The brush maintenance strategy that beginners need to know to extend the life of your brush

The writing brush is known as the "crown of hair tips". A properly maintained writing brush can not only extend its service life by 3-5 times, but also maintain the sensitivity of the brush tip. Based on the maintenance experience of calligraphers throughout the ages and modern pen-making technology, the author summarizes seven key maintenance tips.

1. The warm water awakening method determines life and death

When using a new pen for the first time, avoid tearing it violently :

• Soak the pen tip in 40℃ warm water for 3 minutes to soften the sealant
• Gently pinch the belly of the brush to the root, and slowly spread the brush hair three times.
• Draw "∞" in water to clean the residual glue

Wrong operation : using hot water to scald the pen will cause burns to the hair, and insufficient cold water soaking will cause glue residue

2. Dip the ink in moderation: three-point immersion method

Controlling the amount of ink is the key to maintenance:

• Ink dipping position : Dip to 1/3 of the tip for small characters, 1/2 for medium characters, and not above the belly of the pen for large characters
• Ink scraping technique : gently scrape out a conical ink ball along the edge of the inkstone
• Taboos : Dipping the wolf-hair brush too deeply in ink will cause ink to accumulate at the base of the brush, and repeatedly adding ink to the goat-hair brush will cause the tip of the brush to become bloated

3. Washing the brush by day and night: Four-step cleaning technique

You must wash your brush at the end of your daily practice:

• Flushing with running water : The pen tip is facing downwards, and the water flows along the direction of the hair.
• Finger massage : Gently rub the base of the pen to remove stubborn ink stains
• pH value test : The test is qualified if the water droplets are colorless and odorless
• Water absorption balance : use rice paper to absorb until it is half dry
• Severe pollution treatment : deep clean with shampoo every quarter, avoid using soap to damage the hair.

4. The method of shaping by hanging

The storage method determines the life of the pen:

• Short-term storage : Insert the pen tip downwards into the pen curtain, keeping a distance of 3cm
• Long-term rest : hang in a cool place and put on a non-woven pen cap to prevent dust
• Taboos : Inserting the pen holder upside down will cause the pen tip to deform, and sealing it will cause mold.

5. Emergency remedies: common disease treatment

• Pen tip split : honey water shaping method (1:10 honey water soak for 10 minutes, wash with water)
• Hair bending : Steam fumigation method (use boiling water steam at a distance of 30cm and shape while hot)
• Ink accumulation at the root : dental probe cleaning (removing layer by layer along the direction of the pen shaft)
• Prevention of insect infestation : Camphorwood pencil case with pepper bag to prevent insects

6. Solar terms health regimen: temperature and humidity control

• Rainy season : Bamboo charcoal bags absorb moisture and should be ventilated and aired every week
• Winter is dry : Keep the brush maintenance box at 60% humidity
• Extreme weather : Use glycerin to moisten the brush tip during downtime (dilute pure glycerin 10 times for application)

7. Ultimate maintenance: life cycle management

• Wolf hair brush : Daily service life is about 18 months, and it can be used as a dyeing pen later
• Goat hair brush : The tip of the brush will weaken after three years, so you can cut it short and use it as a moss brush
• Mixed-hair brush : The performance peaks after two years. Expired brushes can be disassembled and used as repair materials.

The ancients said: "A pen has four virtues: tip, even, round and strong; a person has four nourishments: washing, tending and cultivating." The process of maintaining a brush is also a way to nourish the mind. A well-maintained brush will produce unique writing memories over the years. This state of "unity of man and brush" is the subtlety of calligraphy practice.