Horse hair brush

I'm a newbie, experimenting with different kinds of brushes. I used a horse hair brush for the first time today. It worked great, I'm very pleased. My horse hair brush is a little bit stiffer with a smaller knot to boot. It also cost less than either my Badger or Boar. It stinks when its wet but I can live with the smell. Now I have three brushes in rotation.

I always wash new brushes with shampoo and if you have a good quality hair conditioner that will help too. Some come with a bit of smell but it should wash away with a time or two.

Historically, horse was the brush for the masses until the Anthrax scares in the early 20th century. Then they shifted to boar but horse is making a comeback.

Horse makes a great brush. I have Vie Long's 12601. A small, brown horse hair knot. It is a great little brush. Well worth having, IMO.

SRNewb,
I have the same model Vie Long. BTW here's how I hang a brush to dry. This is called a "Jug Knot", look it up on You Tube.
Attachment 230462

I've been thinking about a horse. Never tried one to date.

Does the smell come out of the brush once you wash it once or twice?

Wolfman,
I've used my horse hair brush about a dozen times now and the smell is gone.

I also have a Vie long horse hair I picked up in Asheville, NC while on vacation a few years ago. I really love it on hard tallow soaps.

I enjoy mine too. It works up a lather really well. I like the backbone just right.

A few tablespoons of Oxyclean in a coffee cup. Hairs down, add water to the handle. Fizz, fizz.
Love mine!

When I was a house painter I used camel hair brushes a lot and they lasted more than synthetic, soft enough, maybe on the stiff side but that is what I need for my thick omnidirectional whiskers that are like barb wire. The paint brush I use never really stunk so smell I don't think will be an issue, what do you guys think? To stiff, to expensive?Attachment 233673

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Originally Posted by razorjoe

When I was a house painter I used camel hair brushes a lot and they lasted more than synthetic, soft enough, maybe on the stiff side but that is what I need for my thick omnidirectional whiskers that are like barb wire. The paint brush I use never really stunk so smell I don't think will be an issue, what do you guys think? To stiff, to expensive?Attachment 233673

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You just THINK that camel's ass stinks! Run any variety of new brushes across the nose, during the shave, and gagging shall ensue. Boar, Horse, badger, they all stink, IMO
Money does not necessarily buy non-stinkage, FME. Any brush coming in gets the Oxyclean. Vintage, or new!
YMMV

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Originally Posted by razorjoe

When I was a house painter I used camel hair brushes a lot and they lasted more than synthetic, soft enough, maybe on the stiff side but that is what I need for my thick omnidirectional whiskers that are like barb wire. The paint brush I use never really stunk so smell I don't think will be an issue, what do you guys think? To stiff, to expensive?Attachment 233673

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Interesting. My dad was a house painter and back in the old days boar was considered the premium brush for a house painter. Camel hair was the preferred material for very fine and detailed work especially artists used them.

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Originally Posted by WolfMan77

Does the smell come out of the brush once you wash it once or twice?

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I killed the smell of mine by soaking in warm Oxy Clean.

Wolfman77,
It goes away after 10 or twelve uses. It's really not that bad of an odor to begin with.

I need to get a few more brushes in my rotation. I'm thinking I will try Horse and Boar.

Razor Joe,
My Grandfather and Father were sign painters. I learned how to care for Camel hair and Sable brushes before I could ride a bike. Boar hair brushes for sign painters are usually very large brushes, that we used on surfaces like concrete or brick buildings. Dad called those brushes " Punch Brushes ". He would "punch" the paint into the rough surface instead of making a stroke. Sorry to say, computers have made sign painting a lost art. Freddie

When I would paint french doors I would always cut in with Camel hair brush, if using oil base we had soak cans we would use. Paint thinner or turpentine in a bucket with a lid and after we spun them dry we would wrap the brush in plastic wrap. Always take care of good things and they will take care of you. Camel hair brush would cost more, but they lasted longer if I took care of them.Attachment 233761 These Century pure boar bristle were bought in 1970 by my brother, and now I use them, take care of any good shaving brush and it should last you along time.

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Money does not necessarily buy non-stinkage

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I've always suspected this was true...now that you have put words to it Thomas, I'm taking it to the bank.

I used to use a badger flaying brush on a few decorative finishes back in the day. Cost a pile but paid for itself quickly.
How scritchy are the tips on a horse hair? I've been considering checking one out off and on for a while.