What can I make with this wallpaper smoothing dry rotted brush?
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Okay fellow Hometalkers, here is a tough one. While working in my hubby’s work shop yesterday on an antique table that needed some sanding dust brushed off, I spied this wooden handled brush. The bristles were much longer when I saw it, but on picking it up, the bristles crumbled all over the shop floor. The bristles had dry rotted! This meant I couldn’t use it on my table. 🤬. So being the anything wooden collector that I am, I brought it into the house so I could figure out what I could make with it. I think it was, in its original life, a wallpaper smoothing brush. But not sure. So put on those thinking caps and give me some ideas. AND DON’T say to toss it. My husband was quick on the draw to give me that unsolicited piece of advice. I have tried to pull the leftover bristles out of the holes but that is definitely not going too well. Think I’m going to have to drill them out. 🤪. Your ideas will be appreciated and NO I’m not nuts! There has to be something creative that it can be used for.
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That would make a cute little cup holder if you add some hooks to the side of it :)
Thanks. I will keep your idea in mind too.
I would use that to start the fire in my wood stove. Cold in there today.
Haha!
You could maybe use it to make lines in a faux finish glazing effect - on a wall or something?
Oh Em! You may have the winning idea. I have an awful time keeping up with my scissors and I have several different kinds! I also like the Merry Christmas idea too. Thank you so much for responding!
Once the leftover bristles are out, mount it on another piece of wood and use it to store drill bits.
That would be a good item for my husband in his work shop. Thanks.
You could cut the bristles flush and then seal it. Then add hooks. If you can bore the holes out and somehow stabilize it, it would make a great holder for small artist paint brushes. To confirm it's life, it is a smooth brush for vinyl wallcovering:
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Devil-4928-Smoothing-Wallcovering/dp/B00004YNNJ/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
I'm looking for something to hang my craft brushes properly. I currently use clothes pins on wire. After pulling bristles out it would be perfect for the small brushes to hang properly to dry!
Hello. I
f this was my brush Iwould experiment with this brush with thinned acrylic glazes, I think it would make an interesting striated effect.
Hi Vimarhonor. Another great idea. Thanks for responding.
maybe make a macrame hanging and hang from it
Sounds interesting. Thanks.
How about a windchime? You could mount hooks and suspend silverware from it.
Hadn’t thought about that at all. I even have some old silverware that could be used too. Thanks.
add hooks and make it a key ring holder
Thank you for a great idea!
If you do drill out the bristles, you could add some small hooks and use as a jewelry holder ....necklaces, especially!
Very good idea! Thanks so much for taking the time to respond.
A manicure brush for a centipede!
Very creative idea!
Hi Georgia: HAHAHAHA I, too, am an 'anything wooden needs to be repurposed' person. I have a lot of dowels from foam brushes that I use for perches or plant markers. If you drill out the bristles, you can make a wind chime out of this. Or, you can use it as is to clean out edges of stuff, until it falls apart then make the wind chime:)
Great idea! Also good to know I’m not the only person trying to see something good out of something others think about tossing. Thanks for your response.
I am wondering if it might make nice wavy patterns on cake icing, if you were to try to use it as a decorating tool, instead of a serrated spatula.
Take off the bristles and make a garden sign and paint it https://fleamarketgardening.org/2012/10/28/how-to-design-and-paint-a-garden-sign/
Delightful idea! Thanks for your response.
Have your hub take off a strip of the wood that have the bristles with his table saw. Sand the edge. Then you have a piece of board to work with and do what you want with.
Great idea! Thanks.
Remove the remaining bristles and replace with small dowel rod pieces to make a giant comb. Paint and hang in the bathroom for wall art.
Cute idea! That could be a cute gift to my beautician too! Thanks!
It might make a good drying rack for home-make taper candles, as the spaces between the bristles would keep the wick strings separated.
Once you drill out the bristles, you could mount it to a wall by a desk and have pens & pencils (or colored pencils) sticking up from holes. You could also glue clips to it making it a "note" station for phone messages or to-do lists. Isn't everyone always searching for a pen and paper to jot down a quick message?
Great idea! Thanks for responding.