The Obie Memorial First Tier Soaps and Creams Thread.

[BobH]

The whole thing.....I just put it in my big scuttle. Do the instructions say only to gently lay the brush 1/2 way in water ?

No idea what the instructions say. My guess is that if the whole thing is in warm water then the water will get all the way to the glue which is below the top of the handle. Over time that may cause swelling, as Phrank was saying, and if the hole in the handle was also a little bit of a snug fit those two things might cause the handle to crack. I guess if the brush is a daily user that may also not allow it to dry completely between uses and so adding to the risk of swelling the knot.

I have seen brushes with vertical cracks from what I had assumed was the knot swelling. I have not seen one with cracks radiating out from the base of the crack. That is the only thing I can thick of that may cause cracking in a shave brush handle besides dropping it. Sorry to see that happen to a nice brush.

Bob

[nessmuck]

I shave every other day....if not every 3 days

[BobH]

I shave every other day....if not every 3 days

Sorry, that is the only thing I can think of.

Bob

[Phrank]

I shave every other day....if not every 3 days

The other thing I read somewhere, and I always do, is when drying the brush after shaving.

Many will just hold the brush by the handle and with several hard motions, "flick" the brush and shake the brush dry....this can loosen the knot.

I read to "pinch" the knot with your thumb and index finger, so you're holding the knot, and then flick and shake the brush dry, as this will protect the seal between the knot and the handle.

If the knot starts to come loose from the base, more and more moisture will accumulate there, which could cause the swelling and breakage.

In the end, who knows, perhaps just a faulty handle.....

[nessmuck]

I do flick the water out...but not excessively....after flicking ...I put the knot into a towel a gently squeeze....And the knot is snug..no play.

[Obie]

Gentlemen,

Two reasons come to mind: 1) Water was probably trapped in the neck if the brushed was soaking above the knot, and 2) the brush handled probably had a weak spot in that area. That's heartbreaking, since the Polo 8 is such a sweet brush.

[nessmuck]

...here's how it soaks...hard to see the water line

[Obie]

Well, with that minimal soaking I don't see a problem developing. I would assume, then, that there has to be a weak spot in the handle in that specific spot. I can't think of anything else.

[Phrank]

Well, with that minimal soaking I don't see a problem developing. I would assume, then, that there has to be a weak spot in the handle in that specific spot. I can't think of anything else.

Agreed, weak spot in the handle....back to soaps and creams!!

Just tried the Wholly Kaw Oud, and it is very nice, the soap is superb with the Donkey Milk, very nice on the face and the lather is wonderful, and the scent is very subtle. If I wasn't told that the Wholly Kaw was an Oud soap, I'd be hard pressed to place it as one, as it is so, so subtle...is it just me? Would be hard pressed to say it's an Oud.

On the other hand I can't believe that the more I'm using the AOS Oud, the more I'm liking it!!!

[Obie]

A few days ago I ordered Wholly Kow's Jamestown Gentleman Premium. I am looking forward to trying it out.