New Semogue Boar 830

[Leon]

Gentlemen,

I was expecting a restock of the Semogue 830 boar brush this weekend, but unfortunately, the factory wasn't able to finish the production and they will deliver later this week.
I was able to ship all of the 830 I had (only 6) and was expecting to have a restock during weekend and continue to ship the remaining orders, but unfortunately these orders are going to be shipped with some delay. I'm sorry about that.

 

[andrew98]

Other than the 10% extra hair and 5mm of loft that the 830 has over the 620, is there a difference between these two brushes? For instance, is the 830 hair softer or something? Just curious.

-Andy

 

[Loner16]

Gentlemen,

I was expecting a restock of the Semogue 830 boar brush this weekend, but unfortunately, the factory wasn't able to finish the production and they will deliver later this week.
I was able to ship all of the 830 I had (only 6) and was expecting to have a restock during weekend and continue to ship the remaining orders, but unfortunately these orders are going to be shipped with some delay. I'm sorry about that.

Thats OK Leon, It gives me something to look forward to!

 

[Leon]

Hi Andy,

Yes, the 620 has the same knot as the 1520. These bristles are slightly pricklier than the 830. They are also shorter which makes the 620/1520 mostly used to hard soap loading/face lathering. The 830 knot is the same as the 1305 with a 10% extra hair. This knot is probably the best boar there is. The 1305 has been given great reviews and it's an all-around brush, meaning that it's great to used either in bowl or face lathering, or in soft or hard soaps.

Other than the 10% extra hair and 5mm of loft that the 830 has over the 620, is there a difference between these two brushes? For instance, is the 830 hair softer or something? Just curious.

-Andy

 

[jrowen]

Gentlemen,

I was expecting a restock of the Semogue 830 boar brush this weekend, but unfortunately, the factory wasn't able to finish the production and they will deliver later this week.
I was able to ship all of the 830 I had (only 6) and was expecting to have a restock during weekend and continue to ship the remaining orders, but unfortunately these orders are going to be shipped with some delay. I'm sorry about that.

Thanks for the update, Leon.

 

[andrew98]

Hi Andy,

Yes, the 620 has the same knot as the 1520. These bristles are slightly pricklier than the 830. They are also shorter which makes the 620/1520 mostly used to hard soap loading/face lathering. The 830 knot is the same as the 1305 with a 10% extra hair. This knot is probably the best boar there is. The 1305 has been given great reviews and it's an all-around brush, meaning that it's great to used either in bowl or face lathering, or in soft or hard soaps.

So what is the chance of getting an 830 with a 50mm loft? It seems that if the 830 hair grade is softer, Semogue would do well to produce a short loft version. I only use soap, and I've never felt a really soft badger with a short loft did anything other than a great job. I would imagine a short loft, higer-grade boar would be great too. I guess I'm asking why not make the 620 with the 830 hair set to a 50mm loft? I like my 620, but a big complaint from a lot of folks (not me) is that it's too prickly. I'm really enjoying the backbone of my 50mm loft boar.

-Andy

 

[Leon]

We'll have to make a prototype. You see, shortening a loft might turn it too stiff, so that's why there are some minimum heights for each boar grade, it depends on its properties.
But, we'll see what can be done.

So what is the chance of getting an 830 with a 50mm loft? It seems that if the 830 hair grade is softer, Semogue would do well to produce a short loft version. I only use soap, and I've never felt a really soft badger with a short loft did anything other than a great job. I would imagine a short loft, higer-grade boar would be great too. I guess I'm asking why not make the 620 with the 830 hair set to a 50mm loft? I like my 620, but a big complaint from a lot of folks (not me) is that it's too prickly. I'm really enjoying the backbone of my 50mm loft boar.

-Andy

 

[Ignatius]

So what is the chance of getting an 830 with a 50mm loft? It seems that if the 830 hair grade is softer, Semogue would do well to produce a short loft version. I only use soap, and I've never felt a really soft badger with a short loft did anything other than a great job. I would imagine a short loft, higer-grade boar would be great too. I guess I'm asking why not make the 620 with the 830 hair set to a 50mm loft? I like my 620, but a big complaint from a lot of folks (not me) is that it's too prickly. I'm really enjoying the backbone of my 50mm loft boar.

-Andy

Andy, try the 830 with its current loft. Boar bristle at that length will still have a ton of backbone. Making it shorter will slighlty reduce its lather making abilities, but i doubt you'de notice any real difference in backbone.

 

[andrew98]

We'll have to make a prototype. You see, shortening a loft might turn it too stiff, so that's why there are some minimum heights for each boar grade, it depends on its properties.
But, we'll see what can be done.

I figured that if the 830's hair is soft, it would be great in the 620 handle with a 50mm loft. I don't know. That would differentiate the 620 from the 1520 more than just the handle material and give a "theme" to the acrylic-handled brushes. Just thinking out loud, really.

-Andy

 

[andrew98]

Andy, try the 830 with its current loft. Boar bristle at that length will still have a ton of backbone. Making it shorter will slighlty reduce its lather making abilities, but i doubt you'de notice any real difference in backbone.

Since the 830 tips are softer than the 620's, I wouldn't want a loft longer than 50mm (620 = 50mm loft). I wouldn't be surprised if the 820's hair is a finer grade (fine in the sense that bristle diameter is smaller) than the 620's. Hence, the extra 10% hair in the 830 to give more backbone. I wouldn't want any less backbone than my 620, and I doubt 10% more hair would make up for any loss of backbone in the 830's 55mm loft. 5mm in any brush makes a big difference, even in a boar, I'd wager. My speculative musings could be completely wrong. Really, there's only one way to answer backbone vs. loft questions with any hair grade. Make a brush. See below the ostentatious part of my signature. Just so you know where I'm coming from, my ideal Shavemac Finest brush loft is 40mm to 45mm, and I consider my Vulfix 2233 boar to be quite floppy.

-Andy


Edit: Is it possible that the 50mm loft 620's backbone = the 55mm loft 830's backbone? That would mean that the only real difference between those 2 brushes would be softness of tips. If 620 backbone > 830 backbone, I could see a lot of demand for an 830 with a 50mm loft. Soft tips and tons of backbone? That would be wonderful. The 620 has more backbone than any other brush I've used.

 

[Ignatius]

Since the 830 tips are softer than the 620's, I wouldn't want a loft longer than 50mm (620 = 50mm loft). I wouldn't be surprised if the 820's hair is a finer grade (fine in the sense that bristle diameter is smaller) than the 620's. Hence, the extra 10% hair in the 830 to give more backbone.

Andy, I have an Omega 31064 with a 59mm loft and a 11126 with a 50mm loft. Both have the banded, sketched hair (I believe Omages best). There is no real discernible difference in backbone; if anything the 31064 has a little more; its bigger knot or greater density tending towards those charecteristics (at least in relation to a smaller, proportionately 'longer' loft). I have a 65mm professional boar that has more backbone than a Rooney 1/1. As for the bristles on this new brush being of a different guage...I'm sceptical. So, basically I don't think a few mm make any difference to a brushs backbone in boar, and you could try this new one in confidence; its wont be floppy.

 

[andrew98]

Andy, I have an Omega 31064 with a 59mm loft and a 11126 with a 50mm loft. Both have the banded, sketched hair (I believe Omages best). There is no real discernible difference in backbone; if anything the 31064 has a little more; its bigger knot or greater density tending towards those charecteristics (at least in relation to a smaller, proportionately 'longer' loft). I have a 65mm professional boar that has more backbone than a Rooney 1/1. As for the bristles on this new brush being of a different guage...I'm sceptical. So, basically I don't think a few mm make any difference to a brushs backbone in boar, and you could try this new one in confidence; its wont be floppy.

Thanks a lot. That's very helpful info. Thanks for all the replies and info too, Leon.

I may have to pick up an 830 one day. I'm not by any means unhappy with my 620. Like I said earlier, just thinking out loud.

-Andy

 

[Klarion]

Man, what i wouldn't give for an 830 with simply undyed bristles.

Am I the only one who really likes the regular ol' cream color bristle naturally has? The shaft is supposed to be a bit stiffer, correct? I don't think the tips would fare any worse after getting broken in.

 

[kooshman7]

Nah you're not the only one. I think the bristles look better as just a cream color.

 

[jrowen]

Same here. I was originally considering a 2000 or 1250 when I finally ordered my 1305 because I wanted the natural bristle look (I don't care if its boar bristle and everyone knows it just by looking... why do we have to dress it up to make it look like badger?) and because I wanted something with some significantly more backbone than my badger. I am told that the boar bristle that get's sketched has been "conditioned" somehow to make it "premium" and that process makes the bristle softer compared to the natural bristle. I am also meant to understand that the natural bristle will take longer to break in as a result of not being processed. I'm not sorry I ordered the 1305 instead though, because I love the 1305! I find the handle to be extremely comfortable to grip and the bristles are really nice in that brush. However, I really like the "natural" bristle look. Even if the bristle does get processed somehow to soften it up a little, I feel like we're somehow saying we're ashamed of the fact that its boar bristle and not badger by sketching it to make it look like badger. From that standpoint, I would like to see a brush that has the same quality bristle of the 1305... just don't sketch it. I want it to scream "YEAH, I'M A BOAR!! WHAT OF IT?? I KNOW... YOU CAN'T BELIEVE I'M A BOAR NOW THAT YOU'VE USED ME, RIGHT?!?!" Loud and proud, baby... loud and proud.

 

[Blondie]

Aren't all the boar bristle somehow bleached to the cream color? Any boars I have killed here in TX were dark haired, or is it not a wild boar?

 

[mmack66]

Aren't all the boar bristle somehow bleached to the cream color? Any boars I have killed here in TX were dark haired, or is it not a wild boar?

Obviously they use albino boars.

 

[jrowen]

I am also meant to understand that boar bristle brushes are truly "hog" bristle, as in, from a domesticated pig. I have no idea whether or not that changes the "natural" color of bristle. Regardless of the natural color, I could still do without the badger costumes.

 

[Klarion]

Obviously they use albino boars.

I feel like we're somehow saying we're ashamed of the fact that its boar bristle and not badger by sketching it to make it look like badger. From that standpoint, I would like to see a brush that has the same quality bristle of the 1305... just don't sketch it. I want it to scream "YEAH, I'M A BOAR!! WHAT OF IT?? I KNOW... YOU CAN'T BELIEVE I'M A BOAR NOW THAT YOU'VE USED ME, RIGHT?!?!"

Exactly! I'm proud to be a boar lover. My two favorite brushes are boars. Granted, my only badger at the moment is a Rooney 1/1 Super; good brush, but not at the top of my list.

 

[Leon]

I am also meant to understand that boar bristle brushes are truly "hog" bristle, as in, from a domesticated pig. I have no idea whether or not that changes the "natural" color of bristle. Regardless of the natural color, I could still do without the badger costumes.

As far as I know, domesticated pigs are natural blondes
Semogue has a very cool natural black boar hair from a local breed - the Black Iberian pig. But this is not yet used in any production boar brushes.