WHAT MAKES A QUALITY CUSTOM HORSE BRUSH?

Not all custom horse brushes are made to last. Let’s take a look at some of the things to avoid when choosing your customizable equestrian brushes 

Things to Look Out For When Choosing Your Custom Brushes

• Pale engraving – the contrast between the engraved result and the wood block is barely there.

• Nylon straps – anything with a nylon strap is not durable. It is the least costly way of manufacturing a brush and therefore a shortcut.

• Shedding bristles – if you note that bristles are still shedding substantially after using your brush twice, you can expect brush hair loss that can’t be remedied with a transplant .

• Tacky surface when used in warm weather – a sticky surface means re-sealing has been attempted after the engraving. This results in a sticky surface that is not permanent. It also means the engraving result will bleed into the veins of the brush over time, making the design look murky. The icing on the brush are little sticky balls of varnish that you will note inside the engraving. This attracts dirt and will also eventually end up on the bristles.

• Goat hair – we won’t get into the specifics of why we no longer use it but there is a reason why we now use wool. In part, quality and durability rank the highest with wool bristles over any other fiber for final-touch polishing. Having a herd of happy sheep who are keen to share their hair is far superior to goats who lose their coats.

In general, hardwoods with a tight and even grain structure are the best for engraving as they provide a consistent surface and clean lines. Examples of hardwoods suitable for engraving include maple, cherry, mahogany, and walnut.

When the surface of a wood block is engraved, we are interrupting the surface. Poor-quality brushes made with softwoods like pine means engraved areas will deteriorate with repeated exposure to moisture; dry heat will also end up cracking the wood block as it expands and contracts with the changes in barn humidity.

SP RHODES brushes are made to self-seal after the engraving process is complete and also made to produce a beautiful, dark, easily visible result. Quality customizable grooming tools are manufactured specifically to withstand the process of customization. That is what we do here at SP RHODES.

That means you can enjoy our brushes without worrying about deterioration of either the brush or the customization.
Purpose-built to last; just one of the reasons why trusting SP RHODES with your equestrian brand is the best way forward.

Live A Beautiful and Thoughtfully Branded Equestrian Lifestyle with SP RHODES paving the way for your equestrian brand.

Take a look at our line-up of custom horse brushes.