I’m always so grateful for you efforts David, I wouldn’t have discovered this myself as I’m more of a pinstriping artist than a Signwriter, thank you ..
I whipe my brush on a towel then run it through 3 stages of mineral spirits, never pushing. Then i use a tunafish can with mineral oil to oil it. Working the oil into the heal and getting the last bit of paint out. Then I shape it and keep them in a brush box.Seems to keep my brushes in fine order. Great videos,thanks
That's a great system. I found the hair bending culprit to be hitting the bottom of the cup when charging the brush with paint. I've adjusted my technique so this doesn't happen any more. So far, so good! :) thank you for the tip!
You've caused me to pull out my Kafka #4 Quill. They do hold a wonderful chisel . I do recommend trying Handover 2112 Sable brushes from Londom. Also Ive lettering signs for 3 years now and am getting comfortable. Could you do a video on large block lettering. The type you might use for gas station signs with large letters maybe 12'? Thanks a lot. Love your videos.
Thank you Robert, I've been curious about the Handovers, I will check them out. That's so cool that your lettering signs, please post a project progress video if you're able, that gets us all jazzed :) Make sure not to jam the Kafka brushes into the bottom of your cups and cans, it will trash the fine hairs on the end that make these brushes so awesome. The recent 'Condensed Gothic' lettering video I posted make nice bold letters that can be seen easily from far away: (Start at 18:45) ua-cam.com/video/jxtZghG6Oes/v-deo.html 12" tall would be a built up letter for the most part. Keep on lettering!
Hi David, revisited this post because my Kafa's started to "fray" at the tips and remembered this from years ago. I do think it's a disigns flaw and a by product of mixing natural and synthetic hairs, they're fighting against their natural tendencies. Night and day difference from day 1 to today which means they have a limited working ife. I doubt "manipulating" the tips with heat is a permanent fix and babying a brush like that is not something I want to deal with. All my synthic bruses lose their initial set over time ... all of them. I'm no expert but I think that is inherent in synthetics. I've reset my synthetics with very hot water, reshape them and they work for a while then go bad again. Too bad the Kafka's were great but I'm off that train.
I’m sorry to hear that Alger. I haven’t had the fraying issue since I’ve been babying them when cleaning. I really like the way they perform. You may be correct about the cause of the issue. Thank you for the post. 👍
i paid 23 Au for size 4 - kafka for that price if it last a 6 months its fine by me, i throw 20 dollar brushers out after painted 2 jobs doing houses , cheap as chips ,
My old boss showed me a trick if our brushes got damaged was to clean the brush out put it into boiling hot water and straighten out using your fingers and leave to dry.worked great!
davidographicsguy its worth a go.if the hairs are bent or lost there shape.i still do it when needed.dip the hair into boiling water hold brush in right hand and draw brush through finger and thumb on left hand to shape and leave to dry .be carefull with the boiling water!!
Here in the Netherlands we work with many brushes with synthetic bristles, and the manufacturiers have told us that you can not pallet past a sharp egde off youre cup as the hair damage than, perhaps there is also the probleem of your brush
They are a synthetic blend. Not all hair. it may be better to shock the brush with lacquer thinner and grooming flat and leave it alone for a while. Or leave out in the sun.
But I've never used brushes like that, always used squirrel tail, brown and gray, talked to Steve about some of his stripping brushes, I've heard they work well
The tips of Steve’s brushes are so fine and straight they never need to be trimmed. He says so himself. Yes, the brush I screwed up went in the trash and I bought a new one. I’m much more careful now.
I picked some sable / ox blend chisel set of 5 ALLIGATOR 18867 sizes ,2,4,6,8,10 to get me started and then found a shop in OZ selling these kafka at good price ,so i picked up the size 4 Kafka lettering and size 1 scrolling for letter edging .i look after them ,also have a Alligator dagger size 0 to try ,but as i under stand they more for pinstriping motorcycles and cars and art ,think the size 1 kafka scroll brush will be more suited to lettering outlines
Thx Dave , great tips and will follow your lead 👍 take care …. Steve (Adelaide) 🙏
I’m always so grateful for you efforts David, I wouldn’t have discovered this myself as I’m more of a pinstriping artist than a Signwriter, thank you ..
Thank you Chief! Live and learn. 😀
I whipe my brush on a towel then run it through 3 stages of mineral spirits, never pushing. Then i use a tunafish can with mineral oil to oil it. Working the oil into the heal and getting the last bit of paint out. Then I shape it and keep them in a brush box.Seems to keep my brushes in fine order. Great videos,thanks
I fill pickle jars and mostly just swish the brush through. Sometimes ill push the ferrule up against the side.
That's a great system. I found the hair bending culprit to be hitting the bottom of the cup when charging the brush with paint. I've adjusted my technique so this doesn't happen any more. So far, so good! :) thank you for the tip!
You've caused me to pull out my Kafka #4 Quill. They do hold a wonderful chisel . I do recommend trying Handover 2112 Sable brushes from Londom. Also Ive lettering signs for 3 years now and am getting comfortable. Could you do a video on large block lettering. The type you might use for gas station signs with large letters maybe 12'?
Thanks a lot. Love your videos.
Thank you Robert, I've been curious about the Handovers, I will check them out. That's so cool that your lettering signs, please post a project progress video if you're able, that gets us all jazzed :) Make sure not to jam the Kafka brushes into the bottom of your cups and cans, it will trash the fine hairs on the end that make these brushes so awesome. The recent 'Condensed Gothic' lettering video I posted make nice bold letters that can be seen easily from far away: (Start at 18:45)
ua-cam.com/video/jxtZghG6Oes/v-deo.html
12" tall would be a built up letter for the most part. Keep on lettering!
I love my Kafka brushes
Hi David, revisited this post because my Kafa's started to "fray" at the tips and remembered this from years ago. I do think it's a disigns flaw and a by product of mixing natural and synthetic hairs, they're fighting against their natural tendencies. Night and day difference from day 1 to today which means they have a limited working ife. I doubt "manipulating" the tips with heat is a permanent fix and babying a brush like that is not something I want to deal with. All my synthic bruses lose their initial set over time ... all of them. I'm no expert but I think that is inherent in synthetics. I've reset my synthetics with very hot water, reshape them and they work for a while then go bad again. Too bad the Kafka's were great but I'm off that train.
I’m sorry to hear that Alger. I haven’t had the fraying issue since I’ve been babying them when cleaning. I really like the way they perform. You may be correct about the cause of the issue. Thank you for the post. 👍
i paid 23 Au for size 4 - kafka for that price if it last a 6 months its fine by me, i throw 20 dollar brushers out after painted 2 jobs doing houses , cheap as chips ,
Classic! I usually keep using something until it literally no longer works as originally intended 🤣
My old boss showed me a trick if our brushes got damaged was to clean the brush out put it into boiling hot water and straighten out using your fingers and leave to dry.worked great!
Oh smack! That sounds like a great idea! I will definitely try that. Thank you so much for sharing!
davidographicsguy its worth a go.if the hairs are bent or lost there shape.i still do it when needed.dip the hair into boiling water hold brush in right hand and draw brush through finger and thumb on left hand to shape and leave to dry .be carefull with the boiling water!!
Will do, Thank you so much!
Hope it works for you
You can also put them in heavy phone book wet let it dry it works
Good idea, I will try that.
Here in the Netherlands we work with many brushes with synthetic bristles, and the manufacturiers have told us that you can not pallet past a sharp egde off youre cup as the hair damage than, perhaps there is also the probleem of your brush
Jorn Ketelaar ooooh, that's good to know, I will see if this happens with these brushes. Thank you!
They are a synthetic blend. Not all hair. it may be better to shock the brush with lacquer thinner and grooming flat and leave it alone for a while. Or leave out in the sun.
That's another possibility. And a more safe and gentle option. Thank you!
But I've never used brushes like that, always used squirrel tail, brown and gray, talked to Steve about some of his stripping brushes, I've heard they work well
I used to use all those until I found Steve’s. His are not too soft and not too stiff, they’re just right. I just hope others learn from my mistakes 😄
Small hair straightener on natural hair brushes works well
Hey, That’s a great idea! Thank you!
great info from everyone here...
Where's here? :)
davidographicsguy "Here" was referring to your comments section. I live near Pasadena. 👍
Oh, Gotchya. Cool!
davidographicsguy Simple question, best base paint for a wood plank sign that will be done with one shot?
Thanks in advance.
A dry brush where some of the wood is exposed or complete coverage?
If you gotta trim it, be careful, only the very end razor blade, cut to much, it's a throw away
The tips of Steve’s brushes are so fine and straight they never need to be trimmed. He says so himself. Yes, the brush I screwed up went in the trash and I bought a new one. I’m much more careful now.
No matter what that expert tells you, never clean your brush with Lacquer thinner. Store it with mineral spirits. (Baby oil)
I picked some sable / ox blend chisel set of 5 ALLIGATOR 18867 sizes ,2,4,6,8,10 to get me started and then found a shop in OZ selling these kafka at good price ,so i picked up the size 4 Kafka lettering and size 1 scrolling for letter edging .i look after them ,also have a Alligator dagger size 0 to try ,but as i under stand they more for pinstriping motorcycles and cars and art ,think the size 1 kafka scroll brush will be more suited to lettering outlines
Yes, Kafka Liners are great for outlining as well. You’re building quite a quiver. 👍😀