Thread: Brush stands - do you really need them?

I have always used a stand, always hung the brush bristles down for 24 hours or so. I've been doing this since around 1973 without exception, so I don't know whether it is 'necessary,' but I wouldn't feel comfortable trying a different system. YMMV.

Life insurance and car and home insurance isn't necessary but we buy it anyway, I just don't want to wake up with a bunch of exotic woods and ivory ruined because I didn't hang it. Tc

When I'm done with my brush, I rinse it, then whip the devil out of it behind the shower door. A couple of hours later, it is dry. I've done this for a decade, and have encountered no ill effects.

I dry a shaving brush, just as I was taught to clean a paint brush, except that I use a Microfiber towel in place of a rag.

Rinse well, ring out the water and blot on the microfiber towel, on the counter, drape the microfiber over an open hand, as if you were shaking hands, then vigorously shake the brush over the hand, so the tips brush the edge of the hand and the towel, centrifugal force drives the water to the tips and the towel wicks it up.

Turn the brush a quarter turn and do another 10 flicks. Blot on the towel in the palm of the hand and reposition the towel so a dry part is over the index finger and do another 20 shakes. At the end of 40 shakes the brush is almost completely dry to the touch.

Hang brush tips down on a clear Lexan, chrome or nickel stand and as said in an hour or two is dry.

Just is out for me. I used to use them all the time, but stopped. Never use them now.

Not sure if that is a good idea or not. But my #1... a Thater... seems to dry really quickly using a stand or not.

I rotate my brushes so they have plenty of time to thoroughly dry between uses. I have most of my brushes on stands but I have a few I just keep on end and I've seen no deterioration in those brushes. All of my working brushes are resin handled so I don't have a wood issue. Maybe if I only had one brush and it had a nice wood handle on it I'd have a different opinion.

I agree that the danger area is deep in the knot and I think any single brush used day in and day out will never completely dry and that can't be a good thing. That's probably a good reason to have two brushes.

Never used a brush stand before but I do so now on the same basis as giving a dead man a drink of water, it can't hurt any. I am not sure if hanging a brush inverted really helps because of the capillary action of liquids.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

Bob

Interesting point but the link is wrong. Try here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

Originally Posted by 32t

Interesting point but the link is wrong. Try here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

Yup, goofed up again.

Bob

Stands are cheap. Even if they don't really help, they won't do any harm. They can keep your brush from getting knocked over and tumbling out of the cabinet onto a hard floor, which certainly carries a risk.