Woodworker's Journal 2011-35-Winter, страница 59
developed by a man named Kamel. They were originally made of squirrel hair, but these days are made from soft pony hair. My favorite all around natural hair brush for lacquer, shellac and varnish is China bristle. Incidentally, there is no real difference between black and white China bristle, and white or gray hair is frequently dyed to make black bristle. Shapes and Sizes There are situations when a certain size brush is important. I use a small, angled sash brush to get into the recesses in a raised panel door. However, for the most part, the best brush size is the one that fits comfortably in your hand. The ends of the tips of most brushes are flagged. That's the brush maker's term for what hairdressers call "split ends." The flagged ends help prevent brush marks in thin finishes and are an advantage for all solvent and oil-based coatings. However, they tend to cause foaming with clear waterborne coatings. Choose a tapered- or tipped-end bristle brush for those jobs. Quality Counts A good-quality brush will have plenty of long, springy, supple hair that doesn't shed or fall out. On a varnish brush, the ends will be flagged and the hair will be set in ranks, not cut, to make the shape of the chisel end. When you deflect the brush end at the correct angle (about 45 degrees) it will form a clean, thin line where the bristles meet the wood. A poor-quality brush may be shy on hair, and the bristies may be short, uneven, too soft or too stiff. It might shed hairs when you run it through your hand. The chisel end of a varnish brush may be uneven, or be cut instead of set in ranks. When you deflect it, you'll get a ragged, uneven line where the hair meets the wood. Properly cared for, a good brush will last many years and give you a lot of pleasure and good finishes. Cheap brushes cost more in the long run due to [Door application quality, short life, hairs in the fin ish and frustration when you're using them. Of course, if you invest in a good brush, you'll need to learn how to maintain it. What baffles me is how many good woodworkers think good chisels are worth the time to sharpen and store, but use throwaway brushes rather than learn to clean and care for good ones. Brush Basics If you are ready to spring for a good brush, let me walk you through the steps of using and caring for it so you will get your money's worth. Before you even open the continues on page 60... Plug Detail The plug creates a reservoir to hold paint or varnish. Anatomy Of A Paintbrush Bristles A "paintbrush" is more than a bit of hair glued to a stick. A quality brush is constructed in such a way that it becomes a finish delivery system. A superior quality brush, well cared for, can easily be used for more than 20 years. Handle Ferrule Secondary retainer clip. Hair set in ranks. Plug winter 2011 59 |
