A Waxing Brush Makes a Difference January 29, 2013
Hello my cherishables!,
If you’ve read “The Paris Wife”, you’ve heard the word “cherishables” before. I’m the last person on the universe to read the book, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it and I’m loving that word!
Now, on to more serious matters. Paint and wax brushes. Seriously.
Would you try to flip an egg with a salad tong? Or mop a floor with a window squeegee? Of course not! So, why, pray tell, would you wax a piece of furniture for your home, or to sell, with a disposable chip brush? Enquiring minds want to know!
Normally, I’m not a purist. I’m all about using the best thing I happen to have on hand. If someone wants to use their Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Wax, on our Maison Blanche Furniture Paint, I say “Live it up!” Not the case, with brushes. Trust me!
So, I went on a hunt for a good wax brush, like the ones I’ve been using. Finally, after quite a few grueling hours, letting my fingers do the walking, I found the source! Then, I priced it lower than any of the wax brushes I have found on-line. So, honor your craft and think about getting your hands on a real, live wax brush!
My wax brushes come in one and a half and two inch diameter, round brush heads, with the long, tapered wooden handles and sell for $21.95 and $29.95. Shipping in the U.S. is about $6, whether you order one brush or two. For more info, just go to my side bar, or on-line paint store. Of course, they’re at the shop, too! I’ve used my wax brushes for several years and with proper care, they’ll be life-long friends!
***Care for your natural bristle wax is simple. I use one brush for clear and amber waxes and one wax brush for light and dark brown waxes. You don’t want to use wax brushes, with different waxes (light vs. dark) without cleaning between each use. Use mineral spirits, to clean you wax brushes. Wipe excess mineral spirits off with a rag and stand it on its handle, to preserve the bristles.
Happy painting!
I agree and I need to order some paint from you some time….
Hi Kat, not enough hours in the day! Hope you’re doing well. 🙂
Dear Barbara,
I just visited New Orleans to be an Annie Sloan stockiest. I am struggling with the fact that I have to buy $7500 in the initial order, of which $2k is brushes I don’t intend to use and expensive modge podge and crackling mediums. I am now considering to stock Maison Blanche paints instead. It looks to me like you use them both. Could you advise me on what your preference is? Are the paints extremely similar? How much business does the Annie Sloan craze generate? My company is called Design Source 101. I am in Boise, Idaho.
So glad you asked! When I hear from my customers about AS’ wax brushes costing them $65-75, I roll my eyes and wonder how they get away with it? I sell my largest wax brush for $28. I can buy it from anyone I want. I have sold MB. With Annie Omar (MB) it’s a great paint, but you can’t stock competitors product. Same with ASCP. I’ve used ASCP but never sold it. Great product. Not crazy about the waxes.
Annie Omar has let more retailers go, than many companies have ever had represent them. She’s crazy, in my opinion. I know of a long list of retailers, whom I respect, who have left or been forced out of MB. I fall into the latter group!
There is so much competition in this arena and lots of new companies starting all the time. Even Home Depot carries a line I hear. Valspar, I believe. They will never have our customer service, but the field is flooding.
If I were you, I’d consider Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint. It’s a totally different product and the competition is not as fierce. I stock MMS as well as Amy Howard at Home chalk based paint. I highly recommend them. I’ve rep’d them for a year and a half and haven’t been thrown out! They are changing their formulation though and I’d wait until that happens, if you can. Paint is a big investment! My Amy Howard bill was around $6K, plus training. If I can give you more info about mms or Amy Howard, let me know.
If you don’t clean your brushes eat use, how should you store them?
Hi Amber,
I store all of my brushes in a jar of some kind, standing on their handles. Happy painting!,
Barbara