Wire brush question

[stone-cold-lead]

I'm looking to 'distress' some balsa wood for timbering and I believe that a wire brush works well for that but I'm not sure what brush to buy. Steel or brass? Also, will any old brush do (Ebay is full of them) or are there specific ones that better suit model makers?

Any help appreciated

[Svennn]

I have always used a brass "suede" shoe brush but must admit that it was influenced by the fact we already had one in the house

[OSHIROmodels]

Brass will wear down quicker than steel but will probably give a 'softer' effect depending on what you're after.

cheers

James

[stone-cold-lead]

Cheers chaps

I'd guess brass would be better then for balsa considering how soft the wood is.

[voltan]

Not using it on balsa wood but plasticard to give it a wood grain type look, I use a steel decorators wire brush from one of the diy stores, was only a couple of quid.

[Cubs]

What he said.

Weirdly, plasticard will give you a nicer woodgrain effect if you're using a wire brush to distress it.

Balsa has a tendency to go 'hairy' and looks messy close up. If you definitely want to use balsa, I'd recommend using a stiff bristle hairbrush rather than a wire brush because it doesn't rip up the wood fibres so much.

[YPU]

Brass will wear down quicker than steel but will probably give a 'softer' effect depending on what you're after.

cheers

James

True, but I'd be impressed if you wore down an entire brass brush with balsa of all things. 

[stone-cold-lead]

What he said.

Weirdly, plasticard will give you a nicer woodgrain effect if you're using a wire brush to distress it.

Balsa has a tendency to go 'hairy' and looks messy close up. If you definitely want to use balsa, I'd recommend using a stiff bristle hairbrush rather than a wire brush because it doesn't rip up the wood fibres so much.

Ended up with hairy balsa (fnarr fnarr) after trying coarse grit sandpaper. I've got a book where they guy has distressed balsa and it looks great but I don't know how much work that took him to achieve. It appears he used a wire brush of some sort. I've ordered some cheap crap off Ebay so hopefully I'll find out soon.

[Cubs]

Guess it depends on the wood then.

Can we just agree to acknowledge the 'hairy wood' gag opportunities at this point and move on with our lives?

[dampfpanzerwagon]

My favoured tool is a small brass and nylon brush used by golfers to clean their balls. You can find one in any golf warehouse for just a couple of pounds.

http://www.dhgate.com/product/wholesale-sale-3-in1-pocket-carry-golf-club/399518875.html#sa1-0-1b;uk|2633360445

Tony

[duhamel]

golfers to clean their balls  It must be horribly painful sorry

[Cubs]

Jeez, you dodge one bullet ...

[stone-cold-lead]

Got my cheapo brushes off Ebay just now so got my wood out and gave it a quick going over with a couple of different brushes. I got steel, brass and nylon brushes in one pack and it turns out brass and steel work really well but nylon did little to nothing. Very little fuzzing except on the edges of the strip I tried them on. A thin coat of PVA resolved that though and also seemed to emphasise the grain a bit which is good. Another step closer to building one of those crap little cottages from the pages of White Dwarf. 

[dampfpanzerwagon]

Got my cheapo brushes off Ebay just now so got my wood out and gave it a quick going over with a couple of different brushes. I got steel, brass and nylon brushes in one pack and it turns out brass and steel work really well but nylon did little to nothing. Very little fuzzing except on the edges of the strip I tried them on. A thin coat of PVA resolved that though and also seemed to emphasise the grain a bit which is good. Another step closer to building one of those crap little cottages from the pages of White Dwarf. 

Like these?



Tony

[stone-cold-lead]

That's the one! 

I built a few back in the day and thought I'd try and relive the old days.