Where to find brushes for selective bleaching

I remember reading a long time ago that brushes for selective print bleaching should have no metal in contact with bleach. Is that correct? Most small brushes have a metal ferrule.

Other than bamboo handled brushes are there any other sources for brushes for bleaching?

CBG,

I use bamboo-handled Japaneses calligraphy brushes for most of my bleaching. They come in many sizes, are soft, wash out easily and inexpensive. For very small areas, I have some cheap water-color brushes that are all plastic. These are often sold with children's water-color sets or at crafts stores and are the cheaper version of metal-ferruled brushes. I also use cotton swabs on occasion. Anything that will get the bleach on the area of the print you need without damaging the print surface will work as well: cotton balls, fabric, pieces of sponge, etc. It all depends on the size and configuration of the area you wish to bleach.

Hope this helps,

Doremus Scudder
www.DoremusScudder.com

Q Tips.

Painting the metal ferrule with clear nail polish was the accepted thing decades ago.

I had looked for all plastic brushes with no success. Guess I have to look harder.

Farmer’s reducer eats sable bristles. I ruined my sable spotting brush that way. When I used it to apply Farmer’s reducer first one, and then a second, bristle broke off as I brushed. I quickly washed the brush but thereafter it kept losing bristles as I used the brush for regular spotting dyes. You must use Q-tips, or cotton balls for bleaching. Since they have no metal parts you don’t risk a metal-bleach reaction that would ruin your print.

Go ahead and laugh, but two popsickle sticks with black tape, and a cotton ball on the end. I suppose those disposable bamboo chopsticks and a rubber band would work, too.

I use flat style toothpicks. I jab them into a cotton ball, and spin 'enough' cotton onto the toothpick to suit the bleach job at hand. Sometimes I just wet the toothpick, shake off excess, and tap the surface of the print to transfer the small qty of liquid on th surface of the pick.

Great ideas. I'll use 'em.

Thanks!