I use the cheap brushes that come with the Flex Coat kit and they don't seem to do a good job. I'm thinking of getting a better brush and use epoxy cleaner .
Bill

I use Testors nylon brushes and clean them. The 1/4 inch flat brush is almost a combined spatula and brush. The bristles will never come out of the brush.

I use Golden Taklon brushes from Dick Blick. I use a range of flats depending on the width of my wraps. A good quality brush, if taken care of will last a long time.



...................

Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Someone on this site years ago recommended the red handled Plaid brand Painter brushes and they're the best for the money I have found. They come in various widths, about $2 apiece, and clean up well with acetone. I get mine in the craft section of Walmart but most any craft store should carry them.

What do you use for Brush Cleaner? 91%Alcohol-Acetone-Naptha?

the best brush is no brush at all. i think better results are to be had with spatulas (for applying finish on wraps).

Bill,

I've got a large selection of brushes available to me by just taking them off the shelf, but I keep going back to the Flex Coat 1/8" Purple brushes. They're stiffer than the 1/4" Yellow brushes making it easier to distribute the finish if you get too much on. The 1/4" brushes will hold a lot of finish which many builders like, but IMO don't have the "backbone" to distribute lage amounts of finish evenly. On large/long wraps, I'll even crimp them to spread them out as shown in Scott's photos below.

[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]
[www.rodbuilding.org]

When I was using Sable brushes, I'd clean them with Alcohol and them store them in Flex Coat or U-40 cleaner. That keeps them soft because of the "conditioner' in it. I'd hit them again with Alcohol before use. Alcohol or Acetone works for cleaning, but used alone tends to dry the brush out making it stiff.

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/2007 11:28AM by Mark Griffin.

I use mostly Sable brushes & clean them in U40 Brush cleaner & thoroughly dry them with a paper towel. I haven't found the need to use anything else. As long as they are properly cleaned they remain soft & supple. However I did purchase some of the 1/8" & 1/4" brushes from @#$%& but have not tried them yet.

Regards
Dave

Fishing is Life the rest is just Details

When you speak of alcohol are you talking about denatured or rubbing ? Mark, what brand of wrapping machine is that in your photo's ? Thanks

Denatured/Pac Bay machine

Mark Griffin
[]
C&M Custom Tackle
San Dimas, California

The best brush is a spatula. I watched Ralp O'Quinn's demo's twice and I'm convinced for guides and wraps I going to use a spatula.


Dan Hogan

I picked up some faux sable brushes at my local Ben Franklin's Arts and Craft shop. One is a flat 1/8" brush which is almost stiff enough to qualify as a pallet knife/spatula. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to meet most rodbuilding needs. They're a tad pricier than the Flex Coat versions, but much nicer. Much nicer. I use Flex Coat Epoxy Brush Cleaner.
Tight lines,
Hunter

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!