Brushes, Continued
Brush hair
CAMEL HAIR: Camel hair is a mixture of squirrel, skunk, badger, and
(Continued)
pony hair. These brushes are extremely soft and have less spring in the
bristles than red sable. Camel hair brushes with very long bristles letter well
on smooth surfaces. Pin stripes are made by a camel hair dagger brush.
Camel hair brights and flats are used for oil and acrylic paint.
OX HAIR: Ox hair brushes are strong bristled brushes. These coarse
bristles are made into flats and brights. Use ox hair brushes to do rigid
lettering and for painting with oils and acrylics.
SYNTHETIC HAIR: Synthetic fiber hair is rapidly replacing natural bristles
in brush construction. Synthetics have the spring and resiliency to withstand
abuse from multi-medium use and chemical cleaners. Fan-shaped brushes
most often appear with synthetic bristles. Synthetic bristle brushes work well
in any medium.
Oil brushes
If you use both water- and oil-based paints, dedicate a set of brushes to oil-
based paints only. After cleaning the brushes and before storing them, add a
drop of oil to the bristles. This keeps the bristles pliable and lessens the
effect of the harsh chemicals used to clean them. Store them in an enclosed
container to m We airborne contaminants. A set of brushes dedicated to
oil-based paints will also eliminate the chance of your confusing them with
brushes used for water-based paints. Once you use a water-based paint
brush in oil-based paints, you should not use it for a water-based pigment
again.
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