Expansion on Our Second-to-None Strip Brushes

Strip brushes, or metal channel brushes (the fill material is attached to a U-shaped metal channel and to a center retaining wire), are probably one of the most versatile brushes in the Gordon Brush® arsenal of industrial brushes. Strip brushes are long, thin brushes used for a wide variety of applications in industrial, commercial and some consumer product applications. While the metal channel strip brushes are the most common, flexible strip brushes that use a bendable brush back instead of a metal channel, can also be made.

Strip brushes can be formed into a variety of shapes including: straight, closed and open wound coil, disc, cup, triangular, oval, and helical. Industrial strip brushes can be created with galvanized or stainless-steel metal channels and high-quality filling materials. They can also be customized to meet your specific application.

The fill material used in strip brushes can be composed of natural, synthetic, or metal bristles securely clamped by aluminum or steel channels. Fill material, fill length, channel size and overall length all affect a strip brush's performance. A strip brush's properties and configuration determine how it will be used.

Nylon is one of the most common fill materials used in strip brushes, since nylon offers superior abrasion resistance, bend recovery and flex fatigue recovery. Sealing strip brushes and many coiled cylinder brushes are made from various lengths of black nylon. Strip brushes can also be made using polypropylene, polyester and abrasive polymers embedded with silicone carbide particles. Metal is sometimes used as a fill material in applications in which an abrasive brush is needed. Animal hair is sometimes chosen as a bristle material for strip brushes used for polishing and cleaning, but the use of animal hair bristles is low compared to other materials because of its expense.

Industrial strip brushes can be designed to have: great fatigue life; effectiveness in low and high temperatures (PTFE fill material for nonstick applications and temperatures up to 500°); good abrasion resistance; low to moderate absorption of water; excellent bend recovery rate; resistance to most common solvents; resistance to most weak acids; and durability and longevity.

Strip brushes are widely used throughout many industries and for many different and varied applications:

Cleaning

Strip brushes are an effective use for cleaning, scrubbing, and dusting debris from conveyor systems, circuit boards, paper products, plastic film production, washing vegetables, brushing fruit, glass washing, pallet cleaning, sieve conveyors and many more applications. Strip brushes can prevent dirt and dust particles in factories, clean room environments, filtration systems, wood working machinery, farm equipment and buildings. Strip brushes can also be used to control or dissipate static electricity.

Finishing Applications

Strip brush can be used in a variety of finishing applications, such as deburring or polishing, on steel, aluminum, non-ferrous metals, timber or clay.

Sealing/Containment Applications

Strip brushes can be used to ward off, seal or contain an area/room, or retard the movement of a liquid or other object. They can also be used as part of a conveyor system to assist the transportation of goods or to prevent products from moving or escaping from the conveyor belt.

Applicator Applications

Strip brushes can be used to apply paints and solvents and to spreading liquids and powders.

Sealing & Separating Plugs

Strip brushes can act as an effective separation, flow control or dividers in many different environments.

Air Flow

Strip brushes are an efficient method of air penetration and draught exclusion along with temperature control. Strip brushes can be used to create a barrier between hot and cold environments on any barriers, doors, windows, closures or openings in either an Industrial or residential usage.

Light Exposure

Strip Brush decreases or can eradicate the penetration of light exposure in sensitive areas (medical X-ray equipment, film processing, light boxes).

Barriers

Strip brushes are efficient as a shield or barrier, to contain debris from all types of Industrial uses such as wood working machines, spray booths, the prevention of liquid & mist escape, smoke, fumes, smells and air movement or as a barrier to rodent or insect infiltration from external sources.

Weather sealing

Strip Brush is the perfect solution to keep out draughts and cold weather in all types of buildings, ships or platforms.

Noise Reduction

Strip brushes seal gaps to dampen noise.

Truck Weather Flaps

Strip brushes act as vehicle guards and skirts against road debris.

If a brush exists, we have it…If it doesn't, we'll make it!

What are Brush Bristles Made of? Synthetic Fill

Synthetic Fill Material

Gordon Brush's selection of synthetic fill brushes includes abrasive brushes and buffs, flow thru brushes, forensic brushes, cleaning brushes, ESD and clean room brushes, and much more. Some of the synthetic fill materials we use are: carbon steel, fiberglass, nylon (abrasive; type 6; type 6.6; type 6.12, conductive; static dissipative), polyester, PEEK, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PTFE, Taklon, and Thunderon®.

Carbon Steel

Carbon fiber is a very fine [0.00030] fiber of 94% pure carbon. The fiber has a tensile strength of 525 Ksi, a tensile modulus of 33 Msi, and an electrical resistivity of 0.00055 Ohms-in.

Fiberglass

Fiberglass brushes are manufactured from spun glass in two grades of material: course and fine. A gentle brushing action cleans and polishes a variety of surfaces, metallic and non-metallic. Fiberglass brushes will not contaminate or alter the electrical properties of the surfaces cleaned. They are ideal for cleaning printed circuit boards, precious metal surfaces, electrical contacts, solder joints, motor commumatators, or removing epoxy, epoxy adhesives, rust, paint oxidation, corrosion, etc. They may also be used for cleaning and polishing plastic molds.

Nylon

Abrasive Nylon

Abrasive nylon is a long wearing filament impregnated with silicon carbide particles. We stock several filament diameters and silicon carbide particle sizes.

Nylon - Type 6

Nylon - Type 6 provides a good durable nylon with good recovery, temperature stability and abrasion resistance at a low cost.

Nylon - Type 6.6

Nylon - Type 6.6 is a top quality, medium- priced with higher stiffness, recovery, and abrasion resistance than type 6. It has the highest heat distortion temperature of the three nylons at 300°F.

Nylon - Type 6.12

Nylon - Type 6.12 is a superior type nylon used in applications calling for low water absorption. It has excellent bend recovery, and abrasion resistance. This is the highest-grade nylon and they resist rot and mildew and discourage bacterial growth. Type 6.12 Nylon bristles are FDA approved and widely used in medical brushes, pharmaceutical brushes and food service brushes.

Nylon – Conductive

Conductive nylon is a type of 6.6 nylon with an electrically conductive coating suffused onto the surface for antistatic bristle brush applications.

Static Dissipative Nylon

Static Dissipative Nylon is a type 6.12 Nylon with a surface resistivity of 109 that does not shed or slough and is clean room compatible. This also includes Statigo 9, a static dissipative nylon that is thick enough to do mechanical work, and does not shed or slough and is clean room compatible.

Polyester

Polyester bristle is a polymer that replaces horsehair. Its features of toughness and high temperature resistance resemble those of Nylon, but Polyester is noted for its ability to recover without whip or slapping action – it will not mat. Polyester has excellent resistance to all acids, alkalis, alcohols, gasoline, benzene and most cleaning solvents. It is a medium- priced filament that resists mildew, bacteria and fungus growth.

PEEK

PEEK is a durable thermoplastic that offers good chemical resistance and is ideal for high heat and corrosive environments. Peek provides excellent flexural and tensile strength up to 480°F and is a great alternative to polypropylene.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene is a soft durable material suitable for applications where abrasion is to be avoided. These flexible bristles are very efficient for thorough washing and polishing of delicate fruits and vegetables. Polyethylene is ideal for soft wiping instead of a brushing action.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a versatile low cost filament used for a wide variety of applications. Polypropylene will not absorb moisture or odors and sheds dirt easily. It has excellent wet stiffness, abrasive tip cleaning action, non- brittle, and is inert to most solvents, oil, acids, and chemicals. It is, in fact, one of the most chemically resistant synthetic filament materials.

Polystyrene

Polystyrene is a material that has replaced natural bristles for use where chemical resistance is needed. Its stiff aggressive properties make it ideal for utility brushes, coffee urn brushes, deck scrub brushes, and floor and garage brushes. Polystyrene bristles wear longer, perform better, and yet carry a comparable price tag to natural bristles.

PTFE

A Polymer that is inert to most chemicals, resistant to strong mineral and oxidizing acids, along with alcohols, ketones, ethers, amines, esters, chlorinated compounds and common cleaning solvents. PTFE has excellent property resilience up to 500°F.

Taklon

Taklon is made out of thermoplastic polyester, sometimes referred to as PBT (Polybutylene Therephthalate). Taklon mimic the characteristics of natural sable. It is a bit softer than the earliest nylon brushes and a touch better at picking up powder than nylon, but not by much. Talkon artist brushes hold their shape and maintain their fine points under the toughest conditions.

Thunderon®

Thunderon® is an acrylic fiber that has been chemically bonded with a layer of copper sulfide. This outer layer becomes a part of the host fiber itself, which precludes the 'flaking' problem experienced by other conductive fibers. The fiber diameter is as fine as 0.004 cm (0.0015") and its conductive layer is a super thin 300-1,000A (angstroms). It has electrical specific resistance of 101 - 102 Ω /cm.

Gordon Brush is well stocked with standard brushes using these materials. However, if you don't see what you are looking for, we can always customize a brush for you.

If a brush exists, we have it…If it doesn't, we'll make it!

What are Brush Bristles Made of? Natural & Wire Fill

Everybody uses a brush for something, every day. The "working" part of the brush is the bristles. In the brush industry, the term "bristles" usually applies to a material that comes from a special kind of pig/hog. But hog bristles are not the only type of material used in brushes. For this reason, we use "FILL" material as a more generic term to refer to the working part of the brush.

Fill material can be broken down into three categories: Natural, Wire, and Synthetic.

Natural Fill Material

Gordon Brush® offers a wide selection of natural fill brushes for all applications: acid/sash brushes, flow thru brushes, artist brushes, forensic brushes, medical instrument brushes, and much more. Some of the natural fill materials we use are: hog bristle, horsehair, camel hair, goat hair, ox hair, Palmyra, pure red sable, red sable, sabeline, squirrel hair, Tampico, and a mixture of Tampico and horsehair.

              

Hog Bristle

Hog bristle is relatively scarce and expensive. This material has characteristics that set it apart as the best natural filling material for a wide variety of bristle brushes. Each strand of bristle has a natural taper from the butt or flesh end to the tip, giving it resilience not found in other hairs. In addition, the tip end of each bristle is naturally split into two or more branches called the flag. Hog bristle has a slightly stiff to very stiff texture and is brown or black in color excellent for ESD applications. It has excellent durability and water resistance.

               Horsehair

Horsehair is a medium to high cost material. Tail hair is stiffer than mane hair. Its soft to slightly stiff texture gives a scratch- free dry cleaning and has very good durability. Not resistant to acids or alkalis. Used for buffing, cleaning, dusting, and finishing in a variety of brush styles: floor sweeps, shoe shine brushes, tin handle acid brushes, counter dusters, and window brushes, excellent for ESD applications. Heat distortion temperature is 370°F.

Camel Hair

Camel Hair brushes are not usually made from camel hair. Rather, “camel hair” is a more generic term used for lower priced, soft hair that is commonly used for artist brushes.

Goat Hair

Goat hair is a very fine hair with limited elasticity. It has a natural kink that cannot be straightened. Used for short, soft bristle brushes like cosmetic brushes. Goat hair is available in natural black and white, and dyed in blue, brown, gold, green, gray, and purple.

Ox Hair

In proportion to its diameter, ox hair is perhaps the stiffest of all soft hairs. Ox hair is particularly sought after in artist or dental brushes for fine lettering, striping and marking brushes.

Palmyra

A cinnamon colored fiber produced from the base of the leaf stalks of the India Palmyra palm. It has a medium stiff to stiff texture and is light to dark brown in color. It is finer, less stiff, more brittle, and of lower quality than bassine. Used in garage floor brushes, fender washing brushes, deck brushes, and scrub brushes.

Pure Red Sable

Pure Red Sable hair has a perpetual taper, creating the finest point possible on a bristle brush.

Red Sable

The hair of the red sable is the most valuable of all soft hairs. It is very fine, has strong, sharp points and great elasticity and carries color well. Red sable hair makes the finest artists’ brushes, being particularly suited for use with Japan colors, oil colors and heavy- bodied sign- writing materials, and is best for fine lettering.

Sabeline

Sabeline hair comes from the ear hair of Oxen which are native to Northern Russian and Northern China. The hair is died to either a reddish or yellowish colors. Historically, Sabeline hair was sold as inexpensive Sable hair, and sometimes also as Red Sable hair. Sabeline is a good "go-to" brush for dry brush and for washes and fills. It does not have a tapered tip so is not great for detailed work. Sabeline hair diameter is larger than goat hair, but Sabeline has a great affinity for holding paint media plus a very smooth delivery. Sabeline makes a high quality long hair brush and that means it’s also excellent for organic lines and curves. Sabeline brushes are ideal for water based inks and paints.

Squirrel

Squirrel hair is divided into blue squirrel and Canadian squirrel. It is a very fine hair used for applying thin lacquers, Japan colors, light- bodied varnishes, and for general artwork, lettering and striping, as well as, cosmetic brushes.

Tampico

Tampico is produced in Mexico from the stalk of the Agave plant. Has a soft to medium texture and is off white in color. It is often dyed and blended to give the desired effects to a bristle brush. It is heat, alkali, and acid resistant. The porous fibers absorb water and work wet or dry. Tampico is more aggressive than nylon or horsehair. Used for removing surface particles and tool marks, dusting, wet scrubbing, cleaning, and spreading liquids. It is excellent for removing light feather burrs and for light edge blending when used with a compound. Heat distortion temperature is 283°F.

Wire Fill Material

Gordon Brush® has an extensive selection of wire fill brushes for all applications, including medical brushes, applicator brushes, conductive ESD brushes, clean room brushes, FDA-compatible brushes, and more. Some of the wire fill materials we use are: aluminum, brass, carbon steel, phosphor bronze, stainless steel, and titanium. Gordon Brush® also uses many of these materials in combination, for our two-headed brushes.

Aluminum

Aluminum is soft and non- corrosive. Bends easily and takes a set. It is recommended for special applications only. Brass: 360 alloy. Aluminum is the softest metal fiber available. It comes straight or crimped and is used for light to medium cleaning and luster finishing.

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel is available both tempered and un-tempered, in a variety of sizes, straight or crimped. This is a widely used metal fill material. It has excellent cutting ability and fatigue resistance for long brush life at a low cost. It is used for general- purpose cleaning, rust removal, deburring, edge blending, and roughing for adhesion.

Phosphor Bronze

C51000, phosphor bronze B, is non-sparking and about 1/5 as conductive as copper. It is stronger than brass [F73 Rockwell] and lasts longer. It resists corrosion and fatigue due to flexing.

Stainless Steel

Type 302 stainless is for wet and no rust applications in a variety of sizes, straight or crimped. Highly corrosion and heat resistant and unlike carbon steel, stainless steel does not leave after- rust deposits when used on stainless steel, aluminum, and other high strength alloys. However, once used on carbon steel it cannot be used on stainless steel or rusting can occur. Used in corrosive environments for general purpose cleaning, rust removal, deburring, edge blending, and roughing for adhesion. Stainless Steel is FDA approved and widely used in medical brushes, pharmaceutical brushes and food service brushes.

(to be continued.....)