Very quick question: Do I have to hang my brush?

[Bellac]

Do I have to hang my brush on a stand or can I leave it standing with the hairs pointing up vertically. I am mostly concerned with my brush's longevity. I would like to to last at least 5 years, its a $30 dollar brush so it's not like I am expecting it to last forever.

[plpenn]

Very quick answer: No

I do but there was just a thread saying it is not a must and will not greatly effect the life of the knot as long as you shake it and set it in an area where it can dry.

[turtle]

I've stood the brush my father gave me on end for the past 45 years. It still works fine. The super badger and silver tip I recently bought I put on a stand for some reason (unknown to me). The main thing is to dry it before storing it (squeeze, lightly shake, then squeeze it in your towel)

So I guess the answer is.... what every you want to do should be fine :)

[acutao]

If it has a wood handle that has not been stabilized (resin impregnated), I would hang it. Capillary action will still draw water up into the handle, but gravity will help keep it out in my opinion.

I have a 1305 that I never soak close to the handle, and always hang. The handle is like the day I bought it.

[bbarton713]

I always rinse the brush well, squeeze dry, and then squeeze dry while wrapped in a dry towel. I've never hung any of them and they all seem to be doing well. I read that you should never shake a brush by Gary Young of Simpson Brush family fame.

If you find yourself in possession of some cool rack designed to hang brushes give it a go but I wouldn't waste money or shelf space with one.

[ouch]

The one cent solution.

[Slash McCoy]

I don't hang mine, but they are all plastic handles. I don't get too medieval about wringing them out, either. I think you damage the bristles more by a hard wringing than by leaving them wet. However, if I had a $100+ brush especially with a wood handle, I would probably hang it.

[Blue58]

If it has a wood handle that has not been stabilized (resin impregnated), I would hang it. Capillary action will still draw water up into the handle, but gravity will help keep it out in my opinion.

I have a 1305 that I never soak close to the handle, and always hang. The handle is like the day I bought it.

Actually this would be completely wrong..... One of the unique factors of capillary action is that it works against gravity. So hanging a brush will not keep the water from getting to the wood handle.

So the short answer is ... hang it or stand it up really doesn't make much difference. Allowing the brush to dry completely between uses is the most important factor.

[turtle]

The one cent solution.

You are using the wrong type of knot for your brushes....

[Rogier D.]

You are using the wrong type of knot for your brushes....

[ouch]

You are using the wrong type of knot for your brushes....

That's my necktie, courtesy of Mrs. Ouch.

[acutao]

Actually this would be completely wrong..... One of the unique factors of capillary action is that it works against gravity. So hanging a brush will not keep the water from getting to the wood handle.

Newton's third law? Just like capillary action is working against gravity, gravity can work against the capillary. Don't hang your brush, and they are working together towards an evil destruction.

[jkingrph]

Actually this would be completely wrong..... One of the unique factors of capillary action is that it works against gravity. So hanging a brush will not keep the water from getting to the wood handle.

So the short answer is ... hang it or stand it up really doesn't make much difference. Allowing the brush to dry completely between uses is the most important factor.

I agree, but the orginal poster said that hanging might "help" keep water out. I hang mine, prefering to have gravity fight capillary action vs assisting it!!

I suppose we could all argue our ideas and theories, but I'll stick to min no matter what.

[Luc]

You are using the wrong type of knot for your brushes....

This is giving me an idea...

[Ski-Patroller]

Gary Young of Simpson fame said if Simpson wanted you to hang the brush up they would have put an eye in the handle. He was emphatic that they should stand up on their handle.

[shaverjoe]

No

[Blade Boy]

I think if you shake them out well and brush them on a towel, and stand them up you should have no problems, wood or any others material.

[OldSaw]

I have never had a problem either way. However, I remember someone on here weighing some brushes over several days and compared the drying of both methods. It appears that standing on the base of the handle eeked out a small victory over hanging.

One theory is that standing allows the hairs to splay out and allow more surface area to be exposed to the atmosphere. Depending on how it is hung a hanging brush can cause the hairs to compact, especially if using a plastic stand.

I still use my stand for one of my brushes that resides at my cottage and only gets used on weekends during the summer when I am there. My Vulfix badger brush, which gets used most days, stands on the base and has not had even one hair fall out since getting it seven months ago. Conversely, my Omega boar brush simply gets stuffed into my dopp kit after a brief brushing across a towel and it is holding up wonderfully after a couple of years of this treatment.

[mftoms59]

NO! simply a Marketing Ploy, save your money for the Important Stuff...Any A.D.

Add, found this; http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...150#post671150

[jsj_297]

Nope