[bbshriver]

Ordered one of these
Shaving Lather Brushes

and got it in yesterday. This is moving up from the Shavemac 944 I sold my dad for his "trial" period.

Unwrapped it and was initially a little dissappointed with how small the brush (knot) is.. it was much skinnier than my big fluffy Shavemac. But then I remembered something about silvertip brusshes "blooming".

Quite a while before shaving (little over an hour) I filled up a soap pot with the hottest water I could muster (actually near boiling in my house). It had some dried out soap residue in it so I thought that might help get it smelling like a proper shave brush rather than a wet badger. Let it soak for a bit over an hour, and then took to shaving. All I can say is WOW!!!!! This thing is awesome! I feel the Shavemac was a good quality brush, but this is like a whole new world. Much softer, fluffier, more luxurious. Also seemed to hold HOT water better (I actually got a warm lather rather than the luke-warm ones I've been having), and had no trouble getting a good lather from TGQ soaps which has been a struggle for me.

Also I really like the skinny chrome handle. It is easy to hold, and has a good weighty feel to it. All in all, I think it was well worth the $80.. definitely better than a 50% improvement over the shavemac which was a good brush itself.

[thebigspendur]

Well, now your in big trouble. You can't help yourself. One upgrade after another. Spending all your money on brushes like that guy at B&B with over 100 brushes. Soon you'll be living under a freeway overpass with your brushes.

Thanks for the great review.

[Utopian]

If it was a new razor, why did it have dried soap residue?

Those thin handles look awesome but after ~30 years of using a regular diameter brush handle, I think it would feel really weird. How does it feel to you?

[Seraphim]

Anybody know what the knot size is on these?

[bbshriver]

I love the smaller handle, plus I like the chromed brass feel (heavier) as opposed to the plastic "ivory".

Dried soap residue was in the lather mug not the razor, and there are no new razors involved either, just a new brush.

As to the question of my BrAD, note that I already sold my Shavemac before buying the Merkur.. so yes more expensive but not acquiring more. So when I'm homeless under then bridge I'll only have one brush.. probably a $20k, diamond encrusted platinum plated one.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If it was a new razor, why did it have dried soap residue?

Those thin handles look awesome but after ~30 years of using a regular diameter brush handle, I think it would feel really weird. How does it feel to you?