Site
Adress
Av. Manuel Ordoñez 405 Pte,
Centro, Santa Catarina,
Nuevo León, México.
Contact
Phone
52(81) 8124 3000
E-Mail
info@ixtlera.com
WHAT IS TAMPICO FIBRE?
It is a natural vegetable fibre derived from the Agave Lechuguilla plant. Tampico fibre is often referred to as “Mexico’s Natural Wonder” in recognition of the exceptional characteristics that it imparts. Used as an all-natural fill fibre in the brush-making industry, this fibre has proven its distinctive worth as it possesses exceptional water retention characteristics, excellent biodegradability, and superior heat and chemical resistance. Taking its name from the Mexican port from which it was exclusively shipped in the early days of trade, Tampico fibre is also sometimes referred to as istle or ixtle fibre. Its native environment is the dry, rugged highlands of northern Mexico, where the fibre is derived from the spiny, cactus-like Lechuguilla plants that populate the semi-desert region.
Bleached Tampico
Black Tampico, Double Drawn
Black Patent
3-Color Grey Tampico
2-Color Grey Tampico
White Patent
Natural White Tampico, Double Drawn
Grey Semi-patent
While methods of preparing Tampico fibre for the brush-making industry are continuously updated by the development of new equipment and technology, the gathering of the raw Tampico fibre material has essentially remained the same. It is speculated that the indigenous people of Mexico were the first to discover Tampico’s viability using the fibres to produce shampoo, rope, and later using the fibres to produce brushes. The harvesting methods they employed are still in use today.
The process of gathering the fibre begins with workers called “talladores” taking to the hills in search of the fibre-bearing plants. They are equipped with woven baskets, husking knives and a long-handled device called “cogollera” for snapping off the stem of the plant without exposing their hands to its barbs. Shaped like a spearhead, the pithy stem at the center of the plant is snapped off gently to avoid damaging the rest of the plant, which will then generate a new stem. The stem’s leaves are carefully scraped revealing a handful of wet fibre that is allowed to dry under the bright sun. In a single day a worker can gather a few kilos of raw Tampico fibre.
The Tampico fibre is then collected directly from the “tallador” with our fleet of trucks and delivered to our collection terminal, where it is sorted for length, color and stiffness and packed into large bales for shipment to our processing plant. At our plant, the Tampico fibre does not undergo any structural changes. It is merely processed in a manner so as to assure uniformity of length, stiffness and color. If the customer requires a certain color, we will dye the fibre according to the specifications. Subsequently, it is cut to size and combed on automatic mixing machines specifically built by us. Once thoroughly mixed and cleaned it is hand bundled for the final cut to the size requested by the customer.
FAQs Bristle
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS TAMPICO FIBRE IS OFFERED IN?
- Natural Tampico
- Stiff Tampico
- Needle-point Tampico
- Black Tampico
- Bleached Tampico
- 2-Color Grey Tampico (mixture of black and white Tampico)
- 3-Color Grey Tampico (mixture of black, white and red Tampico)
- Semi-Patent (mixture of highly polished Tampico and unpolished Tampico)
- Patent (highly polished Tampico)
- Regular Union (mixture of white Tampico and Palmyra and/or Bassine)
- Special Union (mixture of dyed Tampico and Palmyra and/or Bassine)
HOW DO THESE VARY IN PRICE?
Natural Tampico and regular unions are the least expensive. The dyeing creates an additional cost as does the very labor-intensive polishing process.
PALMYRA: A cinnamon-colored fibre produced from the base of the leaf stalks of the India Palmyra palm that comes from South Eastern India. It has a medium-stiff to stiff texture and is light to dark brown in color. It comes in various qualities, ranging from medium-stiff to prime-stiff. Oiled Palmyra runs better on brush-making machines although it can also be ordered unoiled. Palmyra is used in garage floor brushes, fender washing brushes, deck brushes and scrub brushes.
BASSINE: It is Black Dyed Palmyra.
UNION MIXTURE: It is a mixture of Tampico fibre and Palmyra or Bassine. Union mixture is a strong and water-resistant mixture which is used for vegetable brushes, deck brushes and scrubbing brushes. Regular Unions are mixtures of natural Tampico fibre, while Special Unions utilize dyed Tampico.
Natural Union
Bleached Union
Bassine Unions
Bassine
Grey Union
Palmyra Unions
Palmyra
ANIMAL FIBRES
HORSE HAIR
This natural fibre is best known for its use to pick up dust and fine powders and for its ability to polish without being abrasive. IXTLERA provides its customers with mixtures developed specifically for each particular customer. Horse hair can be mixed with itself to achieve certain stiffness requirements according to our customer’s specifications. It can also be mixed with other natural fibres, such as Tampico and/or synthetic fibres and/or wire. Although all the hair that we purchase is sterilized at origin, IXTLERA re-sterilizes all of the hair as part of our commitment to quality.
FAQs Bristle
DOES IXTLERA SELL HORSE HAIR IN ITS ORIGINAL SIZE?
IXTLERA is happy to supply horse hair bundles in original sizes. These are dressed at origin string tied and come in lengths from 4″ to 31″. The colors that we normally have in stock are Black, Mixed (Grey), Silver Grey, and White. The longer sized hair can be used in various markets such as the music industry (violin bow), or in braiding or weaving (belts, hat bands, key chains, etc.), or interlining. Brush manufacturers can and do utilize all sizes.
CAN IXTLERA PROVIDE CUTS OF HORSE HAIR?
IXTLERA has the ability to provide cuts from the original sizes according to customer’s requests. This hair is cut directly from original size bundles. It is string tied and no further process is necessary. Brush manufacturers that do not require mixing with other materials and/or preparation to enable the hair to be used on automated equipment primarily use these cuts.
WHAT IF I NEED A SPECIFIC MIXTURE THAT GIVES ME THE STIFFNESS I REQUIRE?
IXTLERA provides its customers with mixtures developed specifically for each particular customer. IXTLERA will work with the customer to tailor the mixture according to the customer’s specific application needs and cost constraints.
IXTLERA takes pride in providing consistency in its mixtures after the customer approves a mixture. This assures our customer that the hair will run properly in his equipment and that every brush he makes will be of the quality that he designed. Horse hair mixtures are used in many industries including the janitorial, industrial and household industries.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS FAR AS PRICING AND STIFFNESS?
Price is determined according to stiffness, size, and color of horse hair. Horse tail hair is stiffer and more expensive than mane hair. As a rule the longer the tail the thicker and stiffer the hair. Price increases with the length of the dressed hair. A listing of the colors from the least expensive to the most expensive is as follows: Mixed, Black, Silver-Grey, White.
DOES IXTLERA SELL HORSE HAIR IN ITS ORIGINAL SIZE?
IXTLERA is happy to supply horse hair bundles in original sizes. These are dressed at origin string tied and come in lengths from 4″ to 31″. The colors that we normally have in stock are Black, Mixed (Grey), Silver Grey, and White. The longer sized hair can be used in various markets such as the music industry (violin bow), or in braiding or weaving (belts, hat bands, key chains, etc.), or interlining. Brush manufacturers can and do utilize all sizes.
CAN IXTLERA PROVIDE CUTS OF HORSE HAIR?
IXTLERA has the ability to provide cuts from the original sizes according to customer’s requests. This hair is cut directly from original size bundles. It is string tied and no further process is necessary. Brush manufacturers that do not require mixing with other materials and/or preparation to enable the hair to be used on automated equipment primarily use these cuts.
WHAT IF I NEED A SPECIFIC MIXTURE THAT GIVES ME THE STIFFNESS I REQUIRE?
IXTLERA provides its customers with mixtures developed specifically for each particular customer. IXTLERA will work with the customer to tailor the mixture according to the customer’s specific application needs and cost constraints.
IXTLERA takes pride in providing consistency in its mixtures after the customer approves a mixture. This assures our customer that the hair will run properly in his equipment and that every brush he makes will be of the quality that he designed. Horse hair mixtures are used in many industries including the janitorial, industrial and household industries.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS FAR AS PRICING AND STIFFNESS?
Price is determined according to stiffness, size, and color of horse hair. Horse tail hair is stiffer and more expensive than mane hair. As a rule the longer the tail the thicker and stiffer the hair. Price increases with the length of the dressed hair. A listing of the colors from the least expensive to the most expensive is as follows: Mixed, Black, Silver-Grey, White.
Black Horse Tail Hair Combed and Mixed
Black Horse Tail Hair
Mixed Horse Tail Hair Combed and Mixed
Mixed Horse Tail Hair
Silver Grey Horse Tail Hair Combed and Mixed
Silver Grey Horse Tail Hair
White Horse Tail Hair Combed and Mixed
White Horse Tail Hair
This tapered natural fibre with very thick butts and split ends (flags) is used primarily in brushes that require the ability to carry liquids. Pig bristle is used primarily in the paint brush industry for oil-based paints, as it carries and releases the paint very well. It is also used in very fine car or truck wash brushes, because it carries the soap very well and does not scratch the surface. Finally, it is used in higher quality hair brushes, as it carries people´s natural oils well.
Bristle comes in Grey, Black or White, and is sold according to origin and dressing. IXTLERA prides itself in having the ability to provide its customers with the mixtures that they require for their applications.
For the paintbrush industry, different sizes of bristle can be mixed together with the butt ends facing the same side, in order to allow the manufacturer to produce a brush according to his specifications.
IXTLERA can also re-sterilize the bristle, cut the bristle from different sizes and mix it with itself or with other fibres (synthetics at times), in order to achieve the stiffness and cost specified by our customer, that can be used in an application that requires its special characteristics.
FAQs Bristle
WHERE DOES BRISTLE COME FROM AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINS?
Bristle comes primarily from China (Chung King, Hankow, Tiensen, Tsingtao). The origin affects the stiffness of the bristle. Chung King being the stiffest and Tsingtao being the least stiff. The stiffer bristle is considered to be of the highest quality and is priced accordingly.
WHAT DOES THE TERM “% OF TOPS” MEAN?
When one refers to % tops, one refers to the % of fibres that reach the top length. For example, if you buy 121mm 90% tops, then 90% of the fibres in the bundle should be 121mm.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOILED AND UNBOILED BRISTLE?
Unboiled bristle is actually boiled one time in order to achieve sterilization. Boiled bristle is actually boiled twice. The second boiling is done with the bristle being in cups, which helps the bristle stay straight.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS FAR AS PRICING?
The price of bristle is higher depending on the stiffness, the quality and the % of tops.
WHERE DOES BRISTLE COME FROM AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINS?
Bristle comes primarily from China (Chung King, Hankow, Tiensen, Tsingtao). The origin affects the stiffness of the bristle. Chung King being the stiffest and Tsingtao being the least stiff. The stiffer bristle is considered to be of the highest quality and is priced accordingly.
WHAT DOES THE TERM “% OF TOPS” MEAN?
When one refers to % tops, one refers to the % of fibres that reach the top length. For example, if you buy 121mm 90% tops, then 90% of the fibres in the bundle should be 121mm.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOILED AND UNBOILED BRISTLE?
Unboiled bristle is actually boiled one time in order to achieve sterilization. Boiled bristle is actually boiled twice. The second boiling is done with the bristle being in cups, which helps the bristle stay straight.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS FAR AS PRICING?
The price of bristle is higher depending on the stiffness, the quality and the % of tops.
Black
BlackWhite
Processed Mixtures, reversed or not
SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
NYLON
TAPERED NYLON PROCESSING
IXTLERA prides itself in offering the highest quality in tapered nylon processing, including tipping, flagging, dyeing, and mixing.
Tipping:
Natural bristle, like hair, is conical. In order to get a similar fine point with a tapered synthetic filament, the filament must be “tipped” or ground. IXTLERA has the ability to do a very deep tip and a very high percentage of tipped filaments per bundle.
Flagging:
Natural bristle and other natural hairs split as they age. This splitting or “flagging” in a paintbrush filament allows the brush to pick up more paint, cover more space and lay the paint down more smoothly. IXTLERA has the experience and ability to flag tapered synthetic filament to the paint brush manufacturers’ specifications.
Dyeing:
Dyeing of Natural Tapered Nylon usually helps the painter identify the paint brush made of synthetic tapered filament as a professional brush. This is true because the dyeing process not only adds cost to the processing and makes a more expensive paint brush but because the dyeing process conditions the synthetic filament which makes it better for use in a paint brush.
Dyed
Tipped & Flagged
Dyed & Tipped
Dyed, Tipped, Flagged & Mixed
Tipped
Tipped, Flagged & Mixed
Dyed, Tipped & Flagged
SPECIAL MIXING AND FORMULATIONS
IXTLERA will work with the brush manufacturer to develop a mixture of fibres that will meet the customer’s specifications for the performance required.
IXTLERA will hold that information as proprietary information for the customer.