Semogue Owner's Club (SOC) - all varieties - Item of the Week 7/8/13

[Haggises]

Day 1
Super Adjustable, Wilkie (3 and done), Lea stick, SOC boar

Gave the brush another vinegar cleansing but it didn't seem to like it as much as last time. Test lathers in the hand seemed to start OK then start to break down.
Still, one the face, got a decent 2 passes of Lea, then relathered for the ATG.
Rewarded with some nice lather and a great shave.

 

[blzrfn]

Whipped up some Tabac cream in a bowl with the SE and it performed well. This brush has firm backbone and is quite scrubby. If the scritch subsides it will indeed be an ideal brush for my tastes.

 

[acissa]

Used some DRH with my SOC Boar this morning. Beautiful lather.

 

[Boro62]

Ash Boar SOC / Castle Forbes Lime / Pinaud Clubman Classic Vanilla / W&B You Lather Well, I'll Shave well w/ Custom horn Scales

 

[Jayk]

Those horn scales look amazing.

 

[Boro62]

Those horn scales look amazing.

thanks, they were actually done for me by mycarver whose here on the forums. He does AMAZING work.

 

[SocalRick]

Just returned home from a 13 day vacation in NY. I hadn't even seen this thread, but I used my SOC anyway. Maybe the shaving gods were sending me a message!

Pre Shave: Pacific Shave Oil
Razor: Gillette Slim Adjustable w/Astra SP blade
Soap/Cream: Uberlather PannaCrema San Francesco, Godrej Cream and a dash of glycerin
Post Shave: Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel, finished off with Aqua Velva

Smooth, comfortable shave with great later thanks to my SOC!

 

[Reckoner]

Those horn scales look amazing.

thanks, they were actually done for me by mycarver whose here on the forums. He does AMAZING work.

Great razor. mycarver restored my W&B chopper and did a fantastic job. That horn pattern is really really nice!

 

[Reckoner]

You know, I'd be all over a SOC-mini. I love the proportions of the brush, the shape of the handle, and the quality of the hair, but sometimes I think it is just a *little* too big. Anyone else think that, too?

 

[blzrfn]

You know, I'd be all over a SOC-mini. I love the proportions of the brush, the shape of the handle, and the quality of the hair, but sometimes I think it is just a *little* too big. Anyone else think that, too?

If you are referring to the boar brush then I am in 100% agreement. As much as I appreciate the performance of my soon to be former SOC boar, the size is just to big for my face. A shorter loft or smaller diameter knot or both might just be the perfect boar brush, until that comes out I will enjoy my Semogue 2000 and 830.

 

[RobW]

You know, I'd be all over a SOC-mini. I love the proportions of the brush, the shape of the handle, and the quality of the hair, but sometimes I think it is just a *little* too big. Anyone else think that, too?

I think I might be with you...I want to see it through for awhile (the knot I suspect will be fantastic...eventually...), but it's such a BIG PIG!! The handle is very high quality, but again, a little large...ymmv and all...

Tonight was the last shave with the SOC for a little while though (DRH Almond w/ a HD RedTip + Personna Red, for the record...). Going traveling for the next few days and I'm not sure I want to commit through another long boar break-in period after I get back. It has gotten better even in the 5-6 lathers I've given it this week, but there will need to be many more before this brush really comes into its own.

It's days may be numbered...the Chief will be here soon...

 

[nimzotech]

My dear friend the boar is finally coming through!
The Semogue 620 felt a lot better today (my third shave with the 620) and seems to have started breaking in nicely. The Semogue lathered nicely with the TOBS coconut cream.



BTW, the Mühle R41 gave my a very close shave today!

 

[acissa]

If you are referring to the boar brush then I am in 100% agreement. As much as I appreciate the performance of my soon to be former SOC boar, the size is just to big for my face. A shorter loft or smaller diameter knot or both might just be the perfect boar brush, until that comes out I will enjoy my Semogue 2000 and 830.

At first I was surprised by the size of the SOC boar, but after break-in I have learned to love it. Great face lathering machine. It's the only thing that has pulled me away from my M&F chief.

 

[Kooze]

You know, I'd be all over a SOC-mini. I love the proportions of the brush, the shape of the handle, and the quality of the hair, but sometimes I think it is just a *little* too big. Anyone else think that, too?

Yep. I've had and sold 2 soc boars for the same reason. Loft seems a little too big for me

If you are referring to the boar brush then I am in 100% agreement. As much as I appreciate the performance of my soon to be former SOC boar, the size is just to big for my face. A shorter loft or smaller diameter knot or both might just be the perfect boar brush, until that comes out I will enjoy my Semogue 2000 and 830.

The soc 2-band is much more enjoyable than the boar version of the soc. shorter lofted and significantly denser. Only thing I don't love about it is it is bulb shaped: enter the soc 2012 SE-which combines the best features of boar and badger in a 24mm knot.

 

[Oscroft]

...enter the soc 2012 SE-which combines the best features of boar and badger in a 24mm knot.

Yep, I reckon it's just about perfect

 

[bosenberg]

'59 Gillette Fatboy
Gillette Silver Blue - 1
SOC Boar
Proraso White tub
Proraso Green AS (old)

 

[Jayk]

Shave two: Semogue LE 2012, Proraso green, Gillette tech, Captains Choice Bay rum. I have another mixed knot in the Omega mixed midget, and while that brush is nice, it does not come close to the Semogue mixed. Granted there is a pretty substantial size difference.

thanks, they were actually done for me by mycarver whose here on the forums. He does AMAZING work.

It is a very classy razor. I have spend a lot of time drooling over his work in the restoration part of the straight razor forum. Not to mention the Gold Dollar competition. He is an artist.

 

[blzrfn]

Signs of progress! My 2012SE SOC felt softer this morning versus the previous two shaves. It still has a little bit of scritch, to the point that I would still consider selling it, but I felt enough improvement that I will continue using it for the rest of the week to see if it improves further. I face lathered Tabac soap, which performed well better than the Tabac cream that I used yesterday, and was able to build enough lather for probably a half-dozen passes. I wasn't attempting to load that heavily but here is the brush after the third and final pass.

 

[sarimento1]

IOTW, shave #3 with Semogue OC badger in cherry, Wednesday afternoon, July 10th.

Prep with shower and Maggard's PS oil
AOS Lavender cream + Feather Artists Club w/Feather Lite
Two passes + cool water rinse + Thayers WH + splash of Agua Lavanda

And, a Graham's. Saude!

 

[NCJack]

2012SE SOC, new L'Occitane "rich" cream, Slant, Med Prep