floppy brush fix

[Bolton]

my new badger brush seemed way too floppy for me liking, i recently baught it second hand shop for a couple of quid so i cant complain but i wanted to see if i could give it a bit of a backbone so i came up with this idea, take a few small elastic bands any colour of your choice i went for blue and red beause thats all i had lying about and put them around the base of the knot making sure none of the bands get tangled and twisted or any hair gets caught in between the bands push them all down nice and tight and voila a new and improved brush with a bit more backbone to it.


before after

after doing this it lathers up a miles better that it did before imo, so there you have it if anyone else has the same problem give it a try

 

[Omak]

Where did you get the elastic bands?

I imagine I could use a regular rubber band wrapped around a couple times.

Do the bands roll up the brush as you're lathering or stay at the bottom and still look nice after?

 

[Wingnut]

Very nice job! Another option is to go to your local hardware store and get some rubber O-rings of the appropriate diameter. Although your work looks really good, some folks might not have the patience to get something that neat. With those O-rings, though, it's perfect-looking every time.

 

[Alum of Potash]

Nice idea. I use my forefinger to rein in the bristles a bit.

 

[Bolton]

you should be able to get the elastic bands in most places i should imagine, they are the really small ones. these was just some i found lying around the house but worked perfectly you could try a large band and wrap it around but i think using small one makes it easier and looks much nicer and to be honest it took me around 5 mins from finding the bands to to putting them on the brush it wasnt difficult at all

 

[Bolton]

no they didnt budge a bit i think because the top of the brush tends to mushroom out it keeps the bands from rising up the knot and coming off, its a simple idea but if but if your fed up with a floppy brush this work great

 

[beardybrewer]

That's funny, when I was trying to figure out what loft to get on a new brush I used a fat zip-tie on a floppy badger.


Not quite a neat looking as yours. Glad it worked for you.

 

[Bolton]

That's funny, when I was trying to figure out what loft to get on a new brush I used a fat zip-tie on a floppy badger.

View attachment 278002
Not quite a neat looking as yours. Glad it worked for you.

cheers lol, i suppose thats another way to do it

 

[Comet]

Some people have used O-rings as well.

 

[wrinkles2]

A guy on the B&B Facebook page suggested kraft twine (String) on floppy brushes.

 

[Bolton]

I cant say i know what an O-ring is other than the one you wipe but each to there own whatever takes your fancy you could use string or what ever takes you fancy really as long as it keeps the base of the brush nice and tight you all good

 

[Loric]

I only use them on brushes with no clear alternative choice with a lower loft. However, when such unique brushes find their way to me, I am not above using an O rings on them.

 

[merkur59]

Brilliant!

 

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

Where did you get the elastic bands?

I imagine I could use a regular rubber band wrapped around a couple times.

Elastic bands is British for rubber bands

 

[beardybrewer]

O-rings is a great long-term idea. Thanks!

 

[johnh]

Neat trick.

 

[Bolton]

I think the only problem with the O-rings shown in the picture is they seem to be fixed at a certain size making it difficult finding the exact size to fit around the knot nice and snug, whereas with the elastic bands if you use them a bit smaller than the knot and stretch it over it keeps it nice and tight and they dont slide up and down the knot if you know what i mean

 

[njpaddy]

I remember using a couple of O-rings on my first brush. I still didn't like it and replaced the brush. Nice handle on that brush Bolton.

 

[Bolton]

I remember using a couple of O-rings on my first brush. I still didn't like it and replaced the brush. Nice handle on that brush Bolton.

Thanks njpaddy the handle is solid metal in chrome with a really nice weight to it I've still got no idea who it was made by

 

[bythbook]

you might be interested in this old thread re floppy brush fixes...

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showth...-floppy-izing-brushes!?highlight=velcro+brush

Jon