Semogue Owners Club Brush

[Cicerosecundus]

I have used a SOC brush for three weeks non-stop and it has just barely started the break in. The bristles are somewhat thicker and more rigid than those that are in my 2000 Brush, which broke in much easier. Any of you out there have a SOC brush that you consider broken in? How long did it take? Cicerosecundus

[evahs]

I'm having the same issue, ~2-3 weeks of straight use and the tips are just beginning to split. . .

[Cicerosecundus]

The above reply means that it my hard and long break in is not specific to my brush.

I have a second issue: the bristles on my SOC are twisty and not naturally or unnaturally (as the case may be) straight, as are the bristles in my 2000. I read a post in another forum from someone from the factory who said that the factory used for the SOC bristles a new process for preparing bristles. When I and others received the SOC brush, we all commented that there was no pig or animal smell. Mine was lightly perfumed. When I got the 2000 it smelled like a dead pig for a week or so of shaves, but by the number of shaves which which I have used the SOC brush, the 2000 was beautifully broken in and had lost its wild animal BO. As the SOC brush stands after three weeks of continuous use, the 2000 is comparison superior in all parameters.

I wonder whether the new factory treatment of the bristles is causing the hard break in and, in my case, twisty and less than straight bristles?

Question, those of you who received the 2009 special brush, which the SOC brush is supposed to be similar to, did you have an extraordinary break in?

Cicerosecundus

[stagger]

My 1305 works plenty well enough so I don't need another brush. I suppose if this were a hobby for me I would probably get an Owners Club brush but that's not how I roll.

[Cicerosecundus]

I have used the SOB for a month and the at this point, few of the tips have split and its bristles are quite firm. It whips up a good soap lather, but has less capacity to hold lather than the 2000. At this point, I would recommend the 2000. It had a far easier break in, holds more lather, and has to my tastes a better feel as its bristles are a bit less stiff. In many ways the 2000 has a collection of characteristics that I find just right.

[jww]

Come Monday morning's post, I too will be a member of this organization. The 1305 was too tempting to pass up when I was ordering "stuff" the other day.

[gil3591]

wendell, you're gonna love it. i pre-soak the brush upside down in my scuttle. i fill the scuttle with water only to the height of the bristles. that way the painted handle never gets wet. my 1305 started splitting its ends after the first use. i would say it broke in after 5 uses. the face feel is perfect. enjoy

[Flash G]

I've used my SOC for at least 4 weeks and the tips have started to split. The bristel bends, but I would't say it curls, as did the bristel on my Vulfix 'the Strand'. I don't feel the lather holdig capacity has increased since I started using it, but I'll see if that changes when more of the tips split. I've always understood that it takes at least four weeks before the tips start splitting, so I haven't expected much while using it up til now. I really like the brush, especially the handle. I find it very comfortable now, even though I had reservations about it when first starting using it.

[jww]

Gave my brand new Semogue 1305 its first test drive today. While it needs to be broken in, it was a fun difference from my EJ Super Badger. Firmer, but holds less water -- as a result, holding less lather. I liked the feel though -- as I said, different from badger, not worse, just different. I can see over time this will be a good alternate experience brush. It's awful purdy too.

[gil3591]

wendell, i think that when the smogue breaks in you'll love what it does to mwf for me, it works wonders on tabac

[m3m0ryleak]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

[CMur12]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

I've had no problem with mine, but then I don't soak the handle and I don't throw mine across the bathroom like Tony does!

- Murray

[gil3591]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

I've had no problem with mine, but then I don't soak the handle and I don't throw mine across the bathroom like Tony does!

- Murray

yes, tony needs to carpet his bathroom with 3" foam

[jww]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

I've had no problem with mine, but then I don't soak the handle and I don't throw mine across the bathroom like Tony does!

- Murray

yes, tony needs to carpet his bathroom with 3" foam

Doesn't the levitation from the MWF porcelain dish prevent interaction with the floor and your treasured shaving goods??????

[Blue As A Jewel]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

I've had no problem with mine, but then I don't soak the handle and I don't throw mine across the bathroom like Tony does!

- Murray

... I've not had issues with mine either!

[Cicerosecundus]

After a full month of use, the ends of the SOCB still had not spit, so I left it with the bristles immersed in clean water for two full days and nights. But, despite all of my efforts, very few of the bristles have split to this day. However, the Semogue 2000 boar brush was completely broken in and a very fine, even superior, lather machine with two weeks steady use. Indeed it is a far better brush for soap lather than my SOC Brush is.

Why? I postulate that the SOC Brush must use a different bristle and has a different preparation/treatment that one of the employees or owners of Semogue wrote of in the Semogue Owners Forum. I would bet it is a chemical treatment.

Do I stand alone in the above observations? Are there others who despite extensive use have not been able to fully break in with observably split ends this SOC Brush? I am about to give up on it and set it aside as a travel brush.

Cicerosecundus

[TRBeck]

I haven't used the SOC brush, but the LE brush upon which it was based never broke in for me properly. I, too, much prefer the inexpensive and functional 2000.

Regards,

[gil3591]

there must be a difference. my 1305 started splitting its ends after the first use. could this be a "shaving brush reformulation"? maybe all the smogues will have this problem in the future

[Cicerosecundus]

TBoner, thank you for your reply. That convinces me that the type of bristles or bristle treatment that Semogue is giving to its highest end brush is not going to work for me. I give up. The 2000 is a MUCH better brush. I am not convinced that I should use it even as a travel brush. Cicerosecundus

[m3m0ryleak]

Wendell, while it's pretty, the 1305 paint job is rather fragile.

I've had no problem with mine, but then I don't soak the handle and I don't throw mine across the bathroom like Tony does!

- Murray

yes, tony needs to carpet his bathroom with 3" foam

<Sigh>, Apparently, I will never,ever, be able to live that down.
Nor will the good fellows here let me forget it either.