Overview of Brush Materials: Stainless Steel, Brass, Hog Hair, and Horse Hair

Stainless steel brushes, silver in color, have abrasive bristles which resist heat, rust, and corrosion and are best for cleaning metals such as electrical contacts but can be too abrasive for delicate surfaces.
Image of a stainless steel brush.


Brass brushes, copper in color, have abrasive but more flexible bristles than stainless steel since brass is a softer metal. This allows them to clean metals without causing excessive damage.
Image of a brass brush.


Hog hair brushes, tan in color, have soft but fairly stiff bristles commonly used for cleaning circuit boards. These have great durability and water resistance but are not resistant to acids or alkalis and are common to have a heat resistance up to 188°C (370°F).
Image of a hog hair brush.


Horse hair brushes, tan, white, brown, or black in color, have slightly softer bristles than hog hair brushes which makes them useful in scratch-free applications such as dry brushing, polishing, or detailing. Similar to hog hair brushes, are not resistant to acids or alkalis and are typically heat tolerant up to 188°C (370°F).
Image of a horse hair brush.


Tech Tip: Use anti-static rated brushes for static sensitive applications. Click here for a few examples.

Click here for Acidic Rated Brush 2260-WBBRUS-6-ND.
Click here for all DigiKey Brushes.
Click Here for all DigiKey Solder Products.

Applicable Part Numbers

1873-1077-ND
1873-1078-ND
1873-1085-ND
1873-1081-ND
1873-1084-ND
1873-1083-ND
473-1050-ND
473-1049-ND
2827-197-ESD-ND
473-1048-ND
473-1045-ND
16-1134-ND
2234-HHESD016-ND
2240-BR4424-ND
2240-BR4421-ND
2240-BR4420-ND
2240-BR4422-ND
2240-BR4426-ND
2240-BR4427-ND
3765-C10203-ND
3765-C10252-ND
3765-C10548-ND
3765-C10232-ND
3765-C80500-ND
3765-C10771-ND
3765-C54134-ND
3765-C27131-ND
3765-C52126-ND
3765-C15063-ND
3765-C27134-ND
1873-1079-ND
1873-1086-ND
473-1047-ND
2220-B-SS116-ND
473-1044-ND
473-1043-ND
16-1133-ND
16-1332-ND
1873-1080-ND
2827-215-H-ND
EB1531-ND
16-1347-ND
16-1446-ND
2827-214-H-ND
16-1348-ND
16-1488-ND
16-1485-ND
2827-211C-N-ND
16-1334-ND
16-1333-ND
16-1480-ND
16-1346-ND
1873-1087-ND
EB1542-ND
473-1155-ND
16-1447-ND
16-1483-ND
16-1487-ND
2827-211A-N-ND
2827-212B-H-ND
2827-211B-N-ND
2827-213B-N-ND
2827-210B-H-ND
2827-212C-H-ND
2827-213C-N-ND
2827-211D-N-ND
2827-210S-S-ND
2827-210B-S-ND
2827-210B-P-ND
2827-210S-N-ND
2827-213D-N-ND
2827-210B-N-ND
3641-DK-BR4427-ND
3765-BR201-ND
3765-BR103-ND
3765-BR9001-ND
16-1478-ND
3765-BR104-ND
3765-BR9002-ND
3765-BR105-ND
3765-BR4000-ND
3765-1000-ND
3765-1001-ND
3765-C10713-ND
3765-C50153-ND
3765-BR106-ND
3765-BR107-ND
3765-C15060-ND
2827-196-ESD-ND
2827-194-ESD-ND
2220-B-GH5-M-ND
16-1479-ND
16-1445-ND
16-1486-ND
2827-212D-H-ND
16-1135-ND
1873-1088-ND
1873-1082-ND
16-1484-ND
EB1591-ND
2827-212A-H-ND
2827-213A-N-ND
2827-210S-H-ND
2827-210S-P-ND
2434-145271-2-ND
2434-145271-4-ND
2434-145271-3-ND
2434-145271-5-ND
154-SH-60-ND
3641-DK-BR4424-ND
3641-DK-BR4421-ND
3641-DK-BR4420-ND
3641-DK-BR4422-ND
3641-DK-BR4425-ND
2311D-ND
3641-DK-BR4426-ND
2310D-ND
2309D-ND
16-1482-ND
16-1489-ND
154-36190-ND
154-36191-ND
473-1046-ND
35685-ND
845-ND
858MG-ND
16-1481-ND
3829-OX-P061408-ND
2266-10-251-ND
2266-10-259-ND
2266-10-253-ND
2020-1
2021-1
2033-1
2027-1
2032-1
2031-1
857
856
197-ESD
855-5
852
35693
HHESD016
BR4424
BR4421
BR4420
BR4422
BR4426
BR4427
C10203
C10252
C10548
C10232
C80500
C10771
C54134
C27131
C52126
C15063
C27134
2022-1
2040-1
859
B-SS116
851
850
35690
35697
2025-1
215-H
35696
35691
35688
214-H
35692
36097
36094
211C-N
35699
35698
36092
35687
2042-1
35689
855-144
35694
36086
36095
211A-N
212B-H
211B-N
213B-N
210B-H
212C-H
213C-N
211D-N
210S-S
210B-S
210B-P
210S-N
213D-N
210B-N
DK-BR4427
BR201
BR103
BR9001
36088
BR104
BR9002
BR105
BR4000
1000
1001
C10713
C50153
BR106
BR107
C15060
196-ESD
194-ESD
B-GH5-M
36093
35686
36087
212D-H
35695
2043-1
2030-1
36090
36098
212A-H
213A-N
210S-H
210S-P
145271-2
145271-4
145271-3
145271-5
SH-60
DK-BR4424
DK-BR4421
DK-BR4420
DK-BR4422
DK-BR4425
2311D
DK-BR4426
2310D
2309D
36096
36089
36190
36191
853
35685
845
858
36091
OX-P061408
10-251
10-259
10-253