Homestead Brushes

Most people are unaware that exceptional finishing results can be achieved with a tool as simple as a brush. However, you must match the correct brush to the finish and the task at hand. Good quality brushes are well worth their price and last indefinitely if properly maintained.

Natural Bristle Brushes - The traditional brush for varnish and oil based products, they are also first rate for applying shellac and lacquer. Not recommended for water base products.

GRAMERCY TOOLS OX-HAIR BRUSH - The Gramercy Tools brush is made of 100 percent European ox-hair. Ox-hair is very fine and has a wonderful feel to it. It will leave a virtually brush-mark free surface and will hold a fair amount of finish for a long, efficient and controlled stroke. The brush is solid hair with no reservoir gap, so you can cover carving details and moldings, and go over edges and corners with no drips or splatters. The ferrule is top-quality stainless steel, so you can easily clean it in any solvent, including water, and not have to worry about corrosion. The traditional beaver tail handle is made of unfinished hardwood that is very comfortable in the hand and has great balance.

2" #GTB-2 $38.95 Hair length 1-3/4” Ferrule thickness 9/16”

3" #GTB-3 $59.95 Hair length 1-15/16” Ferrule thickness 3/4”

DUNNET FITCH BRUSH - This well-made, well-balanced brush is one of the finest on the market. The bristle is formed to a chisel edge and it's unsurpassed for flowing-type finishes like shellac, varnish, and polyurethane. Also superb for general staining tasks. The brushes have a high quality bright nickel plated ferrule (made in Germany) and black lacquered round wood handle.

1" $25.95 Hair length 1-5/8” Ferrule thickness 1/2”

2" $32.95 Hair length 1-7/8” Ferrule thickness 9/16”

2½" $35.95 Hair length 1-7/8” Ferrule thickness 5/8”

OMEGA LILY OVAL VARNISH

Made in Italy, this premium brush is manufactured from the finest white china bristle and has a sculpted, well-balanced lacquered beech handle. Not only is it pretty to look at -- it's a pleasure to hold. It's set into a nickel ferrule. This brush has about double the thickness of a conventional brush so it's perfect for flowing on finishes like varnish, oils, lacquer and shellac. For interior varnishing of household trim, this brush is unequalled as it holds an incredible amount of finish and the chisel edge cuts in extremely well.

1½" $31.00

2" $42.00

OMEGA LILY FILBERT VARNISH

Similar to the brush above but less thick and more of a standard chisel profile. Just about the perfect brush for general lacquer, shellac and varnish. The slightly rounded edges make it easy to use on profiles. Lacquered wood handle, nickel ferrule and incredibly fine white china bristle made by the legendary Omega Brushworks in Italy.

1½" $26.95

2" $28.95

BESTT-LIEBCO BIRCH OVAL SASH

These inexpensive, black China bristle brushes are perfect for applying lacquer, varnish or shellac. They're perfect for trim work and things like molded edges as they "wrap" around a contour. Where I find these useful is in applying glazes and stains as they hold a good deal of material. Also very useful for creative effects like cow-tailing, spattering and dry brushing. The gloss lacquered birch (no kidding) handle is very comfortable and the bristles are set into a nickel ferrule.

#8 $7.95 Hair length 2-3/8" Ferrule thickness 3/4"

#12 $11.95 Hair length 2-5/8" Ferrule thickness 1"

Synthetic Bristle Brushes Use for water based stains and topcoats. These brushes are also great for lacquer and shellac. They clean easier than natural bristle brushes.

ATHENA SERIES 7100 GOLDEN TAKLON

WINNER OF WOODSHOP NEWS 2006 READERS' CHOICE AWARD!
(See June 2006 issue)

We're pleased to offer this indispensable and unique brush. The Athena brand replaces the Winsor Newton #580 and is an exact duplicate in terms of price, style and features. This brush has no reservoir and because of its fine soft bristles and sharp edge, it's just about the best brush you'll find for applying shellac and water based finishes, particularly where a precise edge and control are necessary for your projects. Excellent for complicated shapes and profiles as well as tight corners. For those students who take my classes, they know this is the brush I reach for first.

Athena 7100 Series 1" $23.95
Athena 7100 Series 1½" $31.95

ATHENA SERIES 7200 GOLDEN TAKLON ROUND TOUCH-UP BRUSHES - These brushes are the ones used in my article in Fine Woodworking #166 and the book "Complete Illustrated Guide to Finishing". Made with the same quality Golden Taklon bristle used in our premium finish brushes, they form a fine, round tip. Use the #4 for applying background color and the smaller #1 for painting grain lines. They can be used with any medium, but are perfectly suited to our Mixol Colors above.

Athena #1 Round - $4.85

Athena #4 Round - $5.75

HOMESTEAD GOLDEN TAKLON - This brush is the finest brush you'll ever use for brushing water base finishes. Essentially a larger version of the Athena 7100 series brush above, the fine, synthetic Taklon bristle is set into a lacquered handle with a stainless steel ferrule. The golden Taklon bristles are very fine and soft, and do not promote bubbles. It leaves a very smooth finish and works well with shellac as well. Very easy to clean using ammonia and water. Two sizes available.

1½" #2020 $27.95

2" #2021 $31.95

OMEGA OREL FLAT - A well-made brush for all water-based paints and stains. Made of Orel, a man-made filament which delivers superior performance over other synthetics. Like natural bristle, the filaments continue to “flag” as they wear, providing higher performance over a longer period of time. One feature of this brush is that it's extremely easy to clean, making it suitable for applying oil based products like stains, glazes and gels.

2" $28.00