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Fig.1 Worn-out
floor broom |
By Gary Boutin
Tools and Supplies:
Worn out black fiber broom
Leather dye, dark brown
Razor Knife (Sharp blade)
Scissors
Titebond™ wood glue
White twine or nylon twine
This post is about how to make a artist paint brush out of an ordinary kitchen broom with black plastic fibers. It is the best way to solve any problems learning the assembly of the brush. Once that the problem is solved then you can purchase animal hairs to produce quality brushes.
This post shows the eight steps of how to assemble a brush from an worn out kitchen broom.
Step 1: Fig.1 shows a modern broom and
fig.2 shows the plastic fibers that will be cut to make our artist brush.
Fig.3 shows what was cut from the broom head (plastic fibers). The advantage of using a worn kitchen broom with plastic fibers is that the plastic fibers are much thicker and easier to handle than fur hairs. The advantage of fur hair is that the skin is attached to the natural hair and thus will be a better brush.
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| Fig.2 Cutting the broom fibers |
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| Fig.3 Plastic fibers |
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Step 2: Fig.4 through
fig.10 shows the components of this artist brush.
Fig.4 shows trimming scissors to cut the plastic fibers straight.
Fig.5 shows white parcel twine,
fig.6 shows Titebond™ wood glue.
Fig.7 shows the razor knife that will be used to cut the plastic fibers from the kitchen broom.
Fig.8 shows dark brown leather dye to paint the twine fibers.
Fig.9 shows a strand of telephone wire that will be added at the but of the brush to assist in drying.
Fig.11 shows
Birch wood tree branches acquired while walking though our wooden areas.
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| Fig.4 Trimming scissors |
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Fig.5 White parcel nylon twine |
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| Fig.6 Titebond™ wood glue |
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| Fig.7 Razor knife |
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Fig.8 Leather
black dye |
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| Fig.9 Telephone cord |
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| Fig.10 Bitch wood handles |
Step 3: Fig.11 through
fig.13 shows the progression of surrounding the broom fibers around the handle. The brush starts by choosing a wood handle.
Fig.10 shows some wood handles that was found in our near by woods. Not all are straight most of bent, crooked and very different from the normal straight painting brush.
Fig.11 shows that the plastic fibers are placed around the wood handle.
Fig.12 shows an over abundance of glue added to the fibers and the wood handle.
Fig.13 shows the brush fibers are held by twine, at first the twine is spaced apart and then more glue is added to secure the fibers in place.
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| Fig.11 Surround handle |
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| Fig.12 Add wood glue |
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| Fig.13 Wrap the broom |
Step 4: Fig.14 and
fig.15 shows the application of the brush end. A loop was added so that when the brush was wet after cleaning the brush could dry without damaging the brush fibers.
Fig.14 shows that wood glue covers the entire tip of the but of the brush handle.
Fig.15 shows the plastic loop that will be added to the brush.
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Fig.14 Glue the top
of the handle |
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Fig.15 Add this
telephone wiring |
Step 5: Fig.16 through
fig.18 shows the progression of finishing the handle loop. Once the wire in this case a telephone wire is chosen cut it to leave a loop at the top of the handle and 2 to 3-inches overlap over the handle. The plastic loop will be wrapped tightly with parcel twine and wood glue to secure it in place.
Fig.16 and
fig.17 shows the twine at tightly wrapped at the tip to hold the plastic wire in place.
Fig.18 shows the finished process. The loop is completely covered and ready to use. Different twine will leave different affect on the brush handle.
Fig.19 shows the twine being trimmed by a match. If the twine as any poly nylon then the secure the ends of the twine a match is needed to seal the end of the twine. If not a secure knot will work well.
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| Fig.16 Wrap the wire |
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Fig.17 Around the
wood handle |
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| Fig.18 Wrap it tightly |
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Fig.19 Use Matches to trim
the end of the nylon string |
Step 6: Fig.20 and
fig.21 shows the use of a lite twine being sealed so the twine will not become untangles from its Birch wood handle.
Fig.20 shows the twine is on fire and
fig.21 shows a black dot on the twine showing its sealed forever.
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| Fig.20 Fire on nylon twine |
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| Fig.21 Twine tip is safe |
Step 7: From here the brush is finished.
Fig.22 through
fig.28 just shows additional steps to forever seal the twine to the brush handle.
Fig.22 and
fig.23 shows a
dark brown leather dye that was used to make the brush handle very dark.
Fig.24 through
fig.28 shows the progression of adding a protective layer on the wood and twine handle.
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| Fig.22 Dye |
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| Fig.23 Add dye to the handle |
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| Fig.24 Varathane |
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| Fig.25 Add to butt tip |
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| Fig.26 Another coat |
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| Fig.27 Brush wood tip |
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| Fig.28 Nice coat |
Step 8: Fig.29 through
fig.31 shows the highlights of this brush.
Fig.29 shows the painting brush fibers.
Fig.30 shows the butt of the brush and its nice plastic loop.
Fig.31 shows the brush now is ready for use. It acts very much like a broom that it fibers are very stiff. It acts very much like a small broom. But this is the best way to practice your brush technique.
Another post will be written to show how each brush handle its way in acrylic paint.
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| Fig.29 Not on brushes |
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| Fig.30 Brush handle |
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| Fig.31 New Broom brush |
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Note: Light in Dark Artwork assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome of any Artist projects. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011-
