As those involved in the paintbrush business are only too aware, in recent years natural bristles in lengths over 51mm, have been the cause of ever-increasing problems, both in terms of price and availability. Simply put, the price keeps going up and the availability keeps going down! The cause of this is a combination of the long-term impact that the changes in breeding practices are having, meaning less and less raw material being available, combined with an ever-growing shortage of skilled workers in China to dress bristles. 

Many companies traditionally involved in bristle boiling and preparation have now closed their doors, driving costs higher as less raw material factories control the market.

The changes in breeding have also affected the quality of the hair with thinner, weaker hairs substituting traditionally stronger material. This means that natural bristle, even if used in thinner oil-based paints, is often not strong enough to perform well.

It is hard to see this situation reversing itself. Already, over the last few years, dressers have been mixing in ever increasing amounts of polyester PET/PBT filaments into the natural bristles in an effort to keep cost down and availability stable. However, much of the synthetic filament being used cannot match natural pig bristle in terms of paint pick-up and release (especially release). With these factors in mind, Pioneer Brush, a brush-maker in Tianjin, China decided to develop a fully synthetic material at their extrusion plant that would in every way resemble natural bristle.

Three years in development and one year in full production in their own brush, Pioneer have now teamed up with the bristle and filament trading company Anglo China Sourcing to bring this product to other brush-makers as a way of moving the market forward to its inevitable conclusion and eliminate the use of natural bristle entirely.

The product, known simply as “M66”, replicates natural bristle exactly. It has the same specific weight. It is matt in finish. It has a natural wave. M66 has been developed to mimic natural bristle in terms of paint pick up and it flagged for a smooth painting finish.

Our bristle replacement is available either for direct shipment from China, in full container loads, or from our European warehouse in Rotterdam. For further information, contact Pioneer Brush and/or Anglo China Sourcing via the company links below: