Anything that can go wrong will happen while I'm shaving...

I will NOT look at knots and handles. Nope, not even a peek.



Well, maybe just a glbce. Just to see new things.

Oh, I'm on a slippery slope now!

I just picked up, a few minutes ago, an AP Pure Bliss as well as a TNS Quartermoon from a really nice member. One of the two will fix the issue. If I turn out to love both, I'll probably swap both PAA knots I got. The other is slightly less scritchy, but still not in my wheelhouse.

It just bothers me that i tried this knot in the past and it wasn't like this. Ooh well, I guess things change.

Ok... Moved this conversation to my personal thread. It already took up too much of the brush of the day thread, and that wasn't my purpose.

So I had a chance to shave with the other PAA knot this afternoon (Stygian). I was wrong... This one is rather good and smooth. So, it's just the Roswell Grey that misses the mark (as it has broom hairs, not brush hairs. Lol.). This is good news for me, as (1) my purchase wasn't a total waste and (2) I now have two knots coming in to fill one brush. More of a chance one of them will work.

Fwiw, I paid $17.28 shipped for the cheap-o DSC brush and another ~$9 for the PAA knot replacement. So, under $30 and I have a brush that's outstanding (and surprisingly enough, looks as good as some $60+ handles on Etsy). I don't know if the picture does it justice, but it's about 50-50 swirl of light and deep blues with highlights of light purple popping in at random spots. Being thrifty paid off this time.

As for the shave, what can I say: Stirling performs. Good for the face, good for the wallet (but not so good for the Sheep that gave his all for it, lol). Another great shave with the Overlander / Dorco / Stirling 1-2 combo. Have a good one folks!

That is purty

Sent from my SM-A536U using Tapatalk

Thanks, I definitely concur.

I will NOT look at knots and handles. Nope, not even a peek.



Well, maybe just a glbce. Just to see new things.

Oh, I'm on a slippery slope now!

Lol. A bit of caution Eric: Don't jump in like I did without thinking long and hard. The DS cosmetic brushes have quality control issues, hands down. The previous one I got did not look so nice.

Additionally, 26mm means a 26mm hole. So, you're knot is sizably less. I had to manually expand the size of the hole, with a hand drill, to get this new PAA knot in. It absolutely wasn't fun, lol.

Still, I lucked out and it worked out.

I've had a brush in my cabinet for some time, but I didn't use because I didn't like the knot.  Much too large and floppy for me.  However, I like the handle, so I had the knot replaced with a boar knot:  24 mm with a 50 mm loft.  I've now used it for two shaves in a row and find it doesn't lather worth a darn.  This is the first time I've had a problem with a brush producing a good lather.  My assortment of brushes includes boar, badger and synthetic and all, when I use a quality soap, have produced a good lather from the start.  

I've read some posts that suggest a new boar knot needs a break in period.  My other two boar brushes didn't, but maybe this one is different.  It bums me because I love the look and feel of my new boar brush, but the performance (so far) stinks.

I've had a brush in my cabinet for some time, but I didn't use because I didn't like the knot.  Much too large and floppy for me.  However, I like the handle, so I had the knot replaced with a boar knot:  24 mm with a 50 mm loft.  I've now used it for two shaves in a row and find it doesn't lather worth a darn.  This is the first time I've had a problem with a brush producing a good lather.  My assortment of brushes includes boar, badger and synthetic and all, when I use a quality soap, have produced a good lather from the start.  

I've read some posts that suggest a new boar knot needs a break in period.  My other two boar brushes didn't, but maybe this one is different.  It bums me because I love the look and feel of my new boar brush, but the performance (so far) stinks.

Hi Oregon! 

I am chiming in with my 2 centidollars. About a year ago, my small herd of boars started the dissipating lather thing, whereas back during the 2021 DecemBoar, none of my (larger group) of boars had any issues. I knew I didn't have soft water (I have a well), and so I use 1/8 tsp of food grade citric acid to a basin of water, mainly to prevent soap scum in the basin. But a year ago, I could not get any boar to make it to the second pass without having to reload the brush. I cleaned my brushes, using the Zingari Man brush cleaner most recently, and the PAA brush cleaner early in 2023 (side note: I like the Zingari Man for ease of use, as it comes in a tub like a soap). Cleaning helped for a single shave. 

What I did next was go the distilled water route for just the brush (that is, I pour some into a mug and wet or soak the brush there, and at clean up, use this water as a final rinse for the brush. The basin is still tap water with CA added). 

And I found that even though I have been a face latherer for some years, my boars made a better and longer lasting lather if I bowl lathered. 

I hope some of this can help. Like you, all of my boars seemed pretty good right out of the box (Semogues in all cases). I received a Maggard knot from Paul (mrdoug), but he'd already broken it in. Breaking in a boar can take time, as you no doubt have read. If I recall, the consensus is about 30+ consecutive shaves. And I have had the misfortune of buying an extremely low-grade boar brush that never got any better than to be used as a hand brush for dusting! Hopefully you don't have that one, which I doubt, as they seem to be found mostly in drug store no-name brushes, and not sold as just a knot.

Tell us more about the knot itself and maybe others can also join in with tips and tricks.

Thanks for the insight, Maine Yooper.  I use a bowl to lather and, like I said, haven't had this problem with my other two boar brushes.  Both of my other two boar brushes, which produced lather fine from the start, were purchased from TGN, and both are smaller knots (20mm and 22mm).  My new rebel knot, 24 mm, is a replacement knot purchased and set by Larry at Whipped Dog.  Incidentally, Larry is great to work with and I highly recommend him if you need a new brush or some brush work.  

I've used it twice and lather production both times was poor.  Today I'm letting the knot soak for a few hours, drying it across a towel, letting it dry on my brush stand, repeat.  I'm hoping this will accelerate split end production.  I've seen posts suggesting letting it soak for up to three days, and letting it soak in the refrigerator.  All a mystery to me.  The one thing my review of posts indicates to me is that with time, I will see improvement.  Some say 8 or 10 uses, others land on 25 or 30 uses.  I guess I'll see what happens.

Thanks for the insight, Maine Yooper.  I use a bowl to lather and, like I said, haven't had this problem with my other two boar brushes.  Both of my other two boar brushes, which produced lather fine from the start, were purchased from TGN, and both are smaller knots (20mm and 22mm).  My new rebel knot, 24 mm, is a replacement knot purchased and set by Larry at Whipped Dog.  Incidentally, Larry is great to work with and I highly recommend him if you need a new brush or some brush work.  

I've used it twice and lather production both times was poor.  Today I'm letting the knot soak for a few hours, drying it across a towel, letting it dry on my brush stand, repeat.  I'm hoping this will accelerate split end production.  I've seen posts suggesting letting it soak for up to three days, and letting it soak in the refrigerator.  All a mystery to me.  The one thing my review of posts indicates to me is that with time, I will see improvement.  Some say 8 or 10 uses, others land on 25 or 30 uses.  I guess I'll see what happens.

My 24 mm boar has turned out to be my best lather brush.  I bowl lather and it gets me to lather faster than my badger brushes.  It is soft and has just the right amount of backbone for my taste.  Go figure.  I still rotate my badger brushes, but find myself always comparing them to my boar.

I've had a brush in my cabinet for some time, but I didn't use because I didn't like the knot.  Much too large and floppy for me.  However, I like the handle, so I had the knot replaced with a boar knot:  24 mm with a 50 mm loft.  I've now used it for two shaves in a row and find it doesn't lather worth a darn.  This is the first time I've had a problem with a brush producing a good lather.  My assortment of brushes includes boar, badger and synthetic and all, when I use a quality soap, have produced a good lather from the start.  

I've read some posts that suggest a new boar knot needs a break in period.  My other two boar brushes didn't, but maybe this one is different.  It bums me because I love the look and feel of my new boar brush, but the performance (so far) stinks.

I am not aware of any boar, out of the box that doesn't have problems-retaining lather being prime among them. Some break in faster (Semoque) than others (Omega) but they all need to break in before they will release lather, get soft tips, etc. Did you start off by shampooing the knot? This should be done with all new brushes. Boars break in due to the wet/dry cycle. So even just soaking it (after the initial cleaning) and letting it dry out half a dozen times will get the brush started. Or, just be like the rest of us and use it and suffer through the first dozen shaves.

Stopping by to say Hello ("hello!") and drop a funny photo for you. I know you are a bit younger than me, but still you grew up with reruns, so I hope you like this!



In the shaving world, I have been really enjoying some stuff you sold me and some you've been generous with by sending my way. Mainly, brushes and knots! The Pure Bliss knot in that Sawdust Creations Cosmic handle is such a joy to use. And this morning was like Christmas! I have been dabbling in other PAA knots and brushes and was thinking of getting something with the Roswell Grey, when a memory slowly came to the front of my mind and I realized you'd sent one, and I totally forgot that I'd set it in the Trotter Messier handle! Earlier this week, I revisited the Green Ray Tribble brush (Sylvester's fave!) and had a super shave. 

Anyhow, hope you are doing well and have a great weekend!

P.S. - this post also serves to bump you Journal to the top until Dave in KY posts his next shave 

I may start posting in his AFTER mine to keep his up there Hoping Paul's okay !

Lol, thanks guys. I'm doing well. Just doing the same old same old, nothing new really to post yet. I also started a new job three months ago... That has been all consuming of my time. Still, I do manage the shaves.

Actually, something new is coming up... I just picked up a singular sample of a scented soap. I do miss them so, and I figured it's about time I jump back in. I grabbed a scent from Stirling, since I had an order to put in anyways. If it goes well, I may be picking up more samples from them... But we'll have to see. I definitely need to start trying things before I buy full-on tubs though.

Hope you two are doing well. Thank you for keeping the journal afloat. Lol. I'll really try to pop in a bit more often. Have a great rest of your Saturday!