Trimming a damaged brush

crazycliff200843 · 10-07-2008, 12:04 PM

If a brush were damaged, fire/chunk cut out/chewed on, is there a way to trim a brush and still have it retain the properties it had originally? (softness/texture) If clippers or scissors were used, the ends of the hairs would be flat and I would assume that they would be courser/stiffer. If this is the case, is there a way to cut a lot of hair at one time that would angle/taper the hair at the ends to make them 'give' more? I think you could use a razor to taper the ends, but that might be time consuming to get all of them the desired length. Could you use a razor or other method to taper the ends on a stiffer brush to make it softer?

nun2sharp · 10-07-2008, 05:51 PM

1) What did you do to your brush?

2) Boar or Badger?

nickyspaghetti · 10-07-2008, 07:04 PM

I thought the title said 'trimming a damaged bush'......
To be honest I'm not sure as I haven't ever needed to. I'm not sure if the brushes use the natural tips of the hairs or if they are trimmed to shape. I would guess that they are trimmed. Keeping it even will probably be the biggest problem.

thebigspendur · 10-08-2008, 01:28 AM

Ah ha, so the cat got your brush and had a field day with it did he? Just kidding. trimming a badger brush is a real skill. Thats why they charge alot more for hand trimmed over machined. I would imagine it could be done but the properties would be altered somewhat. Think a Simpson Chubby compared to a normal length brush. Also the shape of the brush might change ie fan or bulb.

joke1176 · 10-08-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycliff200843

If a brush were damaged, fire/chunk cut out/chewed on, is there a way to trim a brush and still have it retain the properties it had originally? (softness/texture) If clippers or scissors were used, the ends of the hairs would be flat and I would assume that they would be courser/stiffer. If this is the case, is there a way to cut a lot of hair at one time that would angle/taper the hair at the ends to make them 'give' more? I think you could use a razor to taper the ends, but that might be time consuming to get all of them the desired length. Could you use a razor or other method to taper the ends on a stiffer brush to make it softer?

I have thought about this for a while now.... I haven't tried it yet of course, but here goes.

I think you could trim it with a razor easy, and then scrub it around on some higher grit sandpaper to smooth it out.

crazycliff200843 · 10-08-2008, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

1) What did you do to your brush?

2) Boar or Badger?

1. I have done nothing to my brush. I am just thrifty and happen to have a cheap brush.

2. Badger. Although, if it's possible to soften a brush, maybe boar.

crazycliff200843 · 10-08-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joke1176

I have thought about this for a while now.... I haven't tried it yet of course, but here goes.

I think you could trim it with a razor easy, and then scrub it around on some higher grit sandpaper to smooth it out.

Would the sandpaper be that much easier than tapering it with a razor if uniformity is an issue?

joke1176 · 10-08-2008, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycliff200843

Would the sandpaper be that much easier than tapering it with a razor if uniformity is an issue?

using sandpaper to trim it would take for EVER. I tested this by "buffing" a crappy boar brush on some 600-ish grit sandpaper last night, and it seems to work ok, just not for mass stock removal.

crazycliff200843 · 10-08-2008, 12:38 PM

I got the day off today and when I get home this morning, I think I will try to grab and pull the ends with different grits and see what happens. I have a tweezerman that's shedding pretty bad. Maybe something interesting will happen if the knot will hold long enough.

joke1176 · 10-09-2008, 11:18 PM

Try putting a stout rubber band around the knot near the area you will be working on, makes for easier scrubbing.

kevint · 10-10-2008, 01:55 PM

I was thinking someting similar was needed. My suggestion was binding the bristles with a wrap of string to the point you want to trim and use that as a guide to trimming Sanding doesn't seem like the way to go though. A new knot is not all that expensive

kilowattkid · 10-11-2008, 02:29 AM

Try some barber clippers. I do like the idea of a rubber band to pull everything together. Shortening certainly would take a floppy brush and stiffen it up, but I wouldn't take to much off.

Jerry