How to Make a Brush from a Worn Out Yellow Straw Broom

Fig.1 Ordinary Kitchen 
Yellow Straw Broom

 By Gary Boutin

Tools and Supplies:
Matches
Nylon Twine
Yellow Straw Broom (Worn out)
Wood glue (Titebond)
Wire (thin)

There never seem to be enough money to purchase all the supplies needed to paint with on my canvases. My current thinking is the many ways to get my project done as inexpensive as possible. When the garage was cleaned a old broom needed to be disposed, instead of trashing it, the straw strands were removed and a brush was created. Below are those steps.

This post shows the eight steps of how to make a straw brush.


Step 1: Fig.1 and fig.2 shows the broom that was used to create this painting brush. The entire broom could make easily several brushes. Fig.2 shows that a utility knife was used to cut the straw strands away from the base of the broom. Fig.3 shows the cut straw strands that are the painting fibers of this homemade brush.

Fig.2 Cutting the straw

Fig.3 Straw strands

Step 2: Fig.4 shows that the next step is to gather the straw strands on a wooden handle. A wood stick was with nylon twine to gather the strands together.

Fig.4 Wrapping the straw on a wood stick

Step 3: Fig.5 shows that the straw strands are on the handle, but to prevent the nylon twine from unwrapping itself, the use of matches will be used to fuse the ends to the base of the handle. The matches must be lit and its the fire fuses the nylon thread from unwrapping. Fig.6 shows the nylon twine has been fused.  

Fig.5 Use lit matches 
to fuse the nylon end

Fig.6 Nylon twine fused

Step 4: Fig.7 shows the brush is assembled. Fig.8 shows that to protect the wood handle and to provide another layer of protection a wood sealer was used on the brush handle.

Fig.7 After the glue

Fig.8 Wood sealer 
for wood handle

Step 5: Fig.9 shows the application of the wood sealer.

Fig.9 Dark sealer

Step 6: Fig.10 shows that a metal loop was added to the end of the brush to be able to hang the brush while drying.

Fig.10 Metal brush handle

Step 7: Fig.11 shows the application of the wood sealer to the brush handle. Fig.12 shows the handle completely covered with the sealer.

Fig.11 Applying first coat

Fig.12 Several coats

Step 8: Fig.13 shows the finished brush. The metal loop at the top of the brush handle provided a way to dry the fibers after each painting projects. Once the brush was finished it made a handy little broom or brush. The wood sealer does not need to be applied if the brush is only going to be used once. The wood sealer was added to make the brush handle last while cleaning with water and soap. The yellow brush straw strands are not the finest quality for detail painting but this brush can add another tool that could be used in your painting.

Fig.13
Finished 
Brush

• Handyman Blog: DIY Advisor
• Food Blog: From Kiwis To Pistachios
• Artwork Blog: Light in Dark Artwork
• Class-A Tests: DIY Class-A Drivers License Tests
• Class-A Tests Sitemap: Class-A Sitemap

• Cookie Alert: European Union laws requires that you know that this blog uses cookies. If you are concerned about this please click here to see how Google uses this information.

 
Note: Light in Dark Artwork assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any Artist projects. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-