How do you apply gum tragacanth?

PEU

PEU

Gaucho Knifemaker
Joined
Aug 6, 2006
Messages
1,172
Hi, the title says it all. I use regular brushes to paint the edges of my sewn sheaths, but they are good for only one batch, the following day if I want to use it gummies up and its almost unusable.
I would like to know if there is a brush or something that can be easily cleaned and reused. thanks!

Pablo
 
PEU said:
Hi, the title says it all. I use regular brushes to paint the edges of my sewn sheaths, but they are good for only one batch, the following day if I want to use it gummies up and its almost unusable.
I would like to know if there is a brush or something that can be easily cleaned and reused. thanks!

Pablo
Click to expand...
I've used cotton balls on the end of a wire. Almost any leather supplier will carry these. They're also (usually) only one use as well. But they are much cheaper than regular brushes. My supplier carries them in bags of 10 and 100
 
navman said:
Fingertip.
Click to expand...
You're not actually suppose to touch the stuff. I dunno your hair falls out or something. I used gum years back and had those handy 10 applicators on hand ( sorry for the pun) at all times. I haven't had any in the shop for many years. There are better burnishing compounds out there. Look at Wyo Slik from Barry King Tools. I have heard good things about Ron's Edge Rub from Maker's Leather Supply too but have not used it. I currently use water and paraffin. But I'm power burnishing. But if I dod a lil section by hand I'm using the same deal.
 
SharpBits said:
It should be safe to touch as it is a food additive and used in some cosmetics.
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I was getting mine from, Weaver. It had a warning on the bottle not to touch it. Quien Sabe? I still have most of my hair!
 
Thanks guys! will try the cotton balls on a stick, it may actually work, and since I already lost most of my hair, if it doesn't work it will be the fingers LOL

Pablo
 
Finger tips…hair falling out?!? Haven’t any of you guys heard of nitrile gloves?!? ;)

I usually use a finger, only breaking out the gloves for dying and oiling. Never occurred to me to use a brush!
 
I've used a finger many times, my mane is full and thick, and my kids came out normal ... mostly..

Don't know why they would put that label on it. GT is completely safe. It is just a plant gum. OTOH, opium is "just a plant gum".
 
BTW I didn’t answer your question Pablo. I use those lil foam brushes for applicators on edging. They dry hard but stick em back in your gum or whatever and they soften back up. I buy like 65 at a time in a plastic can. They’re cheap, like $9 for a can.
 
Horsewright said:
BTW I didn’t answer your question Pablo. I use those lil foam brushes for applicators on edging. They dry hard but stick em back in your gum or whatever and they soften back up. I buy like 65 at a time in a plastic can. They’re cheap, like $9 for a can.
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Thanks! Hard to find these here in Buenos Aires Dave 🥲 and the one I saw was ridiculously expensive for a disposable item.

With the cotton ball idea from this thread, I designed around it and came up with this holder, it just works!
3D printed one for me and two to give to fellow local artisan friends, added texture to the walls for better grip, maybe white is not the best option LOL but it's what I had loaded in the printer.

Pablo
PS: want to print your own? https://www.printables.com/model/1487543-cotton-ball-brush

QLaT1zN.jpeg

yQ4ZWZk.jpeg

XFEFDaV.jpeg
 
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PEU said:
Thanks! Hard to find these here in Buenos Aires Dave 🥲 and the one I saw was ridiculously expensive for a disposable item.

With the cotton ball idea from this thread, I designed around it and came up with this holder, it just works!
3D printed one for me and two to give to fellow local artisan friends, added texture to the walls for better grip, maybe white is not the best option LOL but it's what I had loaded in the printer.

Pablo
PS: want to print your own? https://www.printables.com/model/1487543-cotton-ball-brush

QLaT1zN.jpeg

yQ4ZWZk.jpeg

XFEFDaV.jpeg
Click to expand...
pretty sure you could find yourself a whole new market out there for those things ;)
 
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