Thread: Anybody Else Prefer Boar Brushes?

Yesterday picked up a very nice real wood handle C&E boar (looks like a silver tip) for $25 (without the ugly gold trim and the name is on the bottom, not the side)

Loks really stylish to me. Must be the best looking boar I have seen. I LOVE the stiffness. As I liked the feel of my other boar but hated the looks (Burma Shave) - the C&E boar is probably going to be my favorite. Just gave it a shampoo and conditioner, will try lathering some other time.

This C&E boar seems even stiffer than the Burma Shave; it has something like a ball (the knot?) high into the bristles above the wooden handle.

Again, it seems that boar blossoms in a weird way, not uniformly like badger? Or is it just me? But I have had 3 boars with this characteristic, from 3 different makers...

Now I need to return a floppy Omega Silver tip; not sure what will replace it - seems SR 204 or the 212 as I heard the 208 is floppy too. Or I can go Simpson PJ2, Rooney super badger med / small sth

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

...it has something like a ball (the knot?) high into the bristles above the wooden handle.

Sounds like the brush has a plug in it to hold in the hair knot.

Originally Posted by izlat

...Now I need to return a floppy Omega Silver tip; not sure what will replace it - seems SR 204 or the 212 as I heard the 208 is floppy too. Or I can go Simpson PJ2, Rooney super badger med / small sth

I'm not sure a SR 204 or SR 212 will be any better than the SR 208. They're the same style and SUPER hair. The difference is only size really. I have the 208 & 212 - there's no difference except knot size. I'm sure RT will chime in about the Simpson & Rooney slection sinc he's got both now. I don;t own either manufacturer (YET ), but I think the nod for firmer may go to the Simpson PJ.

Originally Posted by mparker762

I've got a junk Van der Hagen boar that sheds like crazy, I've relegated it to shoe-scrubbing duties. The Proraso/Omega boar that Target sells is quite nice and only $15, they're built very well and not prone to shedding.

See thats weird because mine sheds on my more than my cats! I like the brush, but damn if I dont have boar hair all over me by the end of the shave lol. This made me stick to badger, I let my wife use this one for her legs now lol. Maybe the shorter one that Joe is less prone to shedding. I have the big one...shocking aint it lol

Originally Posted by xChris

Sounds like the brush has a plug in it to hold in the hair knot.


I'm not sure a SR 204 or SR 212 will be any better than the SR 208. They're the same style and SUPER hair. The difference is only size really. I have the 208 & 212 - there's no difference except knot size. I'm sure RT will chime in about the Simpson & Rooney slection sinc he's got both now. I don;t own either manufacturer (YET ), but I think the nod for firmer may go to the Simpson PJ.

I have the PJ2 Best and the Rooney Style 2, small genuine silvertip. The PJ is a firmer brush, not floppy at all. The Rooney is a bit floppy, but it is not bad. It opens up a bit more when applying the lather, but closes up quickly. The SR 208 splays open and stays that way. I like the 208 and the Rooney, and they are the only two brushes I have that I consider floppy, the 208 being the worst culprit. I've not had the SR212, but I did have the SR240 (I think that's the right number) which was a 30mm knot, and that is one huge brush.

When it all comes down to it...I enjoy shaving with my Omega, my $35 C&E brush, and my Shavemacs that are in the $100 + range. Each brush has different attributes, and I select my brush strictly based on my mood.

RT

Originally Posted by mparker762

I've got a junk Van der Hagen boar that sheds like crazy, I've relegated it to shoe-scrubbing duties. The Proraso/Omega boar that Target sells is quite nice and only $15, they're built very well and not prone to shedding.

Some manufacturers of brushes recommend you soak it before use for 24 hours in water to reduce shedding.

My brush is a Kent 50/50 boar badger brush that works great. I really love it. It's stiff and feels soft on the face at the same time. I got it for $3 and I'tll never go untill it's completely falling apart.

I've been stubbornly sticking to the philosophy that if it isn't badger I'm not stocking it in my store. But after hanging out here for the last 6 to 8 months, and most recently reading these posts, I'm starting to think I should add some boar bristle brushes.

I'm pretty much aligned with Vulfix for now. I do carry a few other brushes (Conk & Dovo) and I may add another brush line next year, but for now Vulfix is it. My question is this. Can anyone share some experience on specific models of boar bristle brushes within the Vulfix line? I don't have the resources to stock them all and hope to carry just a few. Also, what about bristle and badger blends?

Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

Jim

All I have is the Burma and for now it's all I need.

Justin

I like my Burma and it did work well. But oh man do I love my C&E Super Badger. I may check out one or two more Boars before I'm done, but to me right now, it is all about the badger. It's the feel of it, and how well it holds the water. I takes a bit more work to get the soap soft and going, but once its loaded it is really loaded. Still though, I should try more boars before I give them up totally. Here piggy piggy piggy, I just want to shave you.

Matt

I love boar brushes(I love badger brushes too, but this is not about them) My very first brush was a Surrey. It set me back a whopping $1.29 at Walgreens in 1989. I still use it at least once a week.