a very short page on making a horsehair hand-broom.
This year I have taken on the project of learning how to make brooms and brushes. Why? I don't know. Do I seek to create pleasant looking , warm, handmade objects, to replace mass produced ones around the house? Am I subconsciously trying to sweep away 2020? Either way, here is how I am making horsehair brushes.
....and now onto the shortest build-log ever, regarding my making of a small horsehair hand-broom of my own design. This page will be expanded as I research how traditional horsehair brooms were made. I will make full size horse hair brooms and post that here later. For now here is how I have made my horsehair hand-brooms which are great for tabletops and workspaces, and which pair well with a nice handmade wooden dustpan.
A small hand-broom of my own design. Made of hickory. The handle features a section into which the horsehair is clamped by two opposing clamp pads. Shown is the light brown horsehair I bought from Hitching Post Supply. The Hickory is tug-oiled.
I wrestled the stubborn horsehair over the spine of the hand-broom and then secured it in place with brass screws. I ground the points of the screws flush which marred by tung-oil finish a bit and i reoiled those spots. After this, I trimmed the bottom edge of the horsehair and added a nice leather hanging strap.
Shown with a matching hickory dustpan.