Need a Brush? Make Your Own!! (Pic Heavy)

[British Red]

Still loving this thread - my hazel is too thin to try this - but next time I get some thicker stuff I will!

 

[Toddy]

Brilliant Steve thank you

cheers,
M

 

[woodsorrel]

I have really enjoyed reading this thread. I am very impressed with everyone's brushes and will scout around for some hazel.

- Woodsorrel

 

[Kepis]

Had another go this morning (whilst i should have been working) with a tiny piece of hazel i found out back;

to those that provided advice on the peeling process, you were spot on,m keep going around the stick and eventually it just peels away in nice long strips, will get some longer pieces of hazel later in the week and give it another crack and try to make a longer/larger brush, also need to spend some time working the fibres on this one to make them finer, but need to do some work first

 

[Goatboy]

Don't know how I missed this thread Mesquite. Really interesting and some cracking work by folks. I'm going to have to give it a wee go. Hazel is a bit thin on the ground around me here but going to give willow and ash a wee try.

 

[Toddy]

Part Done

]

Finished

 

[Toddy]

Okay, not brilliant, but if I can do it, so can the rest of you

atb,
M

 

[Viktor]

Those brushes looks great.
Got to try this one myself, thanks so much for sharing.

 

[Mesquite]

Okay, not brilliant, but if I can do it, so can the rest of you

Not brilliant Mary? That's superb and a darn sight better my first attempt, well done

 

[Stanleythecat]

These all look great. I tried with some hazel first but had another go with some willow and found I could get a finer pull straight away. Crappy splintery wood has its uses!

Edit 'wood' not 'would'! Bloody predictive text!!

 

[Toddy]

No shortage of willow round here...... I might have another play

Thank you

atb,
M

 

[Goatboy]

I'm having trouble with the willow, but it's fresh cut. Do folks find it better to leave it for a bit? Will persevere and post once done.

 

[John Fenna]

Not brilliant Mary? That's superb and a darn sight better my first attempt, well done

Very nice indeed!

 

[Mesquite]

I'm having trouble with the willow, but it's fresh cut. Do folks find it better to leave it for a bit? Will persevere and post once done.

No idea with willow but hazel and birch are best done green

 

[Kepis]

Tried a piece of willow earlier, although the fibre ran, i couldn't get them to run long enough, might have been the bit of wood though as it's been cut for about two months

 

[Goatboy]

Tried a piece of willow earlier, although the fibre ran, i couldn't get them to run long enough, might have been the bit of wood though as it's been cut for about two months

Aye I'm afraid that the grain might not rum well or long in it. The only hazel near me is over in the next valley. Not sure why there's none in ours. (May have to do some gorilla planting!)

There is some Ash I have access to, may try that next. Or hit the local birch, though some has a wavy grain 'round here. Cheers for the info.

 

[Mesquite]

An couple updates from Ulf over on the FB group page where he's tried making the brushes from bird cherry.

Made a new brush today of Bird Cherry (Prunus Padus). And it´s the best Wood I used so far for this woork. With this wood Its a big possibility to do great brushes and brooms....Or did I just get lucky?

With the kids upp on the lake, I made my second brusch in Bird Cherry. Its a perfect Wood to make a Broom of, Esy to woork with, hard and strong fibers. But not so good to make a brush of, becouse the fibers is not soft enough

 

[Toddy]

Yess I used gean (our wild cherry) for my first attempt and it worked. Not well, but it was a first attempt.
A broom and not a brush, he says; I would have to agree. Mine was coarse

I'm never going to make them as well as he does but I can make something useable, so I suppose it's not that terrible.

atb,
M

 

[Stew]

Toddy, your attempts look great. My attempts are nowhere close!

 

[Biker]

WOW! ... just wow. That really is quite something!

Thanks for sharing this Steve. I'd like to see that Farcebook page you're referring to as well, can you send me a PM over at Farcebook with it? Thanks in advance.