As a 17-year-old budget-conscious woodworker, I try to get as much use as possible from my tools. So when a finishing brush started falling apart, I decided to hold it together with a rubber band, which worked pretty well. In the process, I realized that I was converting my floppy-bristled brush into a firm-bristled brush, which I find works better when applying thicker finishes. Now I don’t have to buy such a wide variety of brushes. I simply “adjust” the bristle stiffness with a thin rubber band, placing it closer to the ferrule for best flexibility, and closer to the far end for more stiffness.
—Ethan Talbert, St. Augustine, Florida