Ideas on stopping brushes losing hairs?

Johncee · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 58

Any ideas on stopping brushes from losing hairs? I do a fair amount of oil glazes, the glaze being sticky draws out a few loose hairs from the brush.
I was thinking of running a line of glue around the ferrule but not sure if that would work.
Open to suggestions. In anticipation, thanking you kindly.

Chrissy D · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 1053 Location: Queensland

Just keep picking out the hairs Wink

Is it cheap or expensive oil brushes your using. If they're new they might just have to be 'worn in'

belle2 · Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Newcastle

I find by the time they are worn in they are ready to throw out! Very Happy

thecatsgrin · Joined: 18 Apr 2009 Posts: 2181 Location: Gippsland

A wash in soapy water, gently remove the loose ones should do it...
If not try a different brand of brush... adding glue would change the hairs and the way they move and paint... Or pick them out as you go...
I detest loose hair brushes!!

Boris01 · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 228 Location: Western Australia

Ive tried glue both in an around the ferrule- around does nothing, in the ferrule ( runny glue ) just ends up making the glue dry deep inside at the base of the hairs and makes them stick out - result is a flared out useless brush

my working solution is :
buy more brushes and charge the tiny amount extra ontop of each painting sold to compensate

if youre going to get that pedantic and preservationary about your brushes, then you'll have to breed your own goats or camels or sables to make your own brushes ..

brushes wear out, work them hard and throw them out once youve used them to channel your artistic brilliance through

Johncee · Joined: 06 Dec 2008 Posts: 58

Admittedly the expensive ones generally don't lose hairs, but not all. Which then raises the question. Why don't the expensive ones lose their hairs?
So would crimping the ferrule assist?
I am sure there must be some tecnique that improves the brush.

The Pook · Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 2904 Location: Tasmania

Buy the best quality brushes you can afford. There is no other simple solution. And even then you will get a few stray ones. But nowhere near as many as with the cheapies. Don't know why, but the workmanship is generally better the more you pay. Probably they use more hair under the ferrule, stronger metal crimped harder, better quality control, etc.

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

Crimping the ferrule will weaken the glue inside.
Here's an old spray painters trick for getting rid of "inclusions"
Get some quality masking tape or framers tape take some off the roll and loop it back on it's self so the sticky part is on the outside.
Fold it so you have a small sticky edge to work with and gently dab that onto the hair or bug or whatever and if it doesn't stick onto the tape the first time it should stick when you dab it again.
If it doesn't stick the third time call 000.

belle2 · Joined: 21 Jan 2010 Posts: 189 Location: Newcastle

Good one Mike, didn't think of that. Wouldn't the wet paint stop it from sticking?

Tango · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 1360 Location: Melbourne

What about tweezers Question

Devilbiss · Joined: 06 Jul 2007 Posts: 3214

colourman · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 15 Location: Melbourne

If the glaze is pulling the hairs out then the glaze is drying too quickly. A reputable brand of goat, squirrel and yummy sable should not shed some of my sable glazing brushes are over 15 years old. You can not glaze with pig bristle, just can't

Jade

That's a great tip Mike!

masong · Joined: 12 Aug 2010 Posts: 5

I think you have to change your brush. Buy another one with high quality.

olivia_688 · Joined: 28 Nov 2010 Posts: 5

I agree with belle, it will eventually have to be disposed.