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Just received my magnificent new Thater imitation horn 2 band bulb from SRD this morning and took it out for a test drive and it was wonderful. I followed the instructions that came with the brush and the lathering took a minute or two longer but was just as thick and creamy as the more heavy handed way I'm used to doing it. Here are the instructions that came with the brush ;Attachment 88745Attachment 88746
I guess that's right from the horse's mouth.
Same instructions that came with the SRP 2011 LE :D
I still find it interesting that different manufacturers all offer their own (often contradictory) advice on how to use a shaving brush. Why is anybody's guess....
I snagged a prototype 2-band Thaeter from a certain friend whom I will codename 'Deutschland Uber Alles.' LOVE it... Awesome brush, and I find that it makes a very large volume of lather and leaves a nice even coat on my face without mashing or squeezing, which I usually have to do with some of my other brushes. Top-notch brush, no doubts about it!
One thing I found curious was there recommendation to avoid Borax. I've never used it to wash a brush ..... because I don't wash them. I always felt the shaving soap did that. I am going to send them an email and ask them if the dish washing liquid Em's Place recommends is the way to go. I may begin to wash my brushes since they warn not doing so can lead to shortening the life of the bristle. Better safe than sorry.
I got both the SRP 2011 LE Fan and Bulb and instructions didn't come with either of them. :shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ryan82
I think a lot of these instructions are designed to have you use and care for the brush in such a way that you will never have to bother them with problems.
To tell you the truth I never clean my brushes. I make sure I rinse them thoroughly after each use and after years of use they are all just as good as the day I got them.
At the beginning I used to wash them 1x a year and yes they seem better after a washing but that's only until the first use. So these days I don't bother anymore. You can tell your brushes are clean when they have no sent from soap.
I guess it was my consolation prize for having to wait 2 more weeks than the rest of you to receive my brush ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by TonyN
I use Borax mainly because it's an insecticide and a disinfectant. Guess that they feel that their cleaning process is adequate.
What I find interesting is their comment 'not' to face lather!
Why would you need an insecticide?
Just paranoia, may be. but there's enough articles out there, ie.:
How to Sterilize a Shaving Brush
By Constance Barker, eHow Contributor
Shaving brushes offer the age-old technique of applying shaving cream lather to the face with a more beneficial experience than using your fingers. The shaving brush not only exfoliates before the razor meets the skin, it also lifts whiskers for a closer shave. Shaving brushes require sterilizing to remove harmful bacteria. Clean and disinfect a shaving brush regularly for a germ-free shaving routine.
That I don't think it's a bad idea.
All this germophobia is getting rediculas IMO,lord, your razors and brushes are normally not communaly used items so stop worrying about it.
Soap kills most harmfull bacteria,try to culture most common bacteria on a cake of cella,cannot be done.
Shaving soaps are soap,they kill bacteria,would you wash your hair with dish soap or borax (I think not)
Borax is used to strip excess,dried shaving soap gunk from the base of a brush.if you have an issue with that your not rinsing and drying the brush properly,plain and simple.
If you get a used razor,wash it off with hot water and plain old soap (antibacterial soaps are bad) your good to go.
With proper hygine you don't need to worry about all this stuff,sure, if your going to trade spit or other bodily fluids with a partner of your choice,you can get some evil crap but not from you razor or brush.
Yea, you guys better take care here.
It's those germs and virus'. Those minature monsters. They are out there all around us, we live in a sea of them. They get inside your body and you don't know it and they just enjoy the ride and the easy life and then when you least expect it they pounce and grow and eat you up from inside like a spider sucks out the insides of it's prey. Then when your insides turn to goo that's it your dead and we get to buy all your shaving stuff on the web.
And those brushes are the worst. They're full of those little monsters. Personally before using one I'd put it in an autoclave for the full treatment. Even better I'd sell all those brushes and use my fingers to apply lather but you gotta keep dipping your hand in beta-iodine every few seconds and then when you finish shaving and get into your clean suit for protection you're ready to start the day.
I wonder if they will really do their part ,as stated in the note, if you have an issue with one of their brushes? After reading the Bullgoose thread in the other forum, I don't trust their word on fixing issues with a shaving brush. Just a thought...
Just goes to show you. I had heard that Bullgoose was upset because he didn't get any Thater Two Band Brushes to sell and that was the cause of his splitting off from Thater. As for the other forum, we are used to the hatred and negative agenda and bashing being directed against innocent vendors and individuals which has been going on since they started in my opinion. So please leave your mistrust where you found it. We take a higher road here and do not trash any individual or vendor. Our main goal is to provide a great place for our members to hang out and share information and to help people become successful at wetshaving without all the drama.
Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cessnabird
I have always figured it was hair. Hair can get build up from shampoo etc. So I have always used a good clarifying shampoo. Might seem silly but it has always worked for me and even my oldest brush which is many many years old still looks great. Just a side note on Thater. They have always delivered excellent service and have taken care of even the smallest of isssues quickly and properly.
With all due respect .... You think but you don't know for sure, nor do 'we' know. Only the complainant and Heinrich Thater Co really know what happened in this specific case. That is why we don't allow customer/vendor issues to be discussed on SRP. There are two sides to the story and we don't know which is accurate so we prefer, as Lynn said, to keep to the high road , and leave the parties to settle their differences in private.Quote:
Originally Posted by altshaver
Any further off topic posts on vendor or manufacturer's service, or the lack of it will be deleted.
Posts on the topic of taking care of your shaving brush are welcome.
A very high proportion of shaving enthusiasts like to face lather. It therefore seems odd for Thater to discourage it. I have a short lofted Thater brush ideal for face lathering and that's how I will continue to use it.
It's funny that they claim traditional lathering was done in a bowl, as I've seen evidence that would suggest the contrary. At best, I'd say it went both ways, if not leaning toward more face lathering. The idea that face-lathering would wear out a brush more quickly might have some merit, but I can't imagine it would make that much of a difference. All these instructions seem excessive. I suppose that, as a company, that is how they intend for you to use their brushes so they can give a warranty based in usage.
i have never cleaned my brushes, I have used pumping motions sometimes, never seemed to have a problem lol, then again i'm sure mine might wear out sooner than others that follow these guidelines
IMHO the whole thing is a CYA attempt on their part. Check out the instructions for Kent shaving brushes. They say you should never twirl the brush in a circular motion. Neither on the face or on the puck. Rather use a painting motion or you'll risk breaking the bristles. I think they are just trying to set parameters that will avoid their having to give warranty replacements. I may be wrong though, I was wrong once before.
Thäter use my brush to the face .. the disinfect with borax and is like the first day :bow
Nothing lasts forever, I'm glad Thater put out these guidelines, different than other suggestions, to be taken in perspective, without them some brush owners might be disappointed sooner rather than later.
