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

Hey Paul, both of the Semogue brushes I received are 22mm. They will be the smallest knots I have ever used. After 1 lather each they are feeling good. Tomorrow I am going to to give knot removal with steam a try. I picked up a Stirling boar and I think I got the broom-bristles sweep up version! Other than a bit of a bloom, the bristles are still good for scraping paint off window trim. So I want to reclaim the handle for an actual shave knot.

It is fun comparing experiences and sharing what works and what could be better.

My painted wood Semogue is a 22mm, as well. It's a good brush, though. I haven't had any lather problems with it. I think the Omega is just so loosely packed, that it really just can't do a shave justice. Hopefully it's just this particular brush, because the hairs themselves are awesome. Softer than the Semogue (and don't get me started on the Zenith, lol).

Ditto on the size: the 22 is my smallest. I can't fathom going smaller. In the end, I'll have a 22 Sem, 24 Zen, 26 Shoat, and a 28 Omega. A good variety.

Just popped the 26 shoat brush into the fridge. Tonight I'll do the inaugural break-in lather.

The Stirling has a very classy handle. I hope you are able to save it.

Hey Paul, I somehow missed your post!
Here's hoping the inaugural lather goes well!

I picked up a mixed boar/badger from another BST, and hope it goes well.

And my shoat knot is now languishing at the Southern Maine distribution center. I could drive there and back in an afternoon! I hope it is worth the wait 

So I broke out the 26mm shoat brush to give it a test run. It only had 4 or so break in lathers. Unfortunately, my brush mug was in use (overnight soaking the Ever ready), so I just soaked it in the sink. After maybe 5 minutes I squeezed out the water and lathered from the puck (Fine Lavender Pour Homme). I must have done 50-60 swirls of varying directions and pressure. I then palm lathered for a short bit, adding water in drops. For all my trouble, I got one good pass out of the lather.

My questions, for the Boar experts here: Is it just not broken in yet? Did I do something wrong... Too much water, maybe?

Just curious where I went wrong. It obviously worked fine, as I just reloaded the brush for the second and third pass. Still, I'd prefer not to have this problem in the future if I can prevent it.

Thanks DFS!

BTW: Shave #2 with the Winning razor worked well. I can definitely see how it is less efficient than the Henson. Still, it was plenty good and smooth.

Well one of my two incoming brushes arrived (as expected) - Omega 20102.

This seems like a nice brush! Quite classy looking and feel like it'll be a good brush when broken in. In true Omega fashion, it's already softer than most out of the box.

My only gripe, if you can call it that: The omega sticker on it is literally a paper sticker. Not sure who decided on that in R&D, but they weren't really thinking. I rinsed the brush and it got wet and started to fall apart. Lol. No big deal, the sticker isn't paramount to anything. It was just stupid-funny.

Here a pic. Nevermind the crazy 'hair', this one immediately got started on it's breaking in. Gotta be ready for DecemBoar.

So I broke out the 26mm shoat brush to give it a test run. It only had 4 or so break in lathers. Unfortunately, my brush mug was in use (overnight soaking the Ever ready), so I just soaked it in the sink. After maybe 5 minutes I squeezed out the water and lathered from the puck (Fine Lavender Pour Homme). I must have done 50-60 swirls of varying directions and pressure. I then palm lathered for a short bit, adding water in drops. For all my trouble, I got one good pass out of the lather.

My questions, for the Boar experts here: Is it just not broken in yet? Did I do something wrong... Too much water, maybe?

Just curious where I went wrong. It obviously worked fine, as I just reloaded the brush for the second and third pass. Still, I'd prefer not to have this problem in the future if I can prevent it.

Thanks DFS!

BTW: Shave #2 with the Winning razor worked well. I can definitely see how it is less efficient than the Henson. Still, it was plenty good and smooth.

I'm not a boar "expert", but I have noticed what you're talking about when using a boar brush. It whips up a super nice lather, just not much of it! 

I would guess its due to the fact that boar knots are not nearly as dense as the SHD badgers and Modern Synthetics that most of us are use to. Just my theory and I could be way off base! Boar knots also splay out wildly/loosely at the top of the knot. Badgers and Synthetics remain much tighter. I would assume this helps build more lather.

I aggressively load my brush after each pass when using a boar.

So I broke out the 26mm shoat brush to give it a test run. It only had 4 or so break in lathers. Unfortunately, my brush mug was in use (overnight soaking the Ever ready), so I just soaked it in the sink. After maybe 5 minutes I squeezed out the water and lathered from the puck (Fine Lavender Pour Homme). I must have done 50-60 swirls of varying directions and pressure. I then palm lathered for a short bit, adding water in drops. For all my trouble, I got one good pass out of the lather.

My questions, for the Boar experts here: Is it just not broken in yet? Did I do something wrong... Too much water, maybe?

Just curious where I went wrong. It obviously worked fine, as I just reloaded the brush for the second and third pass. Still, I'd prefer not to have this problem in the future if I can prevent it.

Thanks DFS!

BTW: Shave #2 with the Winning razor worked well. I can definitely see how it is less efficient than the Henson. Still, it was plenty good and smooth.

I'm not a boar "expert", but I have noticed what you're talking about when using a boar brush. It whips up a super nice lather, just not much of it! 

I would guess its due to the fact that boar knots are not nearly as dense as the SHD badgers and Modern Synthetics that most of us are use to. Just my theory and I could be way off base! Boar knots also splay out wildly/loosely at the top of the knot. Badgers and Synthetics remain much tighter. I would assume this helps build more lather.

I aggressively load my brush after each pass when using a boar.

Ooh wow, I haven't had much uses but I got 3 good passes from the Semogue 22 and Zenith 24.

Well, If it ends up being a re-lather situation so be it. I hope it gets better, but it's not the end of the world. Lol.

Thanks Paul.

Well, to double down on DecemBoar (and because I got a good deal) I snagged two used Semogue 22mm brushes off a BST elsewhere. (820 and 830)

Very nice guy and the price was close to half off. They should arrive just around the beginning of December.

I've got the 830 and am doing the lather break in with it. Nice feel, albeit smallish compared to some of my synths!

Well, to double down on DecemBoar (and because I got a good deal) I snagged two used Semogue 22mm brushes off a BST elsewhere. (820 and 830)

Very nice guy and the price was close to half off. They should arrive just around the beginning of December.

Those are great brushes Paul. I'm a big fan of that handle style.
I currently have the 610 model (which is very similar to your 820... just a bit shorter loft).
Enjoy!

I've got the 830 and am doing the lather break in with it. Nice feel, albeit smallish compared to some of my synths!

Yeah, they're the same size as my Semogue 1350 (I believe it's the same knot). It's definitely small, but they're full, tight knots. It actually makes oodles more lather than the Omega of the same design (at 24mm).

When you get those tips broken in, you're going to love it. I think I have 20+ break-in lathers by now on my 1305. I started out doing 2 lathers a day when I got it, mid-October?

Well, to double down on DecemBoar (and because I got a good deal) I snagged two used Semogue 22mm brushes off a BST elsewhere. (820 and 830)

Very nice guy and the price was close to half off. They should arrive just around the beginning of December.

Those look SHAWEET !!!!