Brush cracking - poor brush or abuse?

**gzk** · 07-24-2011, 01:11 PM

Hi guys,

I have an el cheapo men-u brush, bought it new, and it is about 5 months old. The online store i bought it from said it was boar bristles, and the handle is plastic. About a month ago, i noticed little cracks around the rim, about 1/4 - 1/2cm each. The brush still works fine, but I am a little concerned about this development. I can't think of anythibg i'm doing with it that I shouldn't; I put it in a sinkful of hot water while i shower, dry it when I'm done and store it on the stand it came with. I clean it with the method described in the wiki.

Is there anything there a brush should not be expected to handle?

**Myosin** · 07-24-2011, 01:21 PM

This just happens to plastic handle brushes.

My Omega 10049 has the same thing.

It's caused when you don't dry the brush out and set it upright.

As long as the cracks don't affect the bristles or grip, it's not a big deal.

For a $10 brush, I can't really complain.

**Eric V** · 07-24-2011, 01:31 PM

el cheapo men-u brush

Yeah, that's what they do! Not any fault of yours.

**john.bradburne** · 07-24-2011, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by gzk

Hi guys,

I have an el cheapo men-u brush, bought it new, and it is about 5 months old. The online store i bought it from said it was boar bristles, and the handle is plastic. About a month ago, i noticed little cracks around the rim, about 1/4 - 1/2cm each. The brush still works fine, but I am a little concerned about this development. I can't think of anythibg i'm doing with it that I shouldn't; I put it in a sinkful of hot water while i shower, dry it when I'm done and store it on the stand it came with. I clean it with the method described in the wiki.

Is there anything there a brush should not be expected to handle?

i am no brush expert by any means but when I soak my brush I just soak the bristles and do not submerge the handle... i dry mine bristles up.. i would suggest maybe trying a bit better of a brush if you can afford it. a simpson special or case or wee scot can be found on the bst for under $40 and they are great brushes

**Sledgehammer39** · 07-24-2011, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by Myosin

This just happens to plastic handle brushes.

My Omega 10049 has the same thing.

It's caused when you don't dry the brush out and set it upright.

As long as the cracks don't affect the bristles or grip, it's not a big deal.

For a $10 brush, I can't really complain.

+1 The same situation with my cheaper Omega.

**gzk** · 07-24-2011, 02:44 PM

Thanks for your replies so far, guys.

I went for a cheap brush because I wasn't sure I'd like it and didn't want to spend too much on it. I'm looking at possibly a Shavemac for my next one, but I'm wary of getting a nice silvertip brush if it turns out I don't know how to look after a brush.

I rinse it with cold water and squeeze the water out of the bristles when I'm done shaving, then flick whatever residue I can off for a few seconds, and put it back on the stand where it dries bristles down. Is this the right way?

I might try not leaving the brush in the sink while I shower; I have noticed that when I have to re-lather, it works fine if I only give it a few seconds-worth of water. I thought that leaving it in the sink for a few minutes might give me a better lather, but I guess not.

**Eric V** · 07-24-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by gzk

Thanks for your replies so far, guys.

I went for a cheap brush because I wasn't sure I'd like it and didn't want to spend too much on it. I'm looking at possibly a Shavemac for my next one, but I'm wary of getting a nice silvertip brush if it turns out I don't know how to look after a brush.

I rinse it with cold water and squeeze the water out of the bristles when I'm done shaving, then flick whatever residue I can off for a few seconds, and put it back on the stand where it dries bristles down. Is this the right way?

I might try not leaving the brush in the sink while I shower; I have noticed that when I have to re-lather, it works fine if I only give it a few seconds-worth of water. I thought that leaving it in the sink for a few minutes might give me a better lather, but I guess not.

Before you get a great Shavemac silver tip, you might try a quality Semogue boar. Boar brushes can be fantastic once broken in. If you do decide to get a Shavemac, I think you won't have any trouble with the handle splitting. I hang my brushes upside down for a day or so after using them, but I don't think it makes any difference, as long as the brush is gently squeezed and not so gently flicked a few times after use.

I usually leave my brush in the sink with water when I shower, just to get it hydrated well. I haven't had a problem with any quality brushes cracking.

**Greyfox** · 07-24-2011, 03:00 PM

This should not happen with a good quality brush. I use badger brushes, soak them in the sink while showering (handle and all) and when I am done gently squeeze out the excess water, flick a few times on a dry towel, stand it on its handle until it's next time in rotation. Has worked for 4 decades.

**doug1066** · 07-24-2011, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by Greyfox

This should not happen with a good quality brush. I use badger brushes, soak them in the sink while showering (handle and all) and when I am done gently squeeze out the excess water, flick a few times on a dry towel, stand it on its handle until it's next time in rotation. Has worked for 4 decades.

+1

**Luc** · 07-24-2011, 03:15 PM

I got the same issue with a Men-U... I ended up putting some glue and I kept using it without any issues.

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/85786

**franz** · 07-24-2011, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by gzk

Thanks for your replies so far, guys.

I went for a cheap brush because I wasn't sure I'd like it and didn't want to spend too much on it. I'm looking at possibly a Shavemac for my next one, but I'm wary of getting a nice silvertip brush if it turns out I don't know how to look after a brush.

I rinse it with cold water and squeeze the water out of the bristles when I'm done shaving, then flick whatever residue I can off for a few seconds, and put it back on the stand where it dries bristles down. Is this the right way?

I might try not leaving the brush in the sink while I shower; I have noticed that when I have to re-lather, it works fine if I only give it a few seconds-worth of water. I thought that leaving it in the sink for a few minutes might give me a better lather, but I guess not.

The most common brush abuse involves absurd heat, mashing the knot into the puck/face/bowl, or not allowing it to dry properly between uses. Based on your routine, the fact that your brush cracked more likely speaks to the materials and craftsmanship than anything wrong you've done.

The guys who worry out loud or ask questions about proper care and maintenance are not typically the ones doing the abuse.

**doug1066** · 07-24-2011, 04:45 PM

I have used the same VDH brush for years as my daily brush. I just rinse it, flick the excess water out and flick it against the faucet and lightly dry it on my face towel. I then store it on its handle in my medicine cabinet. I have never had a problem.

**malocchio** · 07-24-2011, 04:51 PM

water tempurature is important,both wood and plastic handles do not tolerate HOT water very well,and it is not good for natural bristles,I am not sure of the effects on synthetics....if you decide to continue using the brush I would submerge the entire brush in mar-v-cide once a month to make sure nothing grows inside the crack,the brush is already damaged,the marvy won't hurt it

**gzk** · 07-24-2011, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by franz

The most common brush abuse involves absurd heat, mashing the knot into the puck/face/bowl, or not allowing it to dry properly between uses. Based on your routine, the fact that your brush cracked more likely speaks to the materials and craftsmanship than anything wrong you've done.

The guys who worry out loud or ask questions about proper care and maintenance are not typically the ones doing the abuse.

What do you mean by "absurd heat"? Normally I run the hot water, use it to clean my glasses while it's still cold, rinse my razor when it gets hot, then fill the sink with that and put the brush in. Is that likely to be too hot and be causing the cracking? I did consider that temperature would be the only thing that could cause it since I don't subject it to shock, but I thought that was how you were supposed to use a brush...

**telleuno** · 07-24-2011, 05:46 PM

Get yourself a brush holder, or buy a new brush which comes with one. This will keep your brush upside down and eliminate this type of problems forever.

**franz** · 07-24-2011, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by gzk

What do you mean by "absurd heat"? Normally I run the hot water, use it to clean my glasses while it's still cold, rinse my razor when it gets hot, then fill the sink with that and put the brush in. Is that likely to be too hot and be causing the cracking? I did consider that temperature would be the only thing that could cause it since I don't subject it to shock, but I thought that was how you were supposed to use a brush...

Nah, I'm talking about pouring boiling water over a brush knot. A few fellas do that and I call that abuse!

There's nothing in your routine that sounds iffy.

**gregoe86** · 07-24-2011, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Eric V

Bas long as the brush is gently squeezed and not so gently flicked a few times after use.

Hey, Eric, can you clarify what you mean? Do you mean that you squeeze gently and flick aggressively? the phrasing "and not so gently flicked" is coming across ambiguously to me. Thanks!

**mcmulvaney** · 07-24-2011, 06:07 PM

A number of observations:

If the OP's brush is this one:

... then it bears a striking resemblance to the Omega 80266 (and the 10066 and the 10065, and several other Omegas with an identically shaped plastic handle). Here's the 80266:

If your Men-U is in fact a rebranded Omega, then the knot assembly looks like this (image from The Golden Nib):

You will note that the 'ring' really isn't a ring at all, but rather is the rim of a cup that holds the hair. A number of folks on these forums have noted the cracks in that rim, but have continued to happily use their Omega brushes without any ill effects. (I'm one of them.)

It isn't the nicest looking situation, but in the end the cracks don't seem to materially impact either the performance or the longevity of these brushes. There are finer boar brushes around (Omega's 31xxx series and almost any Semogue), but for the money all of them are good brushes (if you like boar) and should give you great service for many years to come.

**gzk** · 07-24-2011, 06:16 PM

Yes, that's my brush. I had planned to use it for a while yet or until it broke, good to see that my hand won't be forced, thanks for that.

I don't have any real attachment to boar, I just bought that one because it was cheap, had good reviews, and came with a stand. I think i will try badger next.

**Myosin** · 07-24-2011, 07:59 PM

I went with a cheap brush when I started for the same reason. I honestly thought this was going to turn out as a fad for me, and I had already had a bit tied up in a razor, blades, and different creams.

I chose the Omega 10049, and it has been amazing.

It easily outperforms the two best badger brushes I have tried.

It can lather anything without a problem. You could actually get 5 of these for the price of a standard best badger. I would definitely like to get a silvertip at some point though.

Cheap does not always been bad, just like how expensive definitely doesn't mean quality.

The point is that every brush lathers, and they will all eventually break, regardless of quality.

Just get one that you think you will like and is within your budged.

At some point you're going to get to the point of diminishing returns.