I'm glad to see this brush being featured, as I own one thanks to Jim @Chan Eil Whiskers. (See, enablers can be enabled, too!) I will use mine for my next shave and share the results.
marty
marty
Brush Chronicles #17: Zenith Manchurian Copper XXL
- Thread starter Guido75
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- #22
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- #23
I forgot to post my picture yesterday. This is the brush after the first pass face lathering.
Head lathering with splay was a joy, but as you can see it doesn’t produce much lather in the brush. I think because of the density of the knot.
As per the suggestion of Jim @Chan Eil Whiskers I loaded more Proraso for this morning’s shave. I also hydrated the soap more than usual (during lathering. The brush itself was damp, but I started lathering with only a few dips into water). The result was a copious amount of lather:
Still some air bubbles present, but we’re focused on the brush here and not the lather itself.
I found that even with this amount of lather the brush itself was more comfortable being a painter rather than a splayer. With more product I was of course able to paint on better lather.
Three good passes later I still had plenty of lather to make myself look like Santa.
Lather was now now present between the hairs as well.
The brush was very soft to the face and a joy to use - like it has been from the start.
Hmm. I have the same brush, but mine is a resin handle. That's the XL "Italian Barber"
Handle, yes?
Handle, yes?
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- #25
Yeah, the traditional Italian Barber handle. For a moment I thought you were referring to the guys from Razorock.
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- #26
First day using a shave stick and the Manchurian brush. Not just any shave stick, but the magnificent BSS#1 by B&B’s very own Boris @blethenstrom.
The brush knew exactly what to do and face lathering was extremely easy. I definitely felt soft tips and splaying was natural today.
A much better loaded brush. I did have to revert back to painting motions for the second and third pass, but that was on me and not the brush. I forgot my camera so I stepped outside which took some time obviously.
Other than that a great performance from the brush. Soft, comfortable with backbone.
The brush knew exactly what to do and face lathering was extremely easy. I definitely felt soft tips and splaying was natural today.
A much better loaded brush. I did have to revert back to painting motions for the second and third pass, but that was on me and not the brush. I forgot my camera so I stepped outside which took some time obviously.
Other than that a great performance from the brush. Soft, comfortable with backbone.
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- #27
Face lathered BSS again today. Marvellous lathering. Soft tips, gentle scrub and a good amount of lather as well.
The knot remains dense and solid in a way without presenting me with too much backbone. In fact I would say the backbone only comes from the way the knot is set and the density of the brush rather than the nature of the hairs / knot itself. But maybe that’s the natural way backbone is build up, so I might be talking jibbrish.
Great shave!
The knot remains dense and solid in a way without presenting me with too much backbone. In fact I would say the backbone only comes from the way the knot is set and the density of the brush rather than the nature of the hairs / knot itself. But maybe that’s the natural way backbone is build up, so I might be talking jibbrish.
Great shave!
marty
So this has been my gear so far for the new year. As you can see, I have let the brush (2 years owned) develop its patina. The bristles are soft but with backbone. Being a face latherer, I have no complaints about the bristles, the splay, it's release of lather, or how it produces lather.
Of course, with a D.R. Harris soap, there aren't any issues with producing lather.
The razor blade combo has to be one of the smoothest I have ever experienced-and why I'm using this combo for several shaves. I'm not one who espouses the differences in shaves between a low-cost razor vs. a high-cost razor. Having said that however, the Timeless SS .95 (bronze cap, ss baseplate and Ti Crown handle) has truly been an eye opener. The Polsilver I loaded in it had been used 2-3x previously and has provided some of my best shaves EVER.
is it the scallops? Don't know. Is it because it costs more? Don't know. Better quality? Definitely in fit and finishes available. The 1st razor that really impressed me was the RR GameChanger SS .95. That razor allowed me to get the best out of my Feather blades-I don't use any other blade when using any of my GameChangers. However, the Timeless SS. 95 is definitely on another level. My neck is a tricky area that will let me know if my technique isn't right. Absolutely no issues using the Timeless on this area.
I truly have to thank Kim(Phoenixkh) for putting this on the BST.
The Zenith brush whipped up a lather that was creamy and thick on my face and head. It provided the scrub while still being soft. It released the lather I needed on the 2nd pass (both areas) while still having enough in the brush for another pass if needed.
If this razor and brush had been around when I started, I could see myself being a minimalist.
marty
Of course, with a D.R. Harris soap, there aren't any issues with producing lather.
The razor blade combo has to be one of the smoothest I have ever experienced-and why I'm using this combo for several shaves. I'm not one who espouses the differences in shaves between a low-cost razor vs. a high-cost razor. Having said that however, the Timeless SS .95 (bronze cap, ss baseplate and Ti Crown handle) has truly been an eye opener. The Polsilver I loaded in it had been used 2-3x previously and has provided some of my best shaves EVER.
is it the scallops? Don't know. Is it because it costs more? Don't know. Better quality? Definitely in fit and finishes available. The 1st razor that really impressed me was the RR GameChanger SS .95. That razor allowed me to get the best out of my Feather blades-I don't use any other blade when using any of my GameChangers. However, the Timeless SS. 95 is definitely on another level. My neck is a tricky area that will let me know if my technique isn't right. Absolutely no issues using the Timeless on this area.
I truly have to thank Kim(Phoenixkh) for putting this on the BST.
The Zenith brush whipped up a lather that was creamy and thick on my face and head. It provided the scrub while still being soft. It released the lather I needed on the 2nd pass (both areas) while still having enough in the brush for another pass if needed.
If this razor and brush had been around when I started, I could see myself being a minimalist.
marty
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- #30
Looking good there Marty @htownmmm! I love my Ti95 with scalloped baseplate. It just fits my face and beard growth. Almost feels autopilot, but I have to be careful of course. It’s not necessarily the best razor in my den in trend of consistent shave results and comfort, but it is the most used and absolutely gorgeous in its design.
Brush is looking swell too!
Enjoy!
Guido
Brush is looking swell too!
Enjoy!
Guido
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- #31
I had my third shave with the BSS shave stick this morning. Absolutely no troubles lathering up whatsoever. In large part that is on the soap, but the Manchurian was clearly up for the task. Soft, comfortable, nice lather generation.
Marty, it was a pleasure interacting with you on BST/PMs. I’m so glad you are enjoying the razor.
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- #33
I bowl lathered with Intesa today. It’s very hard to get out of the tube, but once it’s out it is as soft as any cream. It doesn’t need a lot of water at the onset of lathering, but it’s a thirsty soap in comparison.
As with Proraso and while performing much better with the Intesa soap the brush still preferred painting motions above a little splay. Also the lather was thinner like a film at times.
The brush itself was really soft and I enjoyed using it very much!
This was shave #7 using the Manchurian and so I am half way. I will give the brush a week’s rest now and commence another Brush Chronicle. After a week I will come back to the Manchurian again.
So far the Manchurian has been a joy to use. It can handle a variety of soaps although in my experience seems to prefer harder soaps and face lathering - or as also mentioned earlier I need to load (much) more soap.
As with Proraso and while performing much better with the Intesa soap the brush still preferred painting motions above a little splay. Also the lather was thinner like a film at times.
The brush itself was really soft and I enjoyed using it very much!
This was shave #7 using the Manchurian and so I am half way. I will give the brush a week’s rest now and commence another Brush Chronicle. After a week I will come back to the Manchurian again.
So far the Manchurian has been a joy to use. It can handle a variety of soaps although in my experience seems to prefer harder soaps and face lathering - or as also mentioned earlier I need to load (much) more soap.
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- #34
And we are back with the Machurian knot. I used Mike's Natural Barbershop today. I figured that with a 30mm knot I could get away with 10 counts of loading. I should have known better. Face lathering was excellent and I had plenty of lather in the brush. But as I was busy with the first pass the brush slightly hogged my lather, or dispersed water into the lather which made it thinner. Second pass began as a thicker film. So I reloaded with a couple of swirls and was able to regenerate my lather.
I also did a feel test with a dry brush and compared the Zenith to other brushes. It is definitely different from a synthetic brush, but the tips are equally soft. In terms of operation and usage the 2BED from @apshaveco is a very different knot, but face feel is similar to the Zenith. At first. When I feel the full bristles, the soft tips make way for some scrub which I do not feel with the 2BED. I subsequently did the same using a G5C knot and a DSC Titanium knot. Both latter knots were unlike the Zenith.
I am wondering how the brush will hold up when I bowl lather Mike's - so I am going to try that tomorrow.
I also did a feel test with a dry brush and compared the Zenith to other brushes. It is definitely different from a synthetic brush, but the tips are equally soft. In terms of operation and usage the 2BED from @apshaveco is a very different knot, but face feel is similar to the Zenith. At first. When I feel the full bristles, the soft tips make way for some scrub which I do not feel with the 2BED. I subsequently did the same using a G5C knot and a DSC Titanium knot. Both latter knots were unlike the Zenith.
I am wondering how the brush will hold up when I bowl lather Mike's - so I am going to try that tomorrow.
I didn't realize that was a 30mm knot. I have a Zenith resin barber handle Manchurian that I seldom use because its too much of a lather hog, and mine is only 28mm! Tu salute, my friend.
Funny thing, to me anyway, I can easily and happily use a 31x57 Zenith boar, or a Simpson Trafalgar T3 synthetic (30-ish mm), but I struggle with any badger over 26-27mm. Maybe I just haven't used them enough.
Funny thing, to me anyway, I can easily and happily use a 31x57 Zenith boar, or a Simpson Trafalgar T3 synthetic (30-ish mm), but I struggle with any badger over 26-27mm. Maybe I just haven't used them enough.
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- #36
Well, Bill, that might just actually be me winging it while typing the post. My little voice said “sure?!”, but there was no stopping it. Officially it’s about 28mm. I may have had the 2BED knot too much on my mind. That one is 30mm.
We are meeting each other in the hogging assessment.
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For @Guido75, I used my Zenith Manchurian today. I think its the same as the copper handle in this Chronicle. It performed beautifully with the hard soap and face lathering. I really think this is the sweet spot for a badger this big.
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- #38
I need to post my experience of today stil, but that is exactly what I was thinking about today. This brush is for hard soaps and face lathering. I decided to use the 2BED tomorrow to verify my hypothesis, but with you chiming in as well makes it even more valuable.
Thanks!
Guido
- Thread starter
- #39
So I used the Zenith to bowl lather Mike’s Natural Barbershop today. I made sure I had loaded enough soap and very gradually added water. Mike’s is a soap that likes to be hydrated.
It certainly whipped up a lather, but in my experience it was too airy and more important the lather was ‘stuck’ between the bristles so a circular application motion was out of the question and the painting motion also produced a somewhat disappointing lather.
My intermediate conclusion is that the Manchurian is no bowl latherer which is by no means a knock in my book. It’s just that it prefers hard(er) soaps and face lathering.
I will use the 2BED tomorrow to bowl lather Mike’s again to test this theory and rule out that it was actually Mike’s and not the brush.
It certainly whipped up a lather, but in my experience it was too airy and more important the lather was ‘stuck’ between the bristles so a circular application motion was out of the question and the painting motion also produced a somewhat disappointing lather.
My intermediate conclusion is that the Manchurian is no bowl latherer which is by no means a knock in my book. It’s just that it prefers hard(er) soaps and face lathering.
I will use the 2BED tomorrow to bowl lather Mike’s again to test this theory and rule out that it was actually Mike’s and not the brush.
That lather looks too hydrated, but I'm no expert
