reconsidering nylon FB heads

[Eric H]

If you have been on this forum for any length of time you know that Hogs hair brushes are preferred by most if not all of the veteren operators here and newbies will quickly be chastised for their use of nylon brushes. Is it time to reconsider Nylon? I am looking through the kleen-Rite catalog and see Hogs hair, Nylon, Nylex (whatever that is), and BoarTex Nylon-type synthetic Bristle.
My thoughts are that the Hogs hair being a natural material will have different qualities based on the animals diet and enviroment, among other factors. The last order of Hogs hair that I received definitaly feels rougher to my hands than I remember. nylon being a manufactured material at least has a consistant quality to it.
Has anyone switched to nylon?

 

[steve569]

I switched to nylon 3-4 years ago. I have not had one customer complain and they last a lot longer.

 

[MEP001]

The thing I like the most about hogs hair brushes is that with signage stating to clean the brush before use it pretty much removes all liability from us for scratches.

I've never had anyone complain either when I ran washes and used nylon, but those had customers that would sweep out their bed or scrub their engine with the brush. If I had that problem a lot now I'd use nylon. The customers we have now would not like me changing back to nylon.

FWIW, I can't tell any difference in the bristles of the Erie hogs hair brushes from different orders. I did order one Universal hogs hair to try, and they felt stiffer and coarser, and most of them broke off in a couple months.

 

[Waxman]

The thing I like the most about hogs hair brushes is that with signage stating to clean the brush before use it pretty much removes all liability from us for scratches.

I've never had anyone complain either when I ran washes and used nylon, but those had customers that would sweep out their bed or scrub their engine with the brush. If I had that problem a lot now I'd use nylon. The customers we have now would not like me changing back to nylon.

FWIW, I can't tell any difference in the bristles of the Erie hogs hair brushes from different orders. I did order one Universal hogs hair to try, and they felt stiffer and coarser, and most of them broke off in a couple months.

Yeah Galen chastised me years ago for using nylon. But FWIW, he's making fine wines now, so draw your own conclusion ( I KID!).

I have a boars hair brush in 1 bay and nylon in the other. Nylon outlasts boarshair 2 to 1 and cleans the car better. Not 1 scratch complaint w/nylon.

I'm done w/hair as it doesn't hold up well enough and doesn't clean as well. Case closed.

 

[soonermajic]

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1894-2-foammaster-nylon-brush-aluminum-head-red-bumper.aspx

has anyone tried this brush? $24 is a helluva price, & it LOOKS just like hogs hair !

 

[washnvac]

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-1894-2-foammaster-nylon-brush-aluminum-head-red-bumper.aspx

has anyone tried this brush? $24 is a helluva price, & it LOOKS just like hogs hair !

That is only 2 1/2 inch bristles. That will not last long. I get the 4 or 4 1/2 inch hogs hair.

 

[MEP001]

If they're nylon they should last as long as nylon. It's probably the wrong image.

 

[Earl Weiss]

FWIW, I can't tell any difference in the bristles of the Erie hogs hair brushes from different orders. I did order one Universal hogs hair to try, and they felt stiffer and coarser, and most of them broke off in a couple months.

FWIW I will echo what MEP says except I don' t have a comment on Universal since I haven't tried it. Erie seems to last 6 months to a year with the 4.5" model. I think customers like the texture as opposed to "Not receiving complaints about texture." I have the Erie signs explaining it's Hogs hair and instructing to rinse brush before use. I will ad.
BE CAUTIOUS there is knock off out there looks like Erie but no logo stamped on head. It's cheaper but who knows what you get.

 

[MEP001]

That Erie clone comes from these guys:

http://www.inkfishinspired.com/

I talked to someone from there, and they claimed the bristles come from the exact same hogs as Erie Brush's.

 

[Earl Weiss]

That Erie clone comes from these guys:

http://www.inkfishinspired.com/

I talked to someone from there, and they claimed the bristles come from the exact same hogs as Erie Brush's.

They same imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Not surprising. Copy the design and also ride the quality shirttails of the company you copy.

 

[OurTown]

https://www.kleen-ritecorp.com/p-189...ed-bumper.aspx

has anyone tried this brush? $24 is a helluva price, & it LOOKS just like hogs hair !

Mep is right about being the wrong image. Here is the correct one. Gotta watch Kleen-Rite.

https://www.eriebrush.com/product_info.php?products_id=74

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I'm putting together a big order to take advantage of Kleen-Rite's free shipping offer and show specials... part of that order was going to be some more Hog's Hair brushes but after seeing the current prices I don't think there is anyway for me to justify them!! Are they nice soft brushes....yes they are. If I was buying a brush for personal use I would surely buy Hogs Hair. But for $50 to $75 for a brush that will be abused and worn out in 6 months versus a $24 nylon brush, I don't think so.

 

[washnvac]

If I was buying a brush for personal use I would surely buy Hogs Hair. But for $50 to $75 for a brush that will be abused and worn out in 6 months versus a $24 nylon brush, I don't think so.

I would not put anything in my washes that I would not use on my personal vehicles.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I would not put anything in my washes that I would not use on my personal vehicles.

First of all, I would use a brand new nylon brush on my personal vehicle. Second, I wouldn't use a one week old, $75 hogs hair brush at anyones wash on my personal vehicle, at least when it was newer. Its not the material, it's what these customers do to these brushes. They scrub their engines. They scrub their wheel wells. They scrub their wheels and tires. They use them as pushbrooms to 'sweep' out their pickup truck beds full of gravel, mulch, grease, metal shavings, broken glass, and roofing screws. When I see someone pull in driving an $90k Range Rover, grab the brush and dunk it in the left over soap from the previous customer and scrub the hell out of their vehicle I doubt if it matters if its hogs hair or nylon.

 

[OurTown]

First of all, I would use a brand new nylon brush on my personal vehicle. Second, I wouldn't use a one week old, $75 hogs hair brush at anyones wash on my personal vehicle, at least when it was newer. Its not the material, it's what these customers do to these brushes. They scrub their engines. They scrub their wheel wells. They scrub their wheels and tires. They use them as pushbrooms to 'sweep' out their pickup truck beds full of gravel, mulch, grease, metal shavings, broken glass, and roofing screws. When I see someone pull in driving an $90k Range Rover, grab the brush and dunk it in the left over soap from the previous customer and scrub the hell out of their vehicle I doubt if it matters if its hogs hair or nylon.

If you brush wash a new or recently buffed black car then I bet the nylon brush leaves swirl marks. I look at our brushes and brush my hand over them regularly to see what is in them. Rarely do I find anything. Usually if we have truck bed cleaners they blow it out with high pressure instead. About your Range Rover customer I agree. We are constantly surprised at how cheap some owners of expensive cars are when it comes to washing.