Thread: Ernest's Lather Pump

I have been using a new (to me at least) method of raising a lather, and soaking a brush.

I lather up in the shower to hydrate whiskers before shaving. To soak the brush i use a small plastic container which i fill from the shower head. One day i began to pump the brush into the container, which seemed an effective way of soaking it quickly. from there the germ of an idea sprang. The tub was about the same diameter as my soaked knot. As i pumped it it was clear the brush was forming something of a seal, the pressure driving the water into the knot.

So i flicked out the water from the brush and lathered up my brush as normal from my soap. A few swirls and the brush as loaded with sufficient soap. I then added a splash of water to my plastic tub (or pump) and began to once more pump the brush into the tub. A fabulous lather resulted, like those pics one sees of DE users lording it over us straighties with their lathering prowess!

I have since tried it with pro raso and arko creams as well as my trumper's soap. It is working very well.

So I wonder if anyone else has tried something similar?

To try this, simply take a small plastic tub. Mine is a little less tall than my brush so that my fingers do not bash the top as i pump. The tub should have a diameter about the same as your bloomed brush. Experimentation with wider and narrower tubs would be interesting. This might work especially well with longer handled brushes.

Ernest, can you supply a photo of your lather pump setup? I'm intrigued... although all I got is boar bristle brushes, they don't bloom all that much, not like those stinkin' badgers!

Yeh, I'm quite interested in this actually. My lathers have left a bit to be desired recently, and I know it's my technique. I'm open to trying different things though!

Ok, i could take a picture, but it just a little tub. The important things seems to be that the diameter of the tub is slightly less than the diameter of your bloomed brush. It's height is as tall as your brush handle will allow. You want to be able to mash the bristles onto the bottom without catching your fingers on the top. This means that air, water and soap are driven into the bristles as the brush is pushed into the tub. This creates good lather. You can then move onto a scuttle or lather up on your face.

I'm just using a vitamin tub that i cut the top off.

Yeh, I think I know what you mean, but pictures would really help solidify it in my mind.

Let me see if I've got this right. You use a tub about 2-2.5" (between 50 and 70 mm) in diameter, so that the bristles stay in contact with the sides of the tub. Then you add a little water, apply soap to your brush and "pump" it in a up/down motion so that the bristles are moving up/down the sides of the tub. Is that right?

The bristles must not only stay in contact with the sides, they must be slightly compressed and bent as they go down in order to form a seal. Hence the tub must be approx 5-10mm smaller in diameter than your brush head. If the brush can fall into the tub when set on top then it will not 'pump' in the same way, and it is just a mini scuttle or a mug.

When i find where my gf has hidden her camera i'll get pics up.

Ernestrome,

Have you tried Sav's barbers for a shave yet?

I'm in Bristol next month and am considering going for a shave.

No, i have not. My local barber is Aldo, in clifton village, he has never shaved me, but he showed me how to do it for myself.

Here are some pics. The tub is not very salubrious, the brush deserves better.

I am also thinking of trying a smaller diameter tub as the soaked brush head holds a tighter shape than when dry.