Tropi-Care Boar's Hair Brush

Z

ZaneO

New member
I noticed that Tropi-Care has started carrying a boar's hair brush. It looks like a pretty similar unit to Griot's brush.



Has anyone had the chance to use this one?



There's also a really nice "introductory" price on it - $33 - Go to "Detailing Brushes" on their website.



Hopefully I can get one by March 15 :woot2:
 
I think TOL sells then now too.



I bought one from Griots but returned it the same day I got it. It had really soft bristles but scattered throughout were coarse black hairs that stuck out. They felt like whiskers!



Maybe it was my brush, but I saw mar city if I used it. I didn't want to be extra careful if I washed with it.



Hopefully yours won't have them.
 
ZaneO- That does look like the ones I just ordered from AutoGeek, and at a nice price (even if they only let you buy one). I'd get it, and if you do please report on it. But I'd sure inspect it before use: look for adhesive on the bristles and see if the bristles are soft (when wet, sometimes ones that feel awful dry soften up just fine when wet). When you use it, don't press hard enough to really bend the bristles and don't succumb to the temptation to wash large areas without rinsing it out (it really is tempting as it holds a lot of solution).



Spilchy- It's funny about the Griot's brushes. I've sent some back and I've kept some even though they had the dark hairs. The dark hairs aren't as coarse on the ones I kept :nixweiss. But my softest one is the ancient, wood-handled one I bought from Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories back in the '80s. It's the only one I use on the Jag and the S8 (and those are *all* I use it on). No dark hairs. Sorta short bristles, but *SOFT*. We'll see what the ones from AutoGeek are like; I'm gonna start experimenting with my foamgun/BHB technique some more and see if I can streamline the washing of the daily drivers a little.
 
Accumulator said:
But my softest one is the ancient, wood-handled one I bought from Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories back in the '80s.
Click to expand...

Is BHMA still in business? I think the last time I ordered something from them was close to 6 years ago. I tried to find their website again maybe a year ago and was not able to find it.



$33 is a really nice price for a boar's hair wash brush. Most places charge $50-$60.
 
Mikeyc & Setec- As best I can tell those companies are both gone now.



Spilchy- Heh heh, come on, put that thing to *work* :D One of the best things about them is the way they wash clean. Mine get completely worn out but they *never* stay dirty. Even the cut-down (to make it stiffer) one I'm using to degrease the '84 RX-7 keeps coming clean, and it gets utterly black with sticky goop.
 
:o ok, I'll put it to good use then! I like the idea of trimming the bristles after they wear down to keep in use. I thought BH was delicate. I guess I shouldn't judge a brush by its feel :laugh:
 
Spilchy said:
.. I like the idea of trimming the bristles after they wear down to keep in use. ..
Click to expand...



Clarification follows to keep you out of trouble ;)



I cut the bristles down on the BHB in question (one of the paintbrush-style ones) for a specific reason- to make it stiff. So stiff that it'd mar normal paint. You normally don't want to trim the bristles as it'd cut off the flagging at the tips which is very important to prevent marring.



In fact, it's the split/flagged tips that eventually wear down and prompt me to replace the brushes (gotta inspect them from time to time with magnification). Either that or the adhesive gives out and they shed bristles in clumps (more usual with the wheel ones).
 
wow, I think I may be picking of these up. The biggest turn off that I've had towards BHB's up to this point was the $50+ price. If I can get one for $33....



Great link!
 
That *is* a good price, and they last a long time. When it wears down too much to use on your paint you can still use it on the less sensitive parts of the vehicle.
 
I just had to add this. As far as customer service and prompt response...i have yet to find anybody better than Tropi-care. A delight to order from them.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Off topic--anybody remember Reliable Motoring Accessories in CA? They musta fallen into the ocean during one of the earthquakes.
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They must have broken down. lol
 
Methink, needs to stay away from these boar hair thingies!

I was told that a genuine boar hair brush/comb is really good for brushing your dog.

There is a particular British brand called "Mason Pearson". The quote was "It is a bit

expensive but worth it". OK, so I think I can afford the "bit expensive" part.

I googled them up and almost had a heart attack. For a pin cushion comb, it would set

you back $155. So, I was thinking, "Hmmmm, if you get your dog one of these combs,

your wife would be terribly upset so you would need to get her one too.".

That would be about $300. Since a lot of autopians probably value their cars more than

their dogs, they should just sell these boar hair brush for $1000 (they should just call it

"unicorn hair" - guarantee not to marr and it would rejuvenate the clear/paint).
 
Thanks for the smiles Carweenie.

As for BHBs, I got mine about 6 months ago from TOL and it's not quite like the one pictured on the website. It arrived looking actually better, darker varathaned? wood, 11 inches long, 4 inch bristles. The coverage is spectacular.

It looks almost too good to use but I did and continue to do so. I use it on the M Coupe, the Stealth, the wife's foo-foo car, a new PT Cruiser convt., and it continues to do a wonderful job. I don't use it on the wheels/tires though, body and glass only. I used to use the two bucket method with lots of rinsing and flinging and never a scratch/mar. I use it now with the foam gun with lots of rinsing and flinging. (When I'm not blasting my cars with foam, I'm blasting imaginary Klingons with foam.)

I think dirt/grit doesn't stick to the bristles like it may with a mitt but I could be way off base, I'm just an amateur.

The quality of the bristles and their attachment to the wood looked as professional as the brush.

I lay it flat to dry just to keep the bristles approximately flat and in retrospect, I'd buy it again in a New York minute.

My only criticism would be it's too big/awkward to get into little nooks and crannies like air ducts on the bottom of the Coupe and Stealth but that smaller one shown in the picture would be a perfect adjunct.

-John C.
 
JohnZ3MC- Interesting about the TOL brush being nicer than the one in their picture. That picture was one reason why I ordered the AutoGeek one (all things being equal I'd rather give the business to Irene at TOL).



You're not imagining things, the BHB really *does* shed dirt and rinse clean!



I use small BHBs from Griot's (pn 15520 IIRC, about $30 and well worth it) for the tight spots.



Back when I was using wood handled ones, I drilled shallow holes in each end of the handle. Then I took a wire coathanger and cut off the bottom piece about 2" in from the bends at the corners (cut to match length of brush handle). Stuck the 2" stubs in the holes in the brush and could then hang it up to drip dry. Never had any problems from the potential rusting of the hanger in the damp wood and the brush dried quite nicely (still do this with my old BHMA one). Never bothered drilling the plastic handled ones, I consider them sorta disposable for some reason (probably oughta rethink that, given their cost :o ).
 
Accum-



These BHB seem a lot easier to use in conjunction with the foam gun than with a normal mitt/mf. How is the cleaning power? I know sometimes I get a little out of hand when using a mitt/mf and scrub a little to get off some tar that won't come off with a regular, light wipe. Would you recommend just lightly going over the tar with the BHB several times?



-Mark
 
Accumulator said:
JohnZ3MC- Interesting about the TOL brush being nicer than the one in their picture. That picture was one reason why I ordered the AutoGeek one (all things being equal I'd rather give the business to Irene at TOL).



You're not imagining things, the BHB really *does* shed dirt and rinse clean!



I use small BHBs from Griot's (pn 15520 IIRC, about $30 and well worth it) for the tight spots.



Back when I was using wood handled ones, I drilled shallow holes in each end of the handle. Then I took a wire coathanger and cut off the bottom piece about 2" in from the bends at the corners (cut to match length of brush handle). Stuck the 2" stubs in the holes in the brush and could then hang it up to drip dry. Never had any problems from the potential rusting of the hanger in the damp wood and the brush dried quite nicely (still do this with my old BHMA one). Never bothered drilling the plastic handled ones, I consider them sorta disposable for some reason (probably oughta rethink that, given their cost :o ).
Click to expand...

The brush is actually gorgeous to look at, I was hesitant to use it because it looked like a piece of art.

That's a great tip about the coat hanger and drip drying the brush and I can visualize exactly what you're suggesting. That's why I like hanging around professionals like yourself. Thanks again,

-John C.
 
Question:

Is anyone using a brush on a black finish? Any micro/spidering marks???



I stopped using one back in the 80's because of this or was it because it broke in half from the handle rotting from letting it dry by laying on it's back....hang'em!



Later,

JU
 
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