How to Fix Cracked Chinese Brush Handles: 4 Effective Methods

Cracked brush handles are a common problem that many calligraphy enthusiasts face. Most Chinese brushes have handles made from bamboo, which can crack when exposed to dry environments or when the brush head absorbs ink and water. The bamboo expands when wet and contracts when dry, causing the handle to crack. So how to fix cracked Chinese brush handles? Are there good ways to prevent cracks or repair damaged handles?

Today, Qi Ming received a detailed tutorial from senior calligrapher Mr. Geng, who shared step-by-step instructions with pictures on how to handle brush cracking. We hope this helps everyone, and we thank Mr. Geng for sharing his knowledge. We also have methods shared by a calligraphy friend from Tianjin, plus Qi Ming’s own technique for your reference.

How to Fix Cracked Chinese Brush Handles-Method 1: Thread Wrapping Technique

(Contributed by calligraphy enthusiast Mr. Geng)

Recently, some friends who bought Qi Ming’s Qingquan brushes noticed handle cracking. Actually, any brush with a bamboo handle can crack, regardless of the brand. Light cracking usually doesn’t affect use, but some people still feel uncomfortable about it. There’s actually a solution – wrap thread around the area near the brush head several times.

I use this type of dental floss (bought online). Of course, you can also use thin sewing thread, as long as it won’t expand significantly when it gets wet.

This is a Qingquan brush from Qi Ming Wen Fang that has already been prepared. Clean the brush thoroughly and let it dry completely.

Make sure bamboo handle brushes are completely dry.

Make a small loop with the thread.

Place it at the area you want to wrap, such as the base of the handle where cracking commonly occurs. We’ll reinforce the brush base.

Hold down the thread end with your fingernail.

Start wrapping the thread. Usually, five or six wraps are enough.

Keep the wrapping neat and tight as you go.

After wrapping, thread the end through the loop you made earlier.

Pull the thread end tight.

Then pull tight the other thread end you left at the beginning.

Pull hard until the loop gets pulled into the wrapped thread.

This way, both thread ends are buried inside the wrapped coils. Here’s how it looks when finished.

Sorry, I’ve had some eye problems lately, so my vision is a bit blurry. The wrapping isn’t perfect, but I’m just showing you the method. Important note: don’t rush to cut the thread ends yet.

Hold the brush upright (brush head pointing up) and apply 502 super glue over the wrapped thread. Be careful not to use too much – just enough to coat the thread completely. After it dries, trim off the excess thread ends, and it’s ready to use.

The reason for holding the brush upright with the head up is so that even if you use too much glue, it won’t flow down onto the brush bristles!

Friends who have watched Master Huang Jian’s beginner courses know that modern brush heads are usually bound with only two thread wraps. So for new brushes, after opening and cleaning them thoroughly and letting them dry, wrap thread around the base of the brush head several times. This protects the brush head, prevents hair loss, and somewhat increases the brush head’s strength.

Here’s what the brush looks like when wrapped.

Brushes wrapped this way generally won’t crack. Everyone should try this method.

Method 2: Plastic Cap Protection

(Contributed by a Tianjin calligraphy enthusiast)

This method is relatively simple. New brushes usually come with plastic caps. After you prepare your brush, these caps don’t serve much purpose. You can repurpose the cap by cutting it to fit the brush ferrule (the space where the brush head enters the handle – the same area where we wrapped thread in Method 1). Cut the cap to size and slide it over this area to help prevent handle cracking.

Method 3: Transparent Tape Method

(Contributed by Qi Ming)

This method is even simpler and is Qi Ming’s most commonly used approach for how to fix cracked Chinese brush handles. Simply wrap small transparent tape tightly around the ferrule area several times. Make sure to wrap it very tightly to prevent water from getting under the tape and ensure the tape stays secure.

Method 4: Heat Shrink Tubing Method

(Contributed by calligraphy enthusiast “Wu Bo Gu Jing”)

One great method for how to fix cracked Chinese brush handles is using heat shrink tubing. Cut a piece of heat shrink tubing to the length of the crack, slide it over the handle from the top, then use a lighter to heat the tubing. The tubing will gradually shrink until it completely wraps around the cracked area. If you don’t have a lighter, a hair dryer set to a hot temperature can also work.

Additional Information

Generally speaking, all bamboo-handled brushes have the potential to crack. The quality of the bamboo itself determines the likelihood of cracking. Usually, old jade bamboo handles crack less frequently than green bamboo handles.

The brush hair material also affects the cracking probability of bamboo handle brushes. Brushes made with genuine sheep hair, especially those with high sheep hair content, are more likely to crack. This is because real sheep hair absorbs water much better than nylon, and the expansion after water absorption commonly causes bamboo handle cracking.

Experienced users who have used many brushes typically focus more on the brush head quality, while beginners usually pay more attention to the handle appearance. This reflects the saying “experts see the technique, amateurs see the spectacle.” Both perspectives are perfectly valid—after all, the ideal brush would have both an excellent brush head and a beautiful, crack-free handle. So, understanding how to fix cracked Chinese brush handles is useful for everyone.