Who is a brush-maker and what do they do? Brush-makers specialise in the production of rough brushes, paintbrushes, fine brushes, brooms, technical brushes and wheels, as well as wire brushes.
What are the activities of the brush-maker? The main activities are: preparing the material, arranging layers, mixing, combing, staining, degreasing, bleaching, sifting – cutting horsehair and artificial fibre to bristles – preparing special mixtures for prototype brushes – pressing and manual sewing of brooms – coating with pitch (resin), cementing and vulcanising brushes and brooms – fitting handles to hand-brushes and brooms – making wire brushes, wheels, cylinders and poles – shaping flat wire, spiralling wire on a mandrel, pressing and moulding hubs for technical brushes (wheels) – making more complicated brush wheels and spiral brushes.
Where is it done and under what conditions? The job is carried out in brush-makers’ workshops, which can be quite noisy.
What tools/equipment do the brush-maker use? The tools used are e.g. machines for combing, trimming, shaking up, painting as well as other machines like cutters, dispensers, lathes, millers, planers and handheld tools. The material used is wood, horsehair, wire and plastic material.
What do you need to succeed? You need vocational training, manual skill and patience.