Your thoughts on the Boar`s Hair Brush

S

shortspark

New member
One of my Black Friday orders contained a Montana Boar`s Hair Brush (should be here next week). I intend to put a pole on it and use it primarily for the bottom panels. I have a terrific CarPro Wool mitt for the rest of the car.

I have read extreme ends in terms of reviews - some people would never touch their car with a brush and are very adamant about it, while others say it is the greatest thing since white bread. I am 68 years old and I thought I would try it to help my back which seems to be getting weaker with every car wash! I would like to know if those of you who use it have any tips, cautions or experiences to get me started?
 
I have not used one but all directions point to soaking prior to use for at least 10 minutes......that`s the brush not yourself :).
I`m 67 and have two tall vehicles so I`m curious as well.
 
I have one, I use it to wash the whole vehicle ( F-150 ) it hasn`t left any scratches with 3 years use. I soak it while Im getting everything ready to start the wash
I wouldn`t be without one
montana-original-boar-s-hair-car-wash-brush-12.jpg
 
Most reviews I`ve read are similar to dchristo`s experience but there are detractors. I guess soaking the brush first is the key to soften the hairs since hard bristles would of course scratch the surface. Perhaps the detractors are not soaking their brush long enough. I would also think warm to hot water would be best for this.
 
I normally end up soaking my brush for over 30 minutes since I setup my wash bucket as I`m getting ready to start on the wheels/tires/wheel wells. Then I usually move onto bug removal on the front bumper and mirrors before finally using the brush.

I had reservations for the brush too, but now it`s a must have for me. I`ve tested it on black panels and no scratches or swirl marks either. A downside is it doesn`t have enough "bite" to remove those small stubborn pollen spots or any other small stubborn contaminants. But I usually take my time removing those while claying with a Nanoskin mitt anyways.

As long as you use proper technique (clean small sections or panels at a time, don`t apply excessive pressure or scrub, bring the brush back to your rinse bucket frequently) I think it`s actually safer and softer than a microfiber mitt by hand.
 
I am tempted to try one, my back isn`t all that good for a young(ish) guy.

I think if Ray can vouch for it, it will perform... unless you`re like those guys at the gas stations with the soaping brush... one swift motion, wheels to hood. LOL
 
shortspark said:
A half hour? Seem like a long time but that is good to know - better safe than sorry.
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At least half an hour. I set it up in my wash bucket before I start, so figure however long it takes you to do your wheels and tires, then foam your car (I forgot to mention I always pre-foam when using the brush) is the amount of time it`ll be soaking. If I move onto washing in 1 hour from starting I`m happy.
 
I`ve been using the brush more often, lately. I, too, have a bad back, and the brush makes cleaning significantly easier for my back. I would recommend that you invest in a quality pole, otherwise, the potential for the brush to snap, or somehow separate at the connection point--while scrubbing--could cause you to gouge your paint. I use this telescoping pole, and used gorilla epoxy to make a secure connection:

Shur-Line Easy Reach 60 in. Adjustable Extension Pole-06570L - The Home Depot

By the way, it`s an excellent pole, and couldn`t find anything better, or more robust.
 
Great point about the handle. I use this one:

autogeek_2272_153231422


which is an upgrade version compared to the plastic/fiberglass telescopic handle they normally come with. Put a note in the comments section of the order and I`ll include this handle for FREE with purchase of any Boar`s Hair Brush. ($19.99 value)

Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Telescopic Handle
 
I`ve been using BHBs since the `80s.

Inspect *any* new BHB for excess adhesive at the base of the bristles and if you see any I`d send it back. Never had that happen with one from Universal (including the one sold as a "Montana") but better safe than sorry. Speaking of which, I`d still CD-test it (soak in water or shampoo mix first) both before the first use and then every now and then as they *do* wear (once the flagged tips wear down a BHB can become a scratch-machine; retire it before that becomes an issue).

I simply *love* the way the BHB`s free-rinsing nature works in conjunction with a foamgun spraying its output at the point of BHB-to-paint contact, but I understand that most won`t want to bother with that.

Don`t press so hard that you bend the bristles over and end up rubbing their shafts against the paint rather than the tips. Don`t try to force it to behave more aggressively than it should.

Don`t use long, sweeping motions even though the BHB makes that *so* tempting.

Don`t cover too much area at a time even though *that`s* very tempting too. Don`t expect abrasive dirt to somehow migrate up the bristles away from the paint but rather rinse it out and redunk it once it becomes soiled.

Note that I find BHBs, *when used properly*, to be too gentle to get a truly dirty vehicle really clean, and that can lead to drying-induced marring from the residual dirt. I use the BHB first to get the "big stuff" off and then follow up with something that lends itself to a bit more "scrubbing" (though just using that word makes me cringe).
 
Vega@Autopia said:
Great point about the handle. I use this one:

autogeek_2272_153231422


which is an upgrade version compared to the plastic/fiberglass telescopic handle they normally come with. Put a note in the comments section of the order and I`ll include this handle for FREE with purchase of any Boar`s Hair Brush. ($19.99 value)

Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Telescopic Handle
Click to expand...
Oh hell i just bought the tri angle one with the inferior handle then, lol

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk
 
I bought mine to use at the coin op if I ever need to wash a vehicle at night for prep. I can just take my buckets and use the grit guard washboard and 2bm with the boars hair brush and maybe a micro mitt if I need to

im excited

i`ll have to say Vega`s posts of his mobile jobs made me decide to pull the trigger
 
A Montana boar`s hair brush is Mike Phillips`s primary wash media.

Using one of these on an extendable paint pole is both easier and faster than using a hand mitt.

This has been my primary wash media for more than four years.
 
Jaddie said:
A Montana boar`s hair brush is Mike Phillips`s primary wash media.

Using one of these on an extendable paint pole is both easier and faster than using a hand mitt.

This has been my primary wash media for more than four years.
Click to expand...

If Mike uses this as his primary, that is all I need to know!
 
I started using the 10" Blonde BHB from Universalbrush 2 months ago. I let it soak at least 30 minutes before use. I also got the Blonde BHB for rims. I love it for the car, but for the wheels I find it lacking. Too soft to use as an only step cleaning solution. I find myself using a microfiber mitt after the brush to get the wheels clean. For the car, I use it on a standard wooden pole. Rinse often.
 
Gee, people sure do soak `em a long time compared to Yours Truly. Guess it`s smart to err on the side of caution (note to self).

Jaddie said:
A Montana boar`s hair brush is Mike Phillips`s primary wash media..
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting that. Mike and I have fallen out of touch (no precipitating issue or anything, just gone different directions I guess)... I don`t really follow him, but I`ve always found it interesting when he and I agree/don`t about various things.

pcar930-That`s a *VERY* good point! And can even hold true for the body-proper as well as wheels IME.

Also, it tells me that you aren`t being overly aggressive with it, pressing too hard to make it behave differently than it oughta, so props to you!

I got the "Blonde" ones just to see if I`d notice a diff with their "best" product, and sure enough I did. They`re more gentle than the regular/Montana ones but sometimes they can be too gentle to get things clean (if used properly etc. etc.), even to the extent that I expect for a "preliminary phase" of the wash. Not really a problem for me since I pressure wash if it`s needed and my LSPs shed dirt readily and I`m doing a follow-up step or two, but overall IMO most people are probably better off saving their $ and getting the Montana for daily drivers.
And yeah, I too was disappointed with the Blonde one for wheels, "so gentle it doesn`t even hurt the dirt" as I like to say :o Just one more reason why I find the WW BHB for Wheels so superior.
 
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