Semogue 610...I'm struggling

With a stiff boar brush I'll palm lather with it each day for a while until it starts to soften. Make sure you soak it. For a stiff/new brush, soak it 15-30 minutes before using. Sometimes if I haven't used a particular boar in a while, I'll wet it the night before so that it is still damp in the morning. This trick allows me to only soak a brush for 5 minutes before using. I don't have a 610 (I like bigger brushes), but the feeling of a well broken in boar is wonderful. The Zeniths do have a smell (not as strong as other brands), so I recommend people to soak it for 30 minutes and then shampoo, rinse, shampoo, rinse, etc until the smell is tolerable. I usually do 3-5 times with the Zeniths. With some other brands it took me significantly longer.

Do not give up on it. I bought four Semogues at the same time and although they all took some time to break in, the 610 was the quickest. I did exactly what has already been suggested and made practice lathers with a crummy soap every day for about a month. After about 30 lathers, the 610 was ready for shaving with. Now with about 50 lathers on it, it is in a neck and neck race with my 620 to be my favorite brush.

You are letting it soak, right?

My very first brush purchased for $11 at a supermarket about 4 years ago was an Omega Boer.
I thought a porcupine was running around my face.
I was about to quit wet shaving before I had started. Then I decided I was not going to let a mere pig get the best of me.
I stuck with it for a very long month during which I haunted the internet for anything and everything about wet shaving.
Mantic59 and Geofatboy taught me a great deal as did other wise men.
I bought a medium priced badger and was hooked on wet shaving.
Since then I have purchased 12 brushes, each one an improvement over the previous ones. I was also given 4 freebees. All of them porcine pricklers.
Well, except for the floppy, horsehair. It still smells like an ill maintained stable.
Finally - yes, finally, I am completely content with a brush, a Stirling Synthetic. The search is over. I now have the perfect brush for me.

That's why I probably won't ever try a boar brush. I can't imagine that long of a break in but I hear it's worth the wait from those who like them. Good luck with the brush, I'm sure it will work great in a few weeks.

My Omega Pro 10049 was pretty much "good to go" right out of the package. I practiced lathered, but that was it. That is part of why I am so impressed and surprised, it is really turning out to be a daily brush for me.
Eric

I was gifted a 610 too,been soaking and palm lathering at least once per day.My Semogue 1305 took a little time to break in but once it did it has become a solid performer!!!!Tried a different method when I palm lathered today with the 610,Usually I start with a damp brush,but this time I started with a SOAKED brush(I heard it called the Marco method on BB)Soaked brush for 15 minutes and just let the water drain by gravity,no squeezing or shaking.Loaded for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes with very little pressure on the puck(Stirling SDM)Went to my palm and started lathering a sloppy wet mess and next thing I knew I had whipped up a mound of nice slick shiny lather.IMHO during the break in time the 610 just needed more water than I am normally accustomed to.I guess I will see if that holds true once the brush is fully broken in.Good luck!!!

Come back and tell us how it's performing after 30 shaves.

I quite like all of my boar brushes, Razorock, Omega and Semogue. They do take some break in and a good pre-shave soak. I even like the $13 drugstore omega that has no model number. I really like the big floppy razorock boar I picked up for $10 a while ago. Great brushes, great value. Stick to it and you won't regret it.
Mark

I was gifted a 610 too,been soaking and palm lathering at least once per day.My Semogue 1305 took a little time to break in but once it did it has become a solid performer!!!!Tried a different method when I palm lathered today with the 610,Usually I start with a damp brush,but this time I started with a SOAKED brush(I heard it called the Marco method on BB)Soaked brush for 15 minutes and just let the water drain by gravity,no squeezing or shaking.Loaded for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes with very little pressure on the puck(Stirling SDM)Went to my palm and started lathering a sloppy wet mess and next thing I knew I had whipped up a mound of nice slick shiny lather.IMHO during the break in time the 610 just needed more water than I am normally accustomed to.I guess I will see if that holds true once the brush is fully broken in.Good luck!!!

You are the second person to recommend using a soaking wet brush to start. I have been ringing the brush out after soaking, trying to get as much water out as possible. I guess after using the synthetics for a while, I was using a technique that would not allow this brush to work. I will not squeeze my brush in the morning and see if that has been my problem from the beginning.
Thanks for the tip.

Brent

You are letting it soak, right?

Yes, sir. If I were not, that certainly would have been my problem. I appreciate the way you think!