Hand Brushes Fill Material

We can manufacture hand brushes using many of our available natural, synthetic or wire filaments, depending on the exact type of hand brush. Characteristics vary for each type of filament material and the ideal choice will depend on the desired application use. Filament may be stiff or soft, thick or thin, repel or absorb water, chemical and/or heat resistant, flexible to a greater or lesser extent, and resistant to bending or abrasion.

The most often used natural materials used in hand brushes are natural bristle and horse hair. Horse hair is a soft, heat and chemical resistant fiber great for polishing scratch-susceptible surfaces and for use in corrosive environments. Bristle is made from hog hair that naturally splits at the end making it ideal for holding and carrying liquids while maintaining its shape and stiffness.

The nylon filament options available in many of our hand brush styles are a great synthetic alternative to natural fibers that are extremely versatile and durable. Nylon also has excellent bend recovery, abrasion resistance and chemical resistance. All nylons absorb water in wet conditions reducing the filament stiffness. Nylon has the highest heat deflection temperature, but is prone to oxidation embrittlement with long exposures to high temperatures.

Many different wire filament types are available in our hand brushes, each with specific properties for efficiency in operation. Stainless steel is most commonly used for its extremely durable, ductile and corrosion resistant characteristics. Brass is a wire filament often used in our platers’ hand brushes for its high conductivity and corrosion-resistant properties. It is also an excellent choice for cleaning scratch-susceptible surfaces. Other popular wire options include tempered steel, nickel silver and phosphorous bronze.