Friday, April 14, 2017

How to Fill a Waterbrush

The here-to-fore lowly Kuretake waterbrush.
After using every brand and style I could get my hands on, I came to the conclusion years ago that the Kuretake waterbrush works best for me. I carry one in each size at all times and use them daily. While other brands either gush too much water or not enough, the Kuretake keeps a steady, regular flow on the brush.

Now that revolutionary discoveries in my watercolor pencil class have raised the lowly waterbrush in my esteem by several notches, I thought it was an appropriate time to share a tip:

To fill the waterbrush’s reservoir, the package instructs the user to squeeze the empty barrel, place the filling hole into a glass of water or under running water, release the squeeze so that water sucks up into the reservoir, and repeat many times until the reservoir is full. Although the reservoir is small, it takes many squeezes to fill it because a bit of the water already inside always squeezes out. It’s tedious.


Step 1: Remove plug.
All you have to do is pull the black plug out (it requires a bit of prying with your thumbnail), place the opening under a running tap, and stop when full. It takes about a second. I’ve been filling it this way for all the years I’ve used the Kuretake because the very first time I got one, I didn’t read the instructions. Whenever I find out someone is doing it the “correct” way, I share my tip, for which they are eternally grateful. And now I’ve published it here. You’re welcome.

Step 2: Fill. Done.

11 comments:

  1. I've always filled it the same way you do. So much simpler. My one additional tip is: make sure you remove the plug somewhere where it won't easily roll into the sink (almost lost one down the drain once!).

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    1. Yeah, I've almost dropped it down the drain, too!

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  2. To fill more quickly without removing the plug: dunk and squeeze once to suck up some water, then lift brush up, turn so the hole is up and squeeze to push out air, then still squeezing, reinsert under water and let go. Then lift and turn and squeeze and dunk again. Repeat. You're only pushing out air, not water, and It only takes two or three squeezes and dunks (a couple more for bigger brushes) to fill the entire barrel quickly. No danger of losing plug or having it loosen over time.

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    1. That's what the instructions say -- but I like my way better. ;-)

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    2. I like your way better, without moving the inner plug… saves on my fingernails!

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  3. LOL I never read the directions and I've been filling it this way since I first started using one. Their way makes it so difficult.

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  4. I always fill the ones with a plug this way. And in the field, I have a little bottle with a tip up spout that I use to re-fill.

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    1. I’ll try it this way too, as I have those little bottles. Thanks!

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  5. Thank you! That is so much easier.

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  6. Tried it, the best, as I have a little bottle with tiny spout… Thank you!

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