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beginish’s Eye on a Splintered Mind

beginish said:
I did a bowl lather of the SCS this morning to see if that worked better......and it didn’t. I just don’t get billowy lather from SCS. Performance is fine and it’s super slick, but it lacks a bit in cushion.
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At least it’s shavable and therefore not money wasted. As I understand it, some folks with billowy lather are prone to adding in extra ingredients for said lather. Neither here nor there but whatever floats the boat I guess? 🤷‍♂️
 
GearNoir said:
At least it’s shavable and therefore not money wasted. As I understand it, some folks with billowy lather are prone to adding in extra ingredients for said lather. Neither here nor there but whatever floats the boat I guess? 🤷‍♂️
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Exactly. I’ve never been one to get wrapped around the axle about ingredients. If it works, great. Heck, the SCS has three flavors of parabens in it.....and I don’t care.
 
It's hard to believe, but another month is down. I swear, for all that time seems to be standing still, it's moving pretty darned fast.

I almost forgot that today is February 1, but remembered in time to do my monthly blade replacement. A new Chinese Schick blade is in the adjustable injector and made short work with my 3 days worth of growth. My tin of SCS Sandalwood soap is just about done as well, as the remnants have retreated to the sides, nooks and crevices of the tin. By this time next week, I expect to be working on my new jar of TOBS Royal Forest cream. I continued with the Simpson Berkeley, which have me a very fine face lather once again. I bravely completed the shave with Floïd Blue with snow, sleet and freezing rain howling outside in the midst of this Mid-Atlantic Nor'easter, but since I ain't sticking my head outside the door until the snow is done sometime *tomorrow*, it wasn't that brave.
 
I finished the SCS Sandalwood earlier this week and have moved to TOBS Royal Forest cream. The cream performance is great as usual and the new scent is excellent. Rotating brushes, next week we move to my 10 year old Semogue 1305 replete with chipped paint battle scars on the handle. Great brush and I can’t wait to use it again.
 
Man, the Semogue 1305 is such a great brush. It was my first boar way back when, and it really delivers. Well broken in with soft tips, it does a great job with creams and soaps. The knot is excellent. I wish the handle was something other than painted wood, but I guess that’s just part of its charm.
 
It gave its utmost for your shaving pleasure...then gave up the ghost. It deserves a 21 razor salute! 😂
 
Now you can pop the knot into a resin handle!
Let this be a lesson to the young'uns.... Be careful what you wish for!
 
woodpusher said:
Now you can pop the knot into a resin handle!
Let this be a lesson to the young'uns.... Be careful what you wish for!
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That’s just it. I can’t! That little nub at the base of the knot was the extent of how far it was sunk in the handle. Little more than a few millimeters. The loft and density of the knot were perfect as is. I guess I can try and clean out the handle and reset it with epoxy.

or just get a new one. It’s not like it was a Manchurian Chubby 2 or Plisson HMW.
 
I’m pitching it. Replacement cost is very low if I decide to go that way. Switching to a Somerset era Simpson Keyhole 4.
 
Contrary to an oft-heard belief, badger hair in Somerset Simpson brushes is not better than the current production. Best is not equivalent to Super and Pure sure as heck ain’t Best. I’m enjoying the Keyhole 4 in Best right now, but it’s notable to me that the knot is less dense than the Watterson era Simpson knots. That’s probably a good thing since the Keyhole’s Best hair actually feels a bit more coarse. No problems whipping up a great lather from the TOBS Royal Forest.
 
Another month down and I’m still flabbergasted to think that I’ve been working from home for 50 weeks. I also just found out that the new planned return to the office is in September. I have to do something to change things around.

At least with the start of a week and happy coincidence of a new month at the same time, I have put a new blade in the injector (monthly) and brought in a new brush. This brush is a vintage Vulfix boar, and given its small size, I would not be surprised if it were intended for travel. It was NIB when I got it several years ago, and has not been used enough to be broken in (not even close). I will stick with it until it breaks in. If today’s shave is any indication, it will be a great face latherer.

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I’m making good progress breaking in this vintage boar. It has dropped a couple of bristles, but the tips are starting to split nicely. I’ll give it another week and a half before rotating another brush in.
 
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