I have a borrowed Fuller contractor broom. It’s big and wide and weights a ton. The owner said he got it about 25 years ago and it’s no longer made.
I’ve begun to use it to sweep up when I’ve made a lot of sawdust since it corrals about 99% of the sawdust into a nice heap I can dump into a can. I finish up with the shop vac to get the fine dust.
I will really hate to see the broom go but would like to replace it when I have to return it. Do you have a “super” broom to recommend?
Thanks,
Burt
Replies
Hi Burt,
I can't recommend a super broom, but you did take me back in time about 40 years. My Dad use to sell fuller brush door-to-door when I was a kid. He would sometimes take me along to deliver product on Saturdays....those were the days.
Bill
Reading, PA.
i'm an old fashioned corn broom fan- nothing like it for getting the crud out of the corners. for cleaner sweeping in smaller areas i use one of the poly-fiber with exploded end bristles (bigger, sturdier version of the typical kitchen broom) and for wide swaths (ie- the garage) i have one of the dual bristle push brooms- stiff outer bristles with softer inner ones. works great with a single pass but needs 'bounced' at the end of each pass to clean it out. the single best broom tip i've ever heard is NEVER, EVER STAND/STORE A BROOM ON ITS BRISTLES. nothing wrecks a good broom faster than improper storage. always hang them or stand them on their handles. you can't believe how much longer they last and never have any warped bristle problems. it's even more important if you're sweeping wet surfaces.
and on an entirely unrelated subject: can you tell me what "alcantara" means? the reason i ask is that our new car's headliner is upholstered in 'alcantara cloth' and i've never heard the term before. it looks and feels like lightweight synthetic ultrasuede.
m
http://www.alcantara.it/english/index_f.htm
hey, thanks for the link- the owner's manual doesn't really use it like a name brand with a registered trademark or anything, so i didn't even think to look for a company. ok, i hadn't really given it all that much thought period, but when i saw burt's post i figured i'd ask.
m
Not me. But wouldn't mind being heir to that fortune!
I believe the name originated somewhere near Egypt as Al Qantara or something like that. Made its way into Spain and became Alcantara under the Moors. From there spread to South America and the Phillipines where my side originates. Some definitions include earthen pot, bridge, name of South American king, name for historic battles.
Guess you won't be able to get a new Fuller broom, but check out janitorial supply stores for a good "floor brush". You can still get decent natural bristle brooms.
Does anyone know of a good book on broom making or a site that would have supplies?
Roy,
The Shakers developed the 'new broom' shape (flat verses round) so you might want to google that for some leads on making.
Hi Burt,
Try Quinn Brooms, it's where I get my brooms from. Gotta buy a few at a time of most models--give the extras away as gifts, but keep a spare for yourself.
http://www.quinnbroomworks.com/
Take care, Mike
OK flame me...but if you can't figure out how to buy a broom on your own you probably should not be using high speed woodworking machinery...
No flame here...but having swept up in a grainery and a general store when I was young and working in a warehouse: not all brooms are created equal. And it is difficult to find high-quality brooms. The Borgs don't have 'em. Neither does my local hardware stores.
Kinda like many tooals these days. Often the tools that are plentiful and common are crap.
Heck, finding decent twine and string ain't easy...
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