Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Why You Should Buy American Made Products


There are many reasons to buy American made products:

ü  Jobs and the Economy
Buying American made products not only supports the workers making those goods but it also causes a ripple through the economy; more job creation, more job saving, more spending, more building, more service support, ability to earn a living wage, and a reduction in the trade deficit, just to name several. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that every American manufacturing job supports an additional 1.4 jobs in other parts of the economy.

ü American Pride and Democracy
A decrease in American manufacturing is strategically unsound. Buying American fosters independence, pride, and helps ensure that the United States doesn't find its access to vital goods impacted by political conflict. Money is not shifted to countries not friendly to the USA or democracy.

ü  Human Rights and Worker Standards
In addition to having weaker environmental regulations, the countries that produce the goods Americans buy often have no laws to protect the rights of workers. Foreign labor standards allow unsafe worker conditions in many countries. When you buy American you support not only American manufacturers but also American workers, safe working conditions, and child labor laws. Many countries have no minimum wage restrictions, or the minimum wage is outrageously low. When you choose products made in the USA, you contribute to the payment of an honest day's wages for an honest day's work.

ü  Product Safety
The lack of product safety regulations overseas does not only put foreign workers at risk, it also threatens the health of American consumers. Dozens of types of children’s toys made in China were recalled because they were unsafe. When you buy toys and other goods made in the USA, you can be confident that American consumer protection laws and safety standards are in place to protect your family.

ü  Environmental Safety
USA manufacturing processes are much cleaner for the environment than many other countries; many brands sold here are produced in countries using dangerous, heavily polluting processes. Products made overseas have a higher carbon footprint than those made in the USA and have few or no environmental regulations. As a result, foreign factories produce large amounts of hazardous chemicals that pollute the air, water, and soil.

In summary, the lack of minimum wage, worker safety, or environmental pollution controls in many countries undermines the concept of "fair and free trade". No Western nation can ultimately compete on price with a country willing to massively exploit and pollute its own people. When you buy only American-made products, you insist on a higher standard.

Gordon Brush®, the 2018 winner of the Made: In America award, is Proud To Be An American Manufacturer and patriotism is paramount at Gordon Brush®.  Gordon Brush has made brushes for the United States Army to clean the main gun on the Abram's tanks, saving the Department of Defense over $1.5 billion.  The Company also has made brushes that were used on the space shuttle, the lunar module, and brushes to clean the guidance system and guns on the Apache helicopter.

Even under competitive threats, "the Company has been steadfast in its philosophy and commitment to manufacturing in the United States", said Ken Rakusin, president and CEO.  Gordon Brush prides itself on its American heritage with two brands that date back to 1855 and 1897, respectively. 

"Companies that have nothing to differentiate themselves on besides price are the most vulnerable to the threat of lower priced Chinese made products; that's a no-win game.  Gordon Brush chooses to compete on value-added, said Rakusin.  Offering premier products with superior customer service have enabled the Company to grow and prosper in spite of the Chinese threat.

Buy American, buy Gordon Brush® for all of your brush needs. If a brush exists, we have it…if it doesn't, we'll make it.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TYPE OF FILL MATERIAL


Understanding the different types of fill materials and their uses will help you choose the right brush for any application. There are many different bristle materials out there to create the perfect industrial brush. Because it’s important to understand the brush fill characteristics for your specific application, our experts can help guide you through this selection process.

To start, there are three main bristle material categories the industrial cleaning world uses: synthetic, natural and wire. Let’s take a closer look into what benefits, characteristics and attributes each of these categories provide users.


Synthetic Fill Material –
CHARACTERISTICS: Easy to clean and does not scratch fragile surfaces while still providing excellent bend recovery, abrasion, chemical resistance, and overall break strength.
USES: Applications include general purpose cleaning, buffing, dusting, and wet scrubbing.

Natural Fill Material
CHARACTERISTICS: Ideal for sweeping light-weight particles or removing dust while still having excellent bend recovery and break strength.
USES: Applications include general purpose cleaning, buffing, dusting, and wet scrubbing.

Wire Fill Material
CHARACTERISTICS: Excellent abrasion and wear resistance attributes with an equally good bend recovery.
USES: Applications can include heavy-duty cleaning, deburring (like rust removal or burnishing), and delicate finishing or polishing projects as well.

               When deciding on which industrial brush suits your application best, remember the basic thee bristle categories and you should be in good shape. When ordering from Gordon Brush®, rest assured, you're buying a premium quality line of American made brushes.

Gordon Brush® manufacturers over 17,000 different kinds of brushes for every industry imaginable. With over 3,500 brushes available for same day shipment, Gordon Brush® has the right brush for your specific need. If a brush exists, we have it…if it doesn't, we'll make it!

Gordon Brush® has a team of brush experts that can help you select the best brush for your specific application or work with you to design the perfect custom brush.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Choosing the Correct Roller Cover for Your Job


When selecting a rollercover, the two most important factors to consider are: the paint sheen and the nap height.
Paint Sheen:
The sheen is the glossiness of a paint finish.

Gloss or Semi-Gloss Paint
Glossy paints have a very high sheen and will tend to show more lint on the roller surface. Therefore, when using a gloss or semi-gloss paint, choose a shed-resistant woven cover. The fibers that make up the woven fabric are locked into the backing with a tight, "double lock" process providing a smooth and virtually lint-free finish.

Flat, Eggshell, Or Satin Paint
Gordon Brush Twin Pack Roller Cover R29301
A knit roller cover is recommended when applying flat, eggshell, or satin paints and stains. Knit roller covers can pick up and release higher amounts of paint than woven fabrics because the fibers have a looped backing with a single pass-through process resulting in a more "open" fabric. However, if you’re looking for a finer, professional-quality finish, a shed-resistant woven roller cover is also recommended with flat or satin paint.

Microfiber and foam roller covers can also be used. You can achieve spray-like results with both of these roller covers when applying any type of paint, varnish, or enamel. They are great to use on cabinets, doors, and other smooth surfaces.

Nap Height:
Nap height is the length of the fibers that extend from the backing and carry the paint to the wall.

For smooth surfaces, choose a shorter nap (3/16" or 1/4") to apply the paint evenly. Because a shorter nap picks up less paint, it is common for some painters to "bump up" to a longer nap for increased production. While this can be a good idea to speed-up your painting project, it is important to note that higher naps may leave a textured look on a smooth surface. Always remember to select a nap height that will provide you with your desired finish regardless of the paint pick up and release capabilities.

Rough Surfaces
Rough surfaces require a higher nap (3/4" to 1-1/2") so the long fibers can reach into the valleys of the texture. Higher nap heights are great for textured plaster or stucco, siding, decks, concrete block, brick, and corrugated metal. Long nap heights offer great paint pick up and release, which makes getting into all the cracks and crevices of the surface easy. Remember, the rougher the surface, the higher the nap to make your job easier.