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

I have had a great and wonderful experience with a 25mm TGN Sivertip Premium badger snice 2018 in a Wolf Whiskers brush I bought at the Maggard's Meet up in that year.  Soft on the face, not too dense as to be a lather hog, and has never lost a hair. I have had no experience with Shaveforce knots.  Just my 2 cents.

Thank you. Appreciate the input.

My guess is they are the same knot, but since you and Eric both have good experiences with TGN, maybe I'll give that one a try.

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So I gave the Zenith 26mm boar brush another try today. I feel like it might be a bit better, but it's still not to my liking for usability. Plenty of split hairs, but also plenty of solid, stiff hairs.

I believe I mentioned to Eric, not too long ago, that I thought it would be broken in by the beginning of March. I still have hope for that. Must continue the daily soaks and palm lathering. Man, breaking in a boar is quite the task... especially if you abhor pokey, scritchy brushes. Lol.

Well, here's to a productive February!

Edit: I also mentioned somewhere around here (Eric's thread?) that I was finishing off the Macduffs. Just measured it this evening... I'm down to 1.4oz left of 4.25 (120g). That is surprising for two reasons ... (1) I started it around 12/10, with a week excursion for another soap, and I shave every other day. So, it's like almost a months of use and it's around 2/3 way gone. Seems fast. Guess tub loading creams (or nearly creams) is a bad idea. Ooh and (2) I always thought this was 4.5oz. Nope, Google says 120g is just short of 4.25. Wow.


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It's been a while, so I thought I'd post some thoughts that have been bouncing around here for the past week or so...

The weather is getting sizeably colder (and dryer) here. I think that may be why I'm having some poor shaves again. Last year (?) I chatted with Mike about pre shave / skincare routines. I think I need to return to that hunt. I did try a lotion or two, but wasn't a fan of what I'd found (CeraVe maybe?). After reading some of the writing out there on these interwebs, I may give a beard wash or beard moisturizer a try. The thinking goes... it'll soften the hairs and add some nutrients to the skin. I'm a cheap bastard, so I have to find the right balance of price and performance. Currently I'm considering 'Cremo Beard wash and softener' or 'Woody's beard conditioner'. Fwiw, I have a moustache / Goatee... so I won't look completely insane with a beard wash. Haha.

I'm still working on breaking in the zenith 26mm knot. It's been ~5 weeks and I haven't been the most diligent... so I've probably only done 20-25 break-in lathers (this is a wild guess, as I didn't keep a record). Nonetheless, it's coming along well with (I don't know, my vision sucks) maybe 75%+ of the hairs split and quite a permanent fanning going on (aka, even dry it looks like Sideshow Bob). I believe I said it'll likely be baby soft and ready for use at the end of Feb. I'm still shooting for that goal-line.

I've been toying with the idea of trying a scented soap again... just one, which I had great luck with... specifically Soap Commander Vision. It was a mild, refreshing mint soap and I think mint / menthol calms the follicles, which might be a good thing. It's also Lanolin free. I'm still not sold that I want Lanolin in my soaps (though I've had good luck with Stirling Sheep, albeit not consistent recently). I'm still on the fence though. More consideration is needed before I go shopping.

Finally, as I am still staring down two wooden handles I got to thinking how can I possibly maintain them? This led me to looking around and finding wax wood polish. Has anyone tried one of these on a brush handle? Seems like it might be good for an occasional added (short term) layer with some wood benefitting properties.

That's all folks (and quite enough). Sheesh, I rambled on.

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I have a Zenith 26mm boar and I concur that it’s a tough break in. The challenge is that if you’re only using it once or twice a week it can take months to get enough uses in to make a noticeable difference to the knot. I tend to not use things I don’t like so…  

I’m currently breaking in a couple of Semogue boar brushes I got from AP Shave and that’s going ok but I have been asking myself why. I have several beautifully broken in boars already. Why am I breaking in new ones??  Knucklehead I guess. 

I know I’ve mentioned this before but as I get older repeating myself comes easier and more frequently! I use my ceramic captains choice lather bowl for brush break in rather than my usual cooper bowl because the ceramic has more prominent ridges that I believe accelerates the process. I have dirty bird and a Sarah Bonnyman scuttles too that are even more abrasive but I haven’t used them for a while. Maybe they’re too abrasive. I won’t use them with my better badger brushes. 

Sorry for the long winded post. Good luck with your brushes

Sounds like some good plans, Paul! That Zenith boar sounds like it will be a winner.

I know at one time Paul T recommended this super glue stuff to seal the wood. Applying it can be tricky as it gets tacky and you have to worry about keeping it smooth (for looks). But I am not a woodworker, so I am with Schultz and now nothing!

Good luck with the scented soap hunt! Personally, I find menthol irritating to my face. I had a balm that had it and I must have washed/rinsed my face a half dozen times or more trying to get off any that I could! But I agree, if you have had a scent in the past that didn't cause a problem, I agree with you about starting there.

Thanks guys.

Yeah, I'm really just considering the scent as it is mint - a mild one (not like adding menthol to the lather)... it should be good for soothing.

I don't have the irritation to menthol, but maybe it adds to the redness... I can't tell as I get red bumps every shave (and they last for weeks).

I'm going to have to experiment to see what works with moisturizing... it's just so dry.

Regarding breaking in boars, I've just been lathering, drying, and repeating as often as I remember. On occasion I'll use brush cleaner just to keep any build-up away, so it can split with ease. Once or twice i've used burlap to agitate the damp brush, to try to egg on the splitting. It's still slow going, but maybe these tricks have helped... maybe not.

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Thanks guys.

Yeah, I'm really just considering the scent as it is mint - a mild one (not like adding menthol to the lather)... it should be good for FREEZING.

Fixed the earlier post in my reply. Lol.

I used the Soap Commander Vision this afternoon... it was frigid. It was a good shave, though, and definitely lighter than splashing on a menthol balm or such. A quick rinse and it's on its way back to warmth. I'm going to use it for the next shave or three and see how it fares.

I also wonder if SC itself didn't play a role. It is some of the most basic soaps... I believe they started the business for their kid and his allergies? I haven't tried many of their soaps, so I can't attest to whether their unscented would benefit me too. But I'm going to play around in the mint field for a little bit.

Happy Sunday folks!

Shave #2 with the Soap Commander Vision (well, one and a half). I also used one of my few remaining Personna Platinum. As the above references, I switched the soap mid-shave, as I wasn't enjoying it. I would have been able to finish just fine, but I could feel the lack of protection... The basic nature, I guess.

This is good, it proves that I'm happier with the Aspen Parkland. Thus, I now know my next soap purchase will just be a whole lot more of Macduff's. Keeping it simple.

I'll probably use this either as an occasional additive or a bar soap ... something to keep it from being wasted.

Boy I do like the feel of the Platinums over the CCP (one more 'C' and I'd need to preface that with 'Comrade' ). I'm going to use it Thursday again, to see longevity. Maybe Saturday too? We'll see. As it is now, the CCP only works for 1 good shave and one mediocre. So I toss it after the first.

The Personna PtCr is my favorite! I have many "editions" and can't tell them apart, whether rebranded Rite Aid, or from the Israeli or German plant, or 5 or 10 blade packs. I went wild a year or two ago and bought enough to last me to the formation of the United Federation of Planets! 

The Personna PtCr is my favorite! I have many "editions" and can't tell them apart, whether rebranded Rite Aid, or from the Israeli or German plant, or 5 or 10 blade packs. I went wild a year or two ago and bought enough to last me to the formation of the United Federation of Planets! 

Lol. Well, at least you'll have a comfortable, clean shave for the First Contact.

I'm guessing Pt is Platinum, what's Cr stand for?