Paint brush

**your_comforting_company** · 11-17-2009, 09:20 AM

Only takes a few minutes to make and has tons of applications.

stuff you need: a stick that is somewhat straight, a piece of fine cordage to tie the hair on (I'm using sinew), some scissors, a small knife, and some fur (here I use deer tail hair)
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bevel the end of the stick, and about 3/8" or ½" from the end cut a groove all the way around. use a stick that is solid through, not hollow in the middle.
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add hair to the end, let it stick up past the groove about 1/2" and tie it at the groove with the cordage. use another piece of cordage to tie at the end of the stick right at the tip of the bevel. This pulls the hairs together into a tuft.
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trim the loose ends of the cordage, trim the brush to shape, and voila:
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this can be useful for painting pine pitch, or wax, or hide glue, or paint, or honey on a ham, or...
whole thing takes 5 minutes, maybe less.
anyway, I was playin around and thought I'd share.

**canid** · 11-17-2009, 09:28 AM

nice. i've contemplated making my own paint brushed more than once, but never got motivated for whatever reason.

**crashdive123** · 11-17-2009, 02:01 PM

Nice tutorial.

**2dumb2kwit** · 11-17-2009, 02:07 PM

Paintbrush.....tons of applications

Now that's funny!
(And a dang good idea!)

**Rick** · 11-17-2009, 06:40 PM

Here are some natural paint recipes to go with your brush. Cool idea by the way!!

Milk Paint

1 Quart skim milk (room temperature)
1 Once of hydrated lime by weight ( Do not use quick lime)
1 to 2 1/2 pounds of chalk may also be added as a filler.
Stir together milk and lime to form a smooth paste. Add color pigment of your choice and apply with a natural bristle brush. Allow first coat to dry sufficiently before applying another. Finish off with an oil finish if desired.

Another Milk Paint Recipe

One Gallon Skim Milk
Two Cups Builders Lime (Do NOT use Quick Lime)
One Quart Linseed Oil (the boiled type)
1/2 Cup of Salt
Dye (Color) add in as needed
Mix all ingredients together and strain through a cheesecloth. Use within a day or two.

And Yet ANOTHER Milk Recipe

Powdered Skim Milk
Water
Food Coloring
Mix just enough pwoder and water to create the consistency of paint. Add food coloring of your choice or make a tincture with various herbs and vegetables. Strain through a cheesecloth.

Flour Paint Recipe

1 cup flour
2 tablespoons salt
Saucepan
1 1/2 cups cold water
Wire whisk or eggbeater
1 1/4 cups hot water
Food coloring or powdered tempera paint

Mix the flour and salt in the saucepan. Beat in the cold water until the mixture is smooth. Mix in the hot water and boil the mixture until it's thick, then beat it again until it's smooth. Tint the paint however you like with food coloring or powdered tempera paint. Cover the paint and refrigerate it for storage.

**your_comforting_company** · 11-17-2009, 07:59 PM

hmmm.. I've been thinking about how to paint a skin camo..

is this milk paint colorfast, or can I use them as a stain? I have a reference somewhere to herbs and berries and making dyes from them. My grandma told me they used to use pokeberries to stain some of their clothes...

you got my rocks rattlin... I'm gonna let my son make some of this paint one day this week and try it out. I'll take pics of that too for yas

good info Rick, thanks!

**Rick** · 11-17-2009, 09:03 PM

YCC - Almost all the old paints on earth were some combination of milk, lime and earth pigments (minerals, plants, etc.). Most of the old cave drawings and even Tutankhamen's tomb were painted with milk paints. Unfortunately, you'll find milk paints are not very durable. You can cover them with things like bees wax or oils but they generally will wash away if exposed to weather. Lime is pretty soluble so it doesn't last all that long. That's one of the reasons we migrated to oil based, water based and latex paints.

I'd like to see the pictures!!