Possible to "re-tip" sable brushes?

Jano · #1 03-13-2010, 03:03 PM

I have a whole set of WN series 7 that I (unfortunately) rubbed the tips off of; does anybody know of a way to fix these? I once saw an article about 15-10 years ago where somebody removed the hairs from the ferule, dumped them into a tiny shaped funnel, and the created a new ferule to hold them to the handle........this seemed like a lot of messing about, but now that I have a handful of ruined brushes, I am looking for answers. What about simply cutting them with a razor blade?

Has anybody ever fixed their worn out sables?

Faafil · #2 03-13-2010, 03:51 PM

Hi Janet!!

Do they just not hold the point any longer? If so, I've been able to repoint brushes by dipping them in straight gum arabic, pointing them with my fingers and let them dry for a week or two. They will be trained to point again.

If you have Series 7, I'd be hesitant to start cutting them with a razor, unless you want to practice on a really inexpensive brush first. You're braver than I am!!

Good luck with this!!

**Brenda Y** · #3 03-13-2010, 05:12 PM

I'm with Mary Lou, try the gum arabic first. It'd be awfully tricky to cut them and have it come out correctly!!

rcollege · #4 03-14-2010, 01:34 PM

Jano,

I have made my own brushes...out of various hairs. Unfortunately it is the individual hairs that no longer have their tips. The value of sable is that each hair comes from a belly to a needle point.
Cutting them off and arranging them into a new brush head will most likley not give you back the pointing capability. Also, half of the hair is in the ferrule, so you'll end up with a short brush.
I would use them for what they are, wash brushes.
DO NOT TRIM THEM...it damages the hair and the shape will suffer even more.

If you tend to scrub when painting then I would recomend squirrel or synthetic brushes. Squirrel hair is very fine and with a little patience the point will go EXACTLY where you want it. I am always suprised to find a mop pointing and following the line I have it paint. It requires a lighter touch, and some getting used to (a lot less time than you'd think)...an flow with it.
Winsor newtons have a good squirrel mop to try...go larger rather than small...a good #5 will be able to do all the details with exception of the eyelashes. BTW squirrel dagger brushes are what the use to pinstripe automobils.

Synthetics are also good...but scrubbing will dull them as well...so far the only brushes who's tip lasts are squirrels, black velvets, cosmo spin quills...but don't needle point.

HarvestMoon · #5 03-14-2010, 03:56 PM

I tried Mary Lou's tip, and it worked for me!!

Granola Girl · #6 03-15-2010, 10:57 AM

Another tip someone gave me once... I use a bar of pure soap (like Ivory, no colour or scent added) for washing my brushes. After I wash and rinse my brush, I pick up some soap on the brush again (just a little bit), shape it and let it dry. The soap stiffens when it dries.

So far my brushes are holding their shape well, but I'll have to bookmark this page for future reference... thanks Mary Lou!

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