Thread: Think about a new boar.....

I've been using an Omega 10049 boar for the past 9 months as my only brush. I'm thinking about getting another brush, more for variety than need. The Omega is an awesome brush, but I'm thinking about something a hair smaller with more back bone. I have been looking at the Semogue 1305. Anyone use one or have used both the Omega 10049 and the Semogue 1305 and have a comparison opinion?

I had a Semougue 1305 and sold it. The Omega I have, don't recall the number, 30005 perhaps?, was superior to my taste (check what Dr. Moss has horded, you couldn't find one for a while because he purchased them all). I use it 5 days a week.
My personal opinion is that the 1305, while an excellent brush, will not have the backbone you crave.

Semogue SOC boar, plenty backbone, probably the best boar you can get.

I have the 830 (acrylic handled version of the 1305), 2 of the XXXXX5 Omegas, EverReady w/ orig. knot, and a couple no-name ancient brushes w/ original knots. The backbone winner is the old EverReady H40. Its small and tired, but the hard soaps twitch nervously when I reach for it.

The 830 is the most luxurious, badger-like feel, but not much backbone. The 620 was a recent buy, with more backbone than the Omegas or the 830. I face lather with hard soaps, so backbone is big medicine to me. I've not tried SOC versions, but the 620 is as good as I've come across in the new brushes.

It seems the boar makers almost apologize for not being badger, painting stupid stripes to make them look like badger. This has been true a long time. The EverReady is from the 50's, I think, and is painted. It also whups anything else I have for backbone. 'A bit scratchy, which is what I like. The face-lathering is used as a strong component of beard prep, and the backbone and scratchiness seem to help. FYI: The honorable Obie has a review on the 620 that might be worth a view.

Hello, medicevans,

I had the Semogue 1305 and the paint on the blasted handle peeled, making the brush look as if it had gangrene. I got rid of it. The Semogue 620, though, is probably what you're looking for. I have the 620HD. It's a little brush with plenty of backbone, especially good for hard soaps.

My concern is that I have pretty large hands, and even I wish the Omega's handle was a hair longer. Not wider, just longer. I'm afraid that the 620 is a little too small to use comfortably. Maybe I should just try to find a nice boar knot and make a handle.

Medicevans, in that case you might want to try the Omega 31064, which happens to be my preferred boar brush. This one has a black handle, and its red-handle counterpart is the Omega 31025. The brush is named after "Scarlatti," the Italian composer and Bach contemporary. Obviously this will not have the strong backbone of the Semogue 620, because of the high loft — I think it's a 26 mm. She's a sweet boar brush, though.

Omega 31064 Banded Boar Shaving Brush

Have you looked at the Omega 10048 "the professional"? Pretty soft with pre split tips. Lots of loft and backbone.
It makes my al's bomb explode, which, due to hard water doesn't work with any of my other brushes.
It also works well with my Ogalolla and MB soaps and any cream I've tried with it.
It took me a while to get used to the large handle but I've grown quite fond of it.

Originally Posted by bharner

Have you looked at the Omega 10048 "the professional"? Pretty soft with pre split tips. Lots of loft and backbone.
It makes my al's bomb explode, which, due to hard water doesn't work with any of my other brushes.
It also works well with my Ogalolla and MB soaps and any cream I've tried with it.
It took me a while to get used to the large handle but I've grown quite fond of it.

The 48 is almost identical to the brush medicevans already got, so that wouldn't help much.
I have the same brush as him, and it doesn't have that much backbone compared to a Semogue.
But still a great brush, really luxurious feel for a boar.