Pierre Finkelstein and fauxbrushes.com have collections for all techniques of decorative painting, faux marble, woodgraining, faux bois or faux finishing. Softeners are a type of brush used in faux marbling and woodgraining to blend tones of glaze or to make slight brush marks disappear (a technique known as softening). They can also be used for painting clouds in decorative painting projects. Fauxbrushes.com has a great selection of softeners to meet your faux finishing needs.
We have natural and synthetic brushes made with Bristle, Nylon, Squirrel, Sable, Bluetop, Ox, Polytop, Badger, and black bristle. We have a wide array of hand-tied brushes, paints, glazes, books, and decorative painting accessories. Faux Brushes was started by Pierre Finkelstein, author of The Art of Faux who teaches decorative painting techniques at Pierre Finkelstein Institute of Decorative Painting, Inc.
Pierre Finkelstein and fauxbrushes.com have collections for all techniques of decorative painting, faux marble, woodgraining, faux bois or faux finishing. Softeners are a type of brush used in faux marbling and woodgraining to blend tones of glaze or to make slight brush marks disappear (a technique known as softening). They can also be used for painting clouds in decorative painting projects. Fauxbrushes.com has a great selection of softeners to meet your faux finishing needs.
We have natural and synthetic brushes made with Bristle, Nylon, Squirrel, Sable, Bluetop, Ox, Polytop, Badger, and black bristle. We have a wide array of hand-tied brushes, paints, glazes, books, and decorative painting accessories. Faux Brushes was started by Pierre Finkelstein, author of The Art of Faux who teaches decorative painting techniques at Pierre Finkelstein Institute of Decorative Painting, Inc.
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Badger Softener | GLZ-15
from $86.65
Badger Softener | GLZ-15
ITEM #: GLZ-15_Size-02
PRICE: $86.65 Regular price Sale price/
Only 50 items in stock!
Our classic hand mounted badger brush is made out of the finest grouping of water badger hair. Stay clear of the 'BAD'-ger impostor whose hair is made out of goat hair that has been dipped into black paint to look like a real badger. Stiffer hair is good for softening and easier to clean as you go.
3/4 inch thick, hand selected badger hair, which repels water
Resists fanning out with overuse
Best used with thin reversible water mediums (i.e. gouache, beer glaze)
Size 2 best for smoothing intricate surfaces
Size 4 is the universal size - best for faux marble/woodgraining
Size 6 the best for your largest smoothing job - amazingly productive brush!
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
SIZE
BRUSH LENGTH
FERRULE WIDTH
FERRULE LENGTH
HAIR LENGTH
2
8.38"/ 21.3cm
.8" / 20mm
2.2" / 55mm
2.6" / 65mm
4
10.6" / 26.8cm
.8" / 20mm
4.1" / 104mm
2.7"/ 69mm
6
10.2" / 26cm
.8" / 20mm
6.3" / 160mm
2.7" / 69mm
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
HAIR TYPE
Badger
BRUSH HOLD
Conductor's Hold
USAGE
Softening
MEDIUM
Water
FERRULE
Wood
HANDLE
Wooden round medium
Our classic hand mounted badger brush is made out of the finest grouping of water badger hair. Stay clear of the 'BAD'-ger impostor whose hair is made out of goat hair that has been dipped into black paint to look like a real badger. Stiffer hair is good for softening and easier to clean as you go.
- 3/4 inch thick, hand selected badger hair, which repels water
- Resists fanning out with overuse
- Best used with thin reversible water mediums (i.e. gouache, beer glaze)
- Size 2 best for smoothing intricate surfaces
- Size 4 is the universal size - best for faux marble/woodgraining
- Size 6 the best for your largest smoothing job - amazingly productive brush!
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
| SIZE | BRUSH LENGTH | FERRULE WIDTH | FERRULE LENGTH |
HAIR LENGTH |
| 2 | 8.38"/ 21.3cm | .8" / 20mm | 2.2" / 55mm | 2.6" / 65mm |
| 4 | 10.6" / 26.8cm | .8" / 20mm | 4.1" / 104mm | 2.7"/ 69mm |
| 6 | 10.2" / 26cm | .8" / 20mm | 6.3" / 160mm | 2.7" / 69mm |
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
|
HAIR TYPE |
Badger |
|
BRUSH HOLD |
Conductor's Hold |
|
USAGE |
Softening |
|
MEDIUM |
Water |
|
FERRULE |
Wood |
|
HANDLE |
Wooden round medium |
How-To Brush Care Guide
Prepare your brushes for their first use - read below.
Most of our large and fine hair brushes are hand-set and made with different hairs that are tapped in a small copper cylinder before being glued into the ferrule. This is why some of the hairs are not properly affixed to the ferrule, so the brush will shed some hair the first few times you will use it.
Thick hair: examples are; badger, hog (china bristle), horse hair
Fine hair: examples are sable; squirrel, goat, skunk (fine, thin short hair)
Synthetic Fiber: examples are; taklon, samina, bordeaux, synthetic bristle
To minimize brush shedding, you should:
- Wash the brush thoroughly with a mild dish soap in warm water and massage the hair to comb out the loose bristles. Rinse until there is no soap residue left in the brush.
- Ring the brush out by rolling it between your hands as if you were trying to make a fire with a stick to fluff out the brush.
- Let dry by hanging the brushes or lay it down at the edge of a table (a hog bristle will have a strong odor due to the bone glue used to attach the bristles. This will go away after a few washings.)
Repeat this process a few more times.
All acrylic glazes contain some sort of ammonia which attacks the structure of the natural hair. Therefore, brush maintenance and thorough repetitive cleaning as described in step 1, 2, & 3 is imperative to protect and extend the life of your brush.
Applying a few drops of ‘leave in’ conditioner is also a good idea if you’re not going to be using your brush for some time.
Dried Paint: If some acrylic glaze becomes hardened on the brush, start by removing the heaviest part with denatured alcohol then rinse with water and coat the hairs with Murphy’s Oil Soap and leave for several hours. Apply the steps again from 1, 2, & 3 so the paint will brush out easily and leave your brush as good as new. Be careful as soap left too long in the natural hair will deteriorate the flexibility of the hair.
Proper cleaning procedure
for oil/water and large or small brushes:
| Oil Medium | Water Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Large Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Wash brush with warm water and a lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry upside down. | Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Clean with a tiny bit of lathering soap and rinse until completely clean. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry. |
| Small Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Apply a generous portion of Lard to the tip of the brush and store. To reuse brush, completely thin with spirits. | Clean each small brush very carefully and gently with a tiny bit of lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry . To reshape a brush, dip it in Gum Arabic. |
Round Badger Softener | MB-10
ITEM #: MB-10_Size-14
PRICE: $138.65 Regular price/
Only 34 items in stock!
This densely-packed softener is perfect for all small and detailed areas. Our classic hand mounted badger brush is made out of the finest grouping of water badger hair. Stay clear of the 'BAD'-ger impostor whose hair is made out of goat hair that has been dipped into black paint to look like a real badger. These impostors are far too soft to move the glaze. Stiffer hair is good for softening and easier to clean as you go.
3/4 inch thick, hand selected badger hair, which repels water
Resists fanning out with overuse
Best used with thin reversible water mediums (i.e. gouache, beer glaze)
See also Water Softener- a true innovation for thicker water mediums
Fantastic for burnishing Dutch metal w/o scratching (for gold leaf, Chiqueteur)
Size 2 best for smoothing intricate surfaces
Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
SIZE
BRUSH LENGTH
FERRULE WIDTH
FERRULE LENGTH
HAIR LENGTH
14
9.6" / 24.5cm
.9" / 22mm
.9" / 22mm
2.8 / 71mm
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
HAIR TYPE
Natural Badger Hair
BRUSH HOLD
Pencil Hold
USAGE
Softening; burnishing
MEDIUM
Water
FERRULE
Wire-tied Quill
HANDLE
Wooden round medium
This densely-packed softener is perfect for all small and detailed areas. Our classic hand mounted badger brush is made out of the finest grouping of water badger hair. Stay clear of the 'BAD'-ger impostor whose hair is made out of goat hair that has been dipped into black paint to look like a real badger. These impostors are far too soft to move the glaze. Stiffer hair is good for softening and easier to clean as you go.
- 3/4 inch thick, hand selected badger hair, which repels water
- Resists fanning out with overuse
- Best used with thin reversible water mediums (i.e. gouache, beer glaze)
- See also Water Softener- a true innovation for thicker water mediums
- Fantastic for burnishing Dutch metal w/o scratching (for gold leaf, Chiqueteur)
- Size 2 best for smoothing intricate surfaces
- Clean with a damp cloth and mild soap
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
| SIZE | BRUSH LENGTH | FERRULE WIDTH | FERRULE LENGTH |
HAIR LENGTH |
| 14 | 9.6" / 24.5cm | .9" / 22mm | .9" / 22mm | 2.8 / 71mm |
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
|
HAIR TYPE |
Natural Badger Hair |
|
BRUSH HOLD |
Pencil Hold |
|
USAGE |
Softening; burnishing |
|
MEDIUM |
Water |
|
FERRULE |
Wire-tied Quill |
|
HANDLE |
Wooden round medium |
How-To Brush Care Guide
Prepare your brushes for their first use - read below.
Most of our large and fine hair brushes are hand-set and made with different hairs that are tapped in a small copper cylinder before being glued into the ferrule. This is why some of the hairs are not properly affixed to the ferrule, so the brush will shed some hair the first few times you will use it.
Thick hair: examples are; badger, hog (china bristle), horse hair
Fine hair: examples are sable; squirrel, goat, skunk (fine, thin short hair)
Synthetic Fiber: examples are; taklon, samina, bordeaux, synthetic bristle
To minimize brush shedding, you should:
- Wash the brush thoroughly with a mild dish soap in warm water and massage the hair to comb out the loose bristles. Rinse until there is no soap residue left in the brush.
- Ring the brush out by rolling it between your hands as if you were trying to make a fire with a stick to fluff out the brush.
- Let dry by hanging the brushes or lay it down at the edge of a table (a hog bristle will have a strong odor due to the bone glue used to attach the bristles. This will go away after a few washings.)
Repeat this process a few more times.
All acrylic glazes contain some sort of ammonia which attacks the structure of the natural hair. Therefore, brush maintenance and thorough repetitive cleaning as described in step 1, 2, & 3 is imperative to protect and extend the life of your brush.
Applying a few drops of ‘leave in’ conditioner is also a good idea if you’re not going to be using your brush for some time.
Dried Paint: If some acrylic glaze becomes hardened on the brush, start by removing the heaviest part with denatured alcohol then rinse with water and coat the hairs with Murphy’s Oil Soap and leave for several hours. Apply the steps again from 1, 2, & 3 so the paint will brush out easily and leave your brush as good as new. Be careful as soap left too long in the natural hair will deteriorate the flexibility of the hair.
Proper cleaning procedure
for oil/water and large or small brushes:
| Oil Medium | Water Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Large Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Wash brush with warm water and a lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry upside down. | Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Clean with a tiny bit of lathering soap and rinse until completely clean. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry. |
| Small Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Apply a generous portion of Lard to the tip of the brush and store. To reuse brush, completely thin with spirits. | Clean each small brush very carefully and gently with a tiny bit of lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry . To reshape a brush, dip it in Gum Arabic. |
Bristle Softener | GLZ-14
ITEM #: GLZ-14
PRICE: $94.75 Regular price/
Only 23 items in stock!
What's so special about this oil softener? The answer is in the hand selected batch of natural badger bristle The oil badger has enough spring to move the hard setting glaze (slow-drying acrylics), but soft enough to not leave any brush marks. Use this versatile brush for your largest walls, ceilings, etc. - save loads of time with this workhorse.
Hand selected natural bristle hair
3/4 inch thick, high quality bristle keeps it's shape
Brush 'springs' into action (learn more)
Can be used in thicker water mediums or oil (learn more)
Essential for softening clouds
Use for patinas, ragging, faux leather, & multi color glazing techniques
Brush Care: Water: Wash with soap, Oil: Thinned & wash w/ soap
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
SIZE
BRUSH LENGTH
FERRULE WIDTH
FERRULE LENGTH
HAIR LENGTH
4
10.8" / 27.4cm
1" / 25mm
4.2"/ 106mm
3.3"/ 85mm
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
HAIR TYPE
Natural Bristle
BRUSH HOLD
Conductor's Hold, Baseball Hold
USAGE
Softening large surfaces; corner stippling
MEDIUM
Oil, Water
FERRULE
Wood
HANDLE
Wood round medium
What's so special about this oil softener? The answer is in the hand selected batch of natural badger bristle The oil badger has enough spring to move the hard setting glaze (slow-drying acrylics), but soft enough to not leave any brush marks. Use this versatile brush for your largest walls, ceilings, etc. - save loads of time with this workhorse.
- Hand selected natural bristle hair
- 3/4 inch thick, high quality bristle keeps it's shape
- Brush 'springs' into action (learn more)
- Can be used in thicker water mediums or oil (learn more)
- Essential for softening clouds
- Use for patinas, ragging, faux leather, & multi color glazing techniques
- Brush Care: Water: Wash with soap, Oil: Thinned & wash w/ soap
SIZE TRANSLATIONS
|
SIZE |
BRUSH LENGTH |
FERRULE WIDTH |
FERRULE LENGTH |
HAIR LENGTH |
| 4 | 10.8" / 27.4cm |
1" / 25mm |
4.2"/ 106mm |
3.3"/ 85mm |
BRUSH SPECIFICATIONS
|
HAIR TYPE |
Natural Bristle |
|
BRUSH HOLD |
Conductor's Hold, Baseball Hold |
|
USAGE |
Softening large surfaces; corner stippling |
|
MEDIUM |
Oil, Water |
|
FERRULE |
Wood |
|
HANDLE |
Wood round medium |
How-To Brush Care Guide
Prepare your brushes for their first use - read below.
Most of our large and fine hair brushes are hand-set and made with different hairs that are tapped in a small copper cylinder before being glued into the ferrule. This is why some of the hairs are not properly affixed to the ferrule, so the brush will shed some hair the first few times you will use it.
Thick hair: examples are; badger, hog (china bristle), horse hair
Fine hair: examples are sable; squirrel, goat, skunk (fine, thin short hair)
Synthetic Fiber: examples are; taklon, samina, bordeaux, synthetic bristle
To minimize brush shedding, you should:
- Wash the brush thoroughly with a mild dish soap in warm water and massage the hair to comb out the loose bristles. Rinse until there is no soap residue left in the brush.
- Ring the brush out by rolling it between your hands as if you were trying to make a fire with a stick to fluff out the brush.
- Let dry by hanging the brushes or lay it down at the edge of a table (a hog bristle will have a strong odor due to the bone glue used to attach the bristles. This will go away after a few washings.)
Repeat this process a few more times.
All acrylic glazes contain some sort of ammonia which attacks the structure of the natural hair. Therefore, brush maintenance and thorough repetitive cleaning as described in step 1, 2, & 3 is imperative to protect and extend the life of your brush.
Applying a few drops of ‘leave in’ conditioner is also a good idea if you’re not going to be using your brush for some time.
Dried Paint: If some acrylic glaze becomes hardened on the brush, start by removing the heaviest part with denatured alcohol then rinse with water and coat the hairs with Murphy’s Oil Soap and leave for several hours. Apply the steps again from 1, 2, & 3 so the paint will brush out easily and leave your brush as good as new. Be careful as soap left too long in the natural hair will deteriorate the flexibility of the hair.
Proper cleaning procedure
for oil/water and large or small brushes:
| Oil Medium | Water Medium | |
|---|---|---|
| Large Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Wash brush with warm water and a lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry upside down. | Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Clean with a tiny bit of lathering soap and rinse until completely clean. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry. |
| Small Brushes | Prep brushes by thinning in two or more baths of spirits or until a rag runs free of paint. Apply a generous portion of Lard to the tip of the brush and store. To reuse brush, completely thin with spirits. | Clean each small brush very carefully and gently with a tiny bit of lathering soap. Shake out excess water, quickly form brush shape, and then allow to dry . To reshape a brush, dip it in Gum Arabic. |