By Alexandra Harper 
What is a strip brush?
Strip brushes are a multi-use tool, comprising a backing strip or channel made from metal or plastic and a dense row of bristles. Primarily used for cleaning and in a variety of industrial applications, strip brushes are relatively simple to make and can be manufactured to meet exact specifications. Custom strip brush manufacturers have been mass-producing strip brushes since the industrial revolution, and with the introduction of synthetic filaments and modern manufacturing methods, it’s now easier than ever.
Traditionally, strip brushes were made by hand, with animal or plant fibre bristles pressed into a wooden base holder and glued into place. There are still manufacturers that use similar methods for bespoke orders, but these rustic-style strip brushes are not as hard-wearing as their modern counterparts and often shed bristles after long periods of use.
With the introduction of more durable materials and modern manufacturing methods, strip brush filaments are now typically made from synthetic materials like plastic. The synthetic bristles are inserted via machine into a U-shaped base, which is crimped closed to prevent water, dirt and debris from degrading the filament. Each manufacturer will have their own methods, tools, and specialist equipment to make their brushes, with different designs depending on the desired use of the brush strip.
Manufacturers will often produce a range of multi-use products suitable for a variety of applications, with strip brushes in a few standard sizes and filament lengths. If you are looking for a strip brush for a specific application, or require a certain size, you will need a custom strip brush.
Custom strip brushes
A custom strip brush manufacturer will use in-house CNC machining to make brush bases and specialist drivers to fill them with filament. They are made in a similar way to standard brush strips, but custom strip brush manufacturers will have the capabilities to make them in a much broader range of sizes and filament types. The key benefit of using a custom strip brush over an off-the-shelf standard strip brush is that you get a truly bespoke, made-to-measure tool that ticks all your boxes.
Being able to communicate your requirements to a custom strip brush manufacturer means you can get exactly what you need, first time. Custom strip brush manufacturers work directly with you to make your brush strip in the right size, length, and with your chosen filament type. They are tailored to meet the requirements of the desired application, from simple letterbox brush strips for homes to industrial strip brushes for use in manufacturing.
Custom brush strip filaments
Filaments or bristles for custom strip brushes can be made using synthetic materials, metal, or natural fibres. Each filament gives the strip brush different, unique properties and will change how and where you can use the brush.
Synthetic filaments
Synthetic filaments are made from a mix of plastics, and are a flexible and durable option for strip brushes. The most common synthetic brush filaments are made from nylon, polypropylene, and PVC, each offering varying levels of stiffness and abrasive properties. These filament types also come in a range of colours to choose from for a truly unique custom strip brush. Strip brushes with synthetic filaments can be made using food-grade, anti-static, chemical-resistant, and bacteria-resistant materials. Synthetic filaments are usually the low-cost option when it comes to custom strip brush bristles, while still offering the versatility and durability required for heavy-duty applications.
Metal filaments
Metal filaments are one of the more hard-wearing options for strip brushes and are used in more precise applications. Most commonly made from stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, and bronze, metal filaments are ideal for making industrial strip brushes. Strip brushes with certain metal filaments are usually corrosion-resistant, with stainless steel being the material of choice for custom wire brush strips for wet and no-rust applications. Strip brushes with metal filaments can be used in corrosive environments for multi-purpose cleaning, rust removal, deburring, edge blending, and cutting.
Animal and plant fibre filaments
Animal and plant fibre filaments were the first to be used in strip brush manufacturing, with synthetic and metal bristles becoming more popular in recent decades. These natural fibres are still used across the globe as filaments in a variety of bespoke brushes, most commonly in personal grooming and animal care applications. Naturally biodegradable, animal and plant fibre filaments are not as hard-wearing as synthetic or metal filaments, but they do offer certain sought-after qualities. Animal hair bristles are excellent for ESD (electrostatic discharge) applications as they are anti-static, and they are ideal for cleaning and dusting delicate items and small, tight spaces.
Strip brush applications
A custom strip brush manufacturer can design and create a bespoke brush strip that perfectly matches your needs, and depending on the filaments used, custom strip brushes can be utilised in a wide variety of applications. Almost every industry and sector will have a strip brush in use somewhere, from industrial manufacturing applications to equestrian grooming – custom strip brushes are incredibly versatile tools.
The most common uses for custom strip brushes are general cleaning, draught-proofing, and supporting industrial manufacturing processes.
For draught exclusion purposes, custom strip brushes are made to the exact size of the door frame and placed around the base of doors and shutters, with the bristles cut to length to prevent dirt, debris and the elements from entering premises.
When used along conveyor belt systems and production lines, industrial brush strips with flexible synthetic bristles stop items from falling off moving belts by gently guiding products away from the edges. Small custom brush strips can also be used to clean between manufacturing equipment, with bespoke bases and filaments reaching areas standard-size brushes often miss.
For general cleaning and industrial applications, custom brush strips can be made with anti-bacterial, water-resistant synthetic filaments that are compatible with harsh cleaning chemicals. This allows them to be used in the food production, manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries where safety, hygiene, and cleanliness are paramount. Having custom-made cleaning tools avoids the need to purchase multiple brushes and replace products regularly, as standard brushes are often not the right size or can break easily.
With a custom brush strip made by a trusted manufacturer, a simple cleaning tool can become invaluable. When made from durable materials, designed for your exact environment, and suitable for almost any application, a custom brush strip might become your new best friend.