Sources for extra-wide hake brushes?

[David R Munson]

I'm looking for high quality hake brushes for brush-development of 8x10 film. The tied (http://www.dickblick.com/zz054/03/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=399) hake brushes Dick Blick carries are good, but I'm wondering if anyone knows where to find brushes wider than 3 inches. Thoughts?

[John Cook]

How about joining these from Garrett Wade together?

http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?lGen=detail&itemID=106825&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=0&iSubCat=0&iProductID=106825

Also, if you totally strike out, try e-mailing or telephoning Dick Blick customer service. In the past they have been more than willing to special order odd things for me, in quantities of only onezies and twosies.

[Jay DeFehr]

I develop all of my 8x10 negatives one at a time with brush agitation, and I use the cheap, black foam paintbrushes from Home Depot or Lowe's, which come in a wide variety of sizes. I've never had a problem with these brushes, and I can throw them away if I get nervous about their condition, without remorse. If you have other reasons for wanting the expensive, Hake brushes, I understand, but if you're just skeptical of the foam brushes, try one on a test neg.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've seen them pretty wide at Pearl Paint in NYC. Not sure if they have them on the website, but if not, you might be able to get the phone number off the website, call them, and talk to someone in the brush department.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I was shopping for retouching brushes there, and I highly recommend the Richeson 18/0 Miniature Series 9131 brush made in the UK.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Pearl paint carries very wide Chinese-style brushes which are used to brush rice starch for the mounting of paintings on scrolls.

[Reinhold Schable]

I agree with Jay: I've been processing 8 x 20 negatives as well as monster size prints using plain foam brushes. Been doing it for several years with never a scratch. Also, I don't have to worry about contamination from chemicals which might not get completely flushed out of a brush's binding.

[Richard Wasserman]

You could try Aiko's Art Materials in Chicago. http://aikosart.com They carry a wide selection of handmade Japanese papers and traditional artist's tools. I know they carry the brushes, but I don't know what sizes they have. I buy a lot of their papers and they are very friendly and helpful.

[Jorge Gasteazoro]

Dont be afraid to try the hake brushes with a metal ferrule. I have been doing brush development with them for years, ABC, Pyro, Pyrocat HD and have not seen any problems caused by the famous "no metal" admonition. They are easier to find in 5 in sizes. ( It is the size I use for 12x20 negs)

[David R Munson]

Thanks for all the ideas! I have also since found hake brushes in widths up to ten inches here (http://www.aswexpress.com/discount-art-supplies/online/2063/art-supplies/5). I'm not sure what the quality is like on these, but I think overall I'll be alright. Thanks again for the help.

I love this forum. :-)

[David F. Stein]

ASW is a superb company. If price is no object, I am sure McClain's Printmaking, a specialist in Japanese printmaking supplies, could source them for you. Also try Graphic Chemical or Rembrandt Graphics. In addition to the firms just mentioned, Daniel Smith, Dick Blick and NY Central Art Supply are all outstanding suppliers. Have fun. Digital and Alt printmaker's, give Johannot a try. Superb paper: 75 cotton, 25 esparto grass and competitively priced.