Where to get boar bristles for a making a toothbrush?

[Nathan Dodds]

Hi,

I am finaly to the point where I have got together almost all of the maturials I need to construct an authentic copy of a Civil War toothbrush I have in my collection (authenticity to new levels:)).

I have bone for the handle, and have figured out how they are put together, But I can't find a place to buy boar bristles. I need the finer type that are used on food brushes,(for putting glaze on pretzels etc.) not the thick kind like you may have seen on horse and dog brushes. Natural tannish-whitish color--Purdy paint brushes use this same type also.

Anyone know where I could buy some?

Thanks!

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Where to get boar bristles for a making a toothbrush?

I think you answered you own question here. Got my Purdy brushes at Home Depot. They should be plenty long enough for a tooffbrush.

Purdy paint brushes use this same type also.

[Nathan Dodds]

Re: Where to get boar bristles for a making a toothbrush?

I have thought about that, but I"m worried that paintbrushes might be treated with chemicals to make them take the paint better. Painting seems to involve a lot of chemicals. It just makes me a little uneasy if I'm going to be putting it in my mouth.

[Clark Badgett]

Re: Where to get boar bristles for a making a toothbrush?

I can't say one way or the other whether or not modern bristle paint brushes would have some sort of chemical treatment but it doesn't seem likely beyond what the all the bristles would recieve during the cleaning and processing at the initial supplier of such. Give it a shot and wash the tarnations out of the brushes before use. If it doesn't work the experience would far outweigh the price of the brush alone.