shave.

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

thanks for the replies gentlemen.. i only paid $9 for the thing.. so i didn't really want to put to much effort into it.. i suppose i'll just give it to one of the kids so he can play with it while i shave.

that is a fine solution.
Another is that once in two year lathering/ cleaning of a strop.

If there is a need to break it in spend some time with a puck
of Williams or other super inexpensive soap.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

that is a fine solution.
Another is that once in two year lathering/ cleaning of a strop.

If there is a need to break it in spend some time with a puck
of Williams or other super inexpensive soap.

i'm a feather artist club guy.. so the strop cleaning isn't an option.. would going nuts on a puck of williams really give it some bloom? anyone else have this brush and broken it in?

Originally Posted by vthomlinson

i'm a feather artist club guy.. so the strop cleaning isn't an option.. would going nuts on a puck of williams really give it some bloom? anyone else have this brush and broken it in?

Going nuts on the top half of a puck of Williams
is often a very productive couple of hours on successive
Saturday afternoons. If you can make a good lather with
Williams almost all of the other soaps will get easy.

I do not know your brush so I can only guess that
breaking it in is possible. It is worth a try.

AND Williams is a better than OK soap....

I have one and IMO is the best synthetic for under $10 anywhere.