Softeners

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      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      from $80.25
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      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      from $91.90
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      Bristle Softener | GLZ-14
      $87.75

      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      Badger Softener | GLZ-15
      Badger Softener | GLZ-15

      Badger Softener | GLZ-15

      GLZ-15_Size-02

      $80.25
      /
      Shipping calculated at checkout.

      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" / 20mm 2.2" / 55mm 2.6" / 65mm
      4 .8" / 20mm 4.1" / 104mm 2.7"/ 69mm
      6 .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:

      1. 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.
      2. 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.
      3. 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
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10
      Round Badger Softener | MB-10

      Round Badger Softener | MB-10

      MB-10_Size-14

      $128.40
      /
      Shipping calculated at checkout.
      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 .85" / 21.5mm .85" / 21.5mm 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:

      1. 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.
      2. 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.
      3. 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

      Bristle Softener | GLZ-14

      GLZ-14

      $87.75
      /
      Shipping calculated at checkout.

      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

      4"/100mm

      		 3.9"/100mm

      3"/80mm

        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:

        1. 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.
        2. 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.
        3. 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.