Hanging Brushes up to dry.

When I was growing up I remember shaving brushes just standing up on the counter in the bathroom. All the men of the house used them daily and then just sat them back down. I remember over the years visiting friends bathrooms and seeing their dads or brothers brushes sat on their ends too.

I notice when I look at threads and online shops that most seem to reccomend hanging the brush up to dry and they like selling the stands for a pretty penny too.

Personally I have always just shaken my brushes out after use and stood them up to dry. I have lived all over the world in many climates and I have never had a brush go stinky or mouldy etc etc. except when its been put in my bag wet when travelling, and thats the only issues I have had, but nothing a good wash and air didn't sort out.

My friend Paul is still using his granddads brush, it does look a little worse for wear but then again its got to be at least 40 years old as he has had it that long. He shakes it out and sits in on its base, no issues he recalls.

So my question is really to the guys that sit their brushes on their bases;

Do you personally feel that sitting your shaken out brush on its end following a shave is detrimental to it's health?

Do you personally feel that hanging a brush is a trend or a cunning marketing ploy? Or is there something in it?

Do you personally feel that if your brush does die slightly premeturly it's all for the greater good as you get a new brush?

Good thread Kev.

I think that any moisture evaporates from the brush as long as its exposed to air.

I've never had a brush stand, and It hasn't caused me any trouble. However, I have nothing against brush stands. They look nice and keep a brush from toppling over.

Michael

I think I had the same brush for over a decade, I started wet shaving with cartridge razors/disposables with any conviction when I was about 18 I suppose, I don't ever remember buying a new brush, excepting the first one so that was 17 years ago, that brush died about 6 months ago, I killed it and another cheapie I got with early boiling water scuttle experements. I reckon if I hadn't destroyed it with stupidity then it would still be going.
I would hold my shave stick in my right hand, brush in my left hand, rub the brush over the stick (usually the wrapper or bits thereof too) lather up shave, sort if rinse out the brush, probably dry it a bit on a towel and pop it down, no stand.

1959-1960 about when I started shaving. there was my farther and 2 older brothers. we all used the same razor-brush. I still use the brush. it's an Eveready boar brush. there is a small crack in the side other than that it's ok. it has sat on its base laid on it's side and stood up in the mug. I plan on using it for many more years. it has never molded mildewed or any other damage. so it's anyway a person want's to keep it . just rinse it shake it and let it dry. kind of like other things.

I've done both. I used to stand my brushes up on the handles. The el cheapo Ever Ready brush lost some boar hairs over its lifetime, but was none the worse for wear.

My experience with a more recent purchase--a more expensive Caswell Massey badger brush--was different. After 2-3 years of standing it on its handle, the entire knot came out of the handle when I was shaking the excess water from it.

I think the difference may be a change in manufacturing techniques. Perhaps brush makers have changed the adhesive used in today's brushes. Doing so may have resulted in creating brushes where th adhesive may deteriorate when moisture is allowed to soak into it.

Just my 2 cents.

I think brushes should be hung to dry for at least 24 Hrs prior to storing them upright.
Granted, Cappilary action will dry the hairs,but you do have sort of a reservoir that will collect a small amt of water that needs to drain I feel.

My thought is along the lines of what Pixie said and it sure can't hurt any.

Bob

I too have done both, I have an old Simpson and a wooden handled boar brush that I have had and used for well over 30 years. I never hung them until about 10 years ago. Now I hang all my brushes to dry then on the base to store. I have a rotation of about a dozen and collection of about 50 more.

You can buy the plastic stands under 5 dollars. I do dry my brushes well on a micro fiber towel, a terry cloth towel works almost as well, by dabbing the brush tip down on the towel driving the water from the brush into the towel. Then draping the towel over the fingers of an open hand and flagging the brush tips across the edge of the top fingers. 10-20 back and forth laps will leave the brush almost completely dry to the touch.

I do believe hanging keeps the water from the glue plug and may prolong the life of a brush, it couldn’t hurt. On the other hand, I do collect brushes and still fine many old brushes with a full head of hair.

This is an old holdover from when brushes were constructed with a more porous base material. Inverting the brush was the best way to drain residual water out of the base. Today, the epoxy resins used to secure the bristles are entirely waterproof, virtually negating any benefit with inversion. Some of my brushes are in stands because I like the look, while others are standing on the handle. Here is how I dry my brush.

1. Rinse with warm water, then shake gently a few times over the sink.

2. Gently brush and squeeze the brush on a towel.

3. Gently use centrifugal force to shake out any remaining water by swinging it through the air.

Hang or stand upright. In an air conditioned environment my brushes are dry in less than four hours.

Squeeze it,, shake it,, let it hang. :beer2:

Recently I've restored a few of the Rubberset Aluminium brushes with long bristles - you would be amazed at the amount of rock hard crud that builds up above whatever they used in place of epoxy. Just cutting off the knot near the base will take the edge off a craft knife. This leads me to prefer the hanging method - after a thorough wash and shake of course.

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I think brushes should be hung to dry for at least 24 Hrs prior to storing them upright.
Granted, Cappilary action will dry the hairs,but you do have sort of a reservoir that will collect a small amt of water that needs to drain I feel.

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That is exactly what I've been doing since beginning to use a brush in '73 or so. I have a small stand and a larger one for the bigger knots. I rinse, shake out, and hang for approximately 24 hours and then stand the brush on end until the next use. I have a few so I rotate and never use the same brush two days in a row. Not saying it is the "right" way, or the only way, but it is my way. :)

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Squeeze it,, shake it,, let it hang. :beer2:

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When you get my age John,you will understand the true meaning of the above:)

Gentlemen,
After drying, gently shaking and fluffing the knot, I rest the brush handle in the opening of the water tank on my Moss scuttle with the knot pointing down at an angle. The brush stays in that position until the next morning, when I gently comb the bristle and stand the brush on end on the shelf. My brush collection has been reduced to seven silvertips, one for each day.

So I made a stand for nothing?!:aargh:

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Originally Posted by Gammaray

This is an old holdover from when brushes were constructed with a more porous base material. Inverting the brush was the best way to drain residual water out of the base. Today, the epoxy resins used to secure the bristles are entirely waterproof, virtually negating any benefit with inversion.

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Now thats interesting and if that is the case then there is really no point in worrying too much about hanging the brush.

I set mine on their end, but I must say, I really like the "presentation" of a hanging brush, whether it hangs in a stand or from a wall doohickey.

I was wondering how long it would take for this question to resurface. :)

I am assured by very knowledgeable peoples that standing your brush up is fine (eg: http://straightrazorpalace.com/brush...tml#post403505). Apparently there's even a calculation proving it, but there was not enough room in the margin of that post to write it down completely.

Or hanging it upside down is fine also.

Like with drying anything, for best results you should remove as much excess moisture as possible initially and then put it somewhere dry and airy to dry out.

James.

Well, I guess I've been doing the ultimate test for years now. I have some brushes in stands and some I just leave on end. I notice absolutely no differences in any way between the two groups. They are all badger brushes.

I don't figure it matters much, but I feel the knot tightens up and keeps the water toward the handle. Gravity sucks, so hanging is better, IMO
Also, some of mine don't sit on the handle end, so I hang mine!

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Originally Posted by kevinred

Now thats interesting and if that is the case then there is really no point in worrying too much about hanging the brush.

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Oh,,,but is it the case??,,,has this thread concluded that hanging a brush is pointless? :shrug:
I, along with a few others, don't believe it has. :nono:
So the mystery continues,,,,,,:D

I think a matter of common sense,water runs downhill,You have a small void where water (even a few drops) can collect, the bore of the handle.
The soaps we use are all Alkaline (low PH) badger hair is a natural material,soak it in a solution that is not in the normal PH range (7.0)
And the hair will slowly degrade.
The adhiesives will not be effected in any way.

The way I look at it, there's a reason that most brushes have a flat bottom on the handle ;)

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Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

The way I look at it, there's a reason that most brushes have a flat bottom on the handle ;)

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So they don't fall over when they are full of lather. :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

So they don't fall over when they are full of lather. :)

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That's what a scuttle or bowl is for…just like our forefathers did :)

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Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

The way I look at it, there's a reason that most brushes have a flat bottom on the handle ;)

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That's right,,if they had a pointed bottom, you could put an eye out.

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Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

That's what a scuttle or bowl is for…just like our forefathers did :)

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Well if you use a shave stick and face lather there is no bowl or scuttle. But I am not trying to start anything.

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

That's right,,if they had a pointed bottom, you could put an eye out.

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Can ya hold that opposite? I have a hard time seeing!!

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Well if you use a shave stick and face lather there is no bowl or scuttle. But I am not trying to start anything.

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What? eh? eH? EH? :shrug: :rofl2:
Seriously, I am a pretty much face-latherer. What stick and brush do you use? I can honestly say that I have never used a stick!

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Well if you use a shave stick and face lather there is no bowl or scuttle. But I am not trying to start anything.

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Hmmm...good point. I wonder what they did before shave sticks.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Can ya hold that opposite? I have a hard time seeing!!

What? eh? eH? EH? :shrug: :rofl2:
Seriously, I am a pretty much face-latherer. What stick and brush do you use? I can honestly say that I have never used a stick!

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Palmolive shave soap Sticks were my staple for years.

The way I see it...

El Cheapo brushes: who cares, if something happens you can replace them easily.
$100+ Silvertip Brushes: I'm not taking any chances, they'll be stored tips down.

Rinse, shake, then stored with bristles pointed toward heaven.

I'll add that once a month, or so, I give them a good cleaning with shampoo.

The only way I would think it would be an issue is if the adhesive used didn't have a good seal around the knot allowing water to settle under the knot and pop it out over time. If it hasn't happen within a year of use I would continue standing it. The only thing that I believe would affect the hairs are, leaving it in a cup bristles down and/or with soap left in it.

I think it's more important how often you use it. In my case I have enough brushes so I rotate maybe every week and a half so no matter how I store it will be thoroughly dry. If you use the same brush every day drying becomes more critical.

I'm one of the lazy crowd who just stand it on its end. I squeeze it out then shake it as hard as I can where it won't splash the mirror then squeeze again to compact the bristles again. I've had the same Rubberset Pure Badger for at least 25 years and couple times a year or so, I get distracted and just leave it sitting on a soap puck to dry out. Here's a pic, a little out of focus and with the usual soap scum still attached:
Attachment 153173
I can't remember where I got it, new or at a flea market or garage sale but I suppose if I had something expensive I might take better care of it while still standing it on its end.:D

I used to care more, now I just shake my brushes sufficiently and sit them to dry. No issues. Mind you I may be a bit more concerned if the handle was made of wood.

My Badger looks as good as the day I bought it 4 years ago (or was it 3). I shake it out and then hang it. I gets used every other day now, was every day for awhile when I was using DE.

As an addition to the OPs question, I see new stands that have the collar of the stand around the base of the bristles, rather than handle. Seems to me this could cause damage to the outer hairs.

yea my badger looks as good as the day I got him too but he don't like being hung upside down. It makes the blood flow to his head and he gets even meaner or more ornery. He simply won't let me lather him up like that.