The Anarchist’s Gift Guide – comprised only of stuff I have bought and used in our shop – starts today and runs over the next two weeks.
I started this “gift guide” years ago (read past recommendations here) after watching a woodworking TV personality’s “gift guide” for one of his sponsors. Clearly, he’d been given a list of worthless stuff that they wanted gone.
I thought: What if some poor spouse/child/friend actually took this crap advice?
This gift guide is – as always – unsponsored. Toolmakers who ask to be included in the guide (and they sometimes do) are automatically excluded from it. We don’t make money from these recommendations – there are no affiliate links. I paid full price for these items. And I’ve sought out at least a few things that your children could afford to buy for you.
Here goes.
Marshalltown 829 Masonry Brush
This brush was suggested by a reader. It’s a U.S.-made masonry brush that is just the right size and stiffness to make a great bench brush. And it’s less than $12. I bought two, and I plan to buy a few more for our machine room.
Most bench brushes have fibers that are too fine for my taste. A bench brush needs some coarse fibers to deal with chips – not just fine sawdust.
The Marshalltown 829 (shown above) is made using Tampico fiber, which is harvested from cacti in northern Mexico. The fibers come from inside the cactus leaves. And the fibers are what makes this brush a gem (the hardwood handle and block are nothing special). The fibers are bundled in a way that makes them just right for bench work. You can brush up fine sanding dust. And you can also wrangle those weird cross-grain chips that elude fine brushes.
The Marshalltown 829 is not pretty. But it works exceptionally well.
I see the link for the masonry brush is for a supplier of archeological supplies. And CS is on vacation…. Megan have you checked to see if his Fedora and bullwhip are still on the hatstand? Or is he off on the Trail of the Lost Coffer?
Ha! His whip is still here; I think he took his hat.
Hmmm, I do have one for masonary work. I will buy a 2nd and modify with a horizontal handle.
They also sell a beavertail brush with tampico or horsehair bristles.
Your orange big box store may have them.
Remember if the Tampico fibers aren’t from northern Mexico it’s just a sparkling masonry brush.
I’ve got one of those in the shop, works great. I also have a brush called a “curb brush”. It’s about a foot long, slender, held by the block (has finger grooves, no extended handle), and clears a benchtop with speed and authorty. Both are cheap, get one (or two) of each. Two bristle styles.
https://marshalltown.com/pro-2161-curb-brushes?variantItemId=16443
I see I my suggestion made the gift guide. To what great hights have I spared?
I know this is called a “Gift” guide but inevitably I just end up buying off it for myself. 🤭
Happened to be in the big orange box store today, walked by the masonry section and low and behold there this was. $11 Canadian, and it’s great! Spent maybe 20 minutes with a card scraper and some sandpaper and the handle feels a lot better in my hand. Finished the handle with soft wax, and it’s way better than the bench brush I had. The horizontal soft bristle ones seem okay for sweeping into a dustpan, but this one clears a bench or seat saddle effortlessly and more ergonomically. Thanks for the heads up!!
I recognized the brush as a Wallpaper Paste Brush. Same maker, Same tampico fibers but the paste brush has one less row of Bristles and costs about 1/2 the price of the masonry brush.
Is this “better” than a turkey wing brush? That is, does it do a better job of clearing the bench, despite not being as attractive?