Search for "disability" brushes

Elizabeth Schott · 11-05-2002, 09:09 AM

Does anyone know of a resource for quality brushes for those of us blessed with a rheumatoid type of arthritis? After giving myself two shots a week and taking nightly medication, the practice of holding and working with a #2 filbert a good portion of the day can be excruciating for my hands. I would love to find good brushes with oversized handles. This might make the detailing a little difficult but certainly more bearable.

Michael Georges · 11-05-2002, 09:36 AM

Beth:

I don't have a supplier to direct you to, but I have a couple of suggestions that may help.

Try contacting Trekell brush company and see if they could build you the type of brush with a thicker handle. They are great folks and have made special brushes for people before - and their prices are very reasonable. www.trekell.com

Second, have you tried things to thicken the handle yourself? There are rubber grips you can buy at office supply stores that slip over things like pencils and brushes to make them easier to hold. You could do the same with clay or a kneaded eraser molded around the handle.

I am sure others will have suggestions too, but give those a thought.

Elizabeth Schott · 11-05-2002, 09:50 AM

Thank you, Michael. I am not sure I am ready for specially ordered brushes, but I will check that out. The kneaded eraser is the GREATEST idea. Off I go!

Margaret Port · 11-05-2002, 10:06 AM

Hi Beth,

There is a product on the market called "Creative Paperclay" (and a web site with the same name) which is a white malleable putty-type substance used by dollmakers. It air dries, barely shrinks, is odorless, non toxic (good product!) and you could use it to fatten out your brush handles to your heart's content. Not only that but you can keep adding layers forever, it seems. When you have what you need, and it is dry, you can give it a coat of acrylic paint or varnish and there you have customized, hopefully painfree, brushes. Happy painting!

Elizabeth Schott · 11-05-2002, 06:07 PM

Margaret and Michael, thank you! I did try wrapping my kneaded erasers around the brushes today, it really helped. I just barely soaked them in the brush cleaner jar, quite by accident, and they got really mushy! Yuck! I

Patt Legg · 11-05-2002, 06:49 PM

Elizabeth, I have worked a little with the Polymer clays (Fimo) that can easily be found at the local craft store (even Wal-Mart). Very inexpensive and they often use this soft clay wrapped around objects such as other clay tools, jars etc. for decorative uses. The only thing is it must be baked at a very low heat (275 degrees F.) for about 15-20 minutes and then it becomes hard and can be drilled, etc. (One has to be careful not to burn this clay in your oven.)

I do not know if this is of any help but it could be wrapped around the brushes and then baked but I'm not sure of the outcome with the bristle part of the brush. I'll be trying to find another solution, meanwhile.

Good Luck.

Oh and I just checked with the hubby. Try clear silicon purchased at local Wal-Mart in the paint department. It can be bought in a smaller tube where you do not need a chalk gun to dispense it. It is pliable, soft, cushy, clear and stays pliable like the soft rubber that goes over pencils. I would apply it further up on your brush in a long rope-like piece, put it aside and let it dry overnight. It can be put onto the wooden handle as thick or thin as you like. Let dry thoroughly.

I feel sure this could work and would be easy on the fingers too. Not positively sure about the brush cleaner or turpenoid, etc. Care would have to be taken not to dissolve it but you could try it. It can be removed simply by cutting it off with an Exacto blade or razor blade.

Bye now and good luck. We will be checking other options.

Elizabeth Schott · 11-16-2002, 02:05 PM

Thank you all so much for your help here!

I ended up using the "Paperclay". Molding it to the brush and making finger prints for my grip. I then put a coat of Liquitex varish on them, but have not done a turpenoid test yet.

They clay does dry light, and did not need to be heated for hardening. I applied it to the brushes with smaller handles.

These are the brushes that I inserted into a florist green block to keep up straight while the varish dried.

Elizabeth Schott · 11-16-2002, 02:06 PM

This is how they fit in my hand:

Gina Rath · 11-17-2002, 12:06 AM

Hi Beth,

Good job with the brush handles, you may be on to something! Who knows how many of us may need this type of brush someday. Much better than strapping the brush to your arm as Renoir did.

Gina

Margaret Port · 11-17-2002, 03:14 AM

Hi Beth

I am so pleased that my idea worked. (should patert it)

I have used paperclay for all sorts of different projects, from sculpting dolls faces to adding ugly faces to the covers of my sketchbooks ( to personalise them) It is a wonderful product. I don't think turps will affect it but if the varnish seal isn't perfect, water will soften it if you soak the brush handles for a long time. The manufacturers say that it can be be rewet and reused but I have found when I have tried to rewet it, it loses its stickiness.