Thread: Do you soak the entire brush?

For those of you who soak your brush,

Do you soak just the bristles or the entire brush?

I just got a badger brush and I don't want to mess it up, but I'm having a hard time keeping it propped up in my mug while soaking due to the soft bristles. My boar brush used to stay up just fine. It seems like I've seen tutorial videos where guys have their entire brush sitting in a sinkful of water.

What do you think?

I just soak the bristles but, like you, I've seen the whole brush soaking in photos and videos. I don't know if it would hurt anything but I wouldn't do it.

I like my handle dry.

I soak... whatever goes under water when I fill up my scuttle. Cause I like to warm the scuttle and brush at the same time.

So then is soaking the entire brush bad for the knot/glue?

Originally Posted by Dulouz

So then is soaking the entire brush bad for the knot/glue?

Wait for more replies from people who do soak the entire brush. IMO it may not do it any harm but it couldn't do it any good. I wouldn't take the chance. You could call a vendor of shaving brushes and ask their opinion.

I leave mine in my scuttle and the scuttle submerged in the sink full of hot water while I shower. I use hot water from the tap, I don't use boiling water.

The glue should be waterproof so that should not be a problem and as long as the knot dries between uses that shouldn't be a problem either.

Personally I don't soak. I just put the brush under hot tap water before use.

I just drop my brush in the sink - the water's not too hot. I also float my soap in the sink, it's the Wilkinson Sword stuff in the blue container. I use the lid to put excess foam in and float that as well. It keeps everything warm. So far it hasn't done any damage to my brush which itself must be at least a hundred years old. I've got a scuttle waiting for me at home though when I get back so I'll be using that to soak my brush from then on.

I completely submerge my brushes when I soak them (Vulfix superbadger and Jaguar boar brushes). Can't say that it's the right thing to do, but I've been doing it for a couple of years with no ill effects. It's sort of an experiment, since I'm kind of hoping it gives me an excuse to buy a much nicer brush one day.

The water isn't boiling, but our hot tap water is cranked up waaay too high, so it's hot enough that you can't stick your finger in it for more than a split second without burning.