Are those camel hair brushes for early copper not really made out of camel hair?

Longacre

Someone told me at Baltimore that those camel hair brushes that every EACer carries around are not really made of camel hair. I don't have anything against camels, but I would be pretty upset if I were a camel and some other animal's hair was on a brush bearing my name.

For the trivia buffs in the house, supposedly these brushes have the hair of another animal on them. Does anyone know which?

lordmarcovan

I always thought they were real camel hair, but I suppose that would make them expensive in this day and age. Probably synthetic, now.



<< <i>For the trivia buffs in the house, supposedly these brushes have the hair of another animal on them. Does anyone know which? >>

Sable? (Which is a minklike critter, I think). Or is that a different kind of brush, entirely?

Now, my REAL question is, whatinhell those EAC whizkids are doing with soft bristle brushes. Surely one would need to use a soft bristle brush for at least 300 years continuously for it to have any effect on a metallic surface?

numisma

Squirrel hair.

whatinhell those EAC whizkids are doing with soft bristle brushes

Just "dusting" the surfaces.

Pentimento

Painters know that camel hair is not camel hair. Its the leftover fur from other brushes. Squirel, wool, horse, and stuff.

Sable might make its way in, but sable is sold as sable because people will pay more for it.

Barry

From answerbag.com:

The term camel hair is very misleading. Camel hair brushes actually consist of various inexpensive hair types like Asian pony, bear, sheep or lesser grade squirrel hair. There is not a single hair from a real camel in a camel hair brush.

What about camel hair coats and jackets. Are they really made of camel hair?

OKbustchaser

<< <i>
What about camel hair coats and jackets. Are they really made of camel hair? >>



I sure hope not. Have you ever smelled a camel?

carl

My kid is into art and says bsically the same thing. Camel hair brushes are becoming a term and not a real item. Sable hair is expesive but the choice or artists.
Myself, I use a wire brush on coins to get them nice and shinny.

kiyote

I'm not sure they're real camel hair; real camel hair is so expensive...

notwilight

They aren't cheap. Hoot gave a good primer on copper conservation ATS a while back and even told where to buy the brushes. I've been meaning to find it and order some. I just searched for it and couldn't find it. If anyone has it bookmarked please provide the link.

Thanks,
jerry

lordmarcovan

Let me get this straight. EAC people buy special brushes just to dust their coins with?

C'mon, surely they have to be using them for something more than that.

notwilight

This is what they use them for. This one has been soaking in olive oil for a few months while I search for brushes.

Longacre

I heard they are goat hair brushes, rather than camel hair.