Prepared by Tommy Day Originator Chris Simpson
ChrisSimpson - May 11, 2018 at 8:08 PM
Like many others I use fibreglass scratch brushes for cleaning up. Does anyone know of a source of brush assemblies other than the horrid plastic ones we get from the usual suppliers. I don't have an issue with the refills, just the propelling pencil type holders, which are poorly made.
Chris
Sayer23003 - May 11, 2018 at 9:07 PM
Cornwall model boats.
https://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?WD=fiber%20pen%20glass&PN=Modelcraft-Glass-Fibre-Brush-4mm-T_PBU1019_1%2eht
DavidAtkinson4172 - May 11, 2018 at 9:50 PM
Chris
I got one from a engineering tool shop. It is about three inches long by half an inch wide and double ended. The outer covering is removed as it wears down but I have had the brush for about twenty to thirty years now. It also doesn't break up like the hobby units and is fairly rigid in use.
David A
Hayes22052 - May 12, 2018 at 4:33 AM
I use a pin vice.
The hollow handle makes it easy to advance the brush using a scriber/piece of rod.
Raymond Walley - May 12, 2018 at 11:22 AM
The link to Cornwall Model Boats fails but a look at their website suggests their is the same as those from Squires and Eileen's.
Paul Ashton - May 12, 2018 at 12:52 PM
Jim Mcgeown (Connoisseur Models) recommends soaking the refills in diluted PVA glue and letting them dry. I follow this tip now and find that the brush lasts a lot longer. Still not a solution for those horrid plastic casings which are incredibly useless!
Paul
ChrisSimpson - May 12, 2018 at 1:26 PM
Having thought about it, I did a Google search, and Cousins Tools sell them. For ordinary refills, they are cheaper than Squires, and those string wound fatter brushes look very interesting. Thanks for the replies. I would like a better quality propelling pencil type if possible.
Chris
VigorousKingslynn - May 12, 2018 at 2:52 PM
I have one with a clutch end like propelling pencils and it takes much thinner refills but I can't remember where I got it from about 20 years ago. I also use the fat ones David describes. They are good for removing stubborn deposits from rail head and generally cleaning up etches before soldering. John Hobden
Jim Snowdon - May 12, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Putting “glass fibre scratch brush” into the usual search engine came up with not just the usual 4mm ones, in sufficient detail variations to suggest there may be more than one source manufacturer, but also the 2mm variety, which I think will be found in the jewellery trade - always a good place to look for tools. That they are cheaper than Squires
Jim
DavidAtkinson4172 - May 12, 2018 at 9:09 PM
Type in ‘burnishing tool’. There are dozens listed.
David A
Jim Snowdon - May 12, 2018 at 9:21 PM
There are, but burnishing is a quite different process to surface abrasion using a scratch brush.
Jim
Davenport20954 - May 12, 2018 at 10:08 PM
I tend to use the fibre glass brush under rinsing water to reduce the chance of breathing the fibres in. The PVA option also works. The red handles are indeed useless.
David
DavidAtkinson4172 - May 12, 2018 at 11:54 PM
These are the type of brushes I was referring to. I have had mine for many years and it does not shed stray fibres.
Fiberglass Burnishing Tool
I cannot remember the manufacturer but they are/were obtainable from proper engineers tool shops.
David A
Jim Snowdon - May 14, 2018 at 9:41 PM
David,
http://www.sisweb.com/ms/cleaning-brushes.htm, made by Scientific Instrument Services, in New Jersey. Their UK agents are listed by them as SS Scientific Limited, Eastbourne - 'http://www.ss-sci.com']www.ss-sci.com - only snag is that this website is no longer active.
Jim
John H. - May 16, 2018 at 1:47 PM
When I worked for BT back in the 1960's we used to have fibreglass commutator burnishing brushes which were tape wound and superb for cleaning up brass/copper etc. I never knew the maker but a search on the web turned up this site - might be of interest?
https://www.eraser.com/products/fiberglass-brushes-erasers/
End of thread 4/2/2019