Varnish Brush Care

Good varnish brushes are an investment. The Wooster Brush Company’s natural-bristle brushes come in a wonderful variety, the best of which can cost more than $150. I typically use so-called badger-hair brushes, which are usually made of hog bristles colored to look like badger hair. They cost $10 to $25 depending on the size. I keep a 1½" and a 2" brush in a repurposed juice container most of the time. I don’t often use disposable bristle brushes because they tend to lose bristles no matter how many you pull out before use. I use disposable foam brushes for small projects, but have found that good-quality bristle brushes are a key element of a smooth, level, and blemish-free varnished finish.

In order to protect my investment in good brushes, I’ve adapted techniques described by Maynard Bray about a decade ago (see WB No. 111) to keep them clean, soft, and ready to use.