How to Craft a Brush in Minecraft: Complete Guide

How to Craft a Brush in Minecraft: Complete Guide
To craft a brush in Minecraft, place 1 copper ingot in the center and 1 stick directly below it in the 3x3 crafting grid. This tool, introduced in the 1.20 Trails & Tales update, excavates suspicious sand and gravel to reveal hidden treasures.

What Is the Minecraft Brush and Why You Need It

The brush is Minecraft's essential excavation tool added in the Trails & Tales update. Unlike traditional mining tools, this delicate instrument carefully scrapes away suspicious blocks without destroying potential treasures inside. Archaeologists in-game use it to uncover pottery shards, ancient armor, and other valuable artifacts that would otherwise be lost with pickaxes or shovels.

Minecraft brush tool in player's hand

Brush Crafting Materials Breakdown

You only need two simple ingredients to create this indispensable tool:

Material Quantity How to Obtain
Copper Ingot 1 Smelt raw copper or copper ore in furnace
Stick 1 Craft from 2 wood planks in vertical arrangement

Step-by-Step Brush Crafting Instructions

Follow these precise steps to craft your brush:

  1. Open your 3x3 crafting grid (inventory or crafting table)
  2. Place 1 copper ingot in the middle square
  3. Position 1 stick directly beneath the copper ingot
  4. Collect the brush that appears in the output slot
  5. Drag it to your inventory
Crafting grid showing brush recipe arrangement

Common Crafting Mistakes to Avoid

  • Wrong orientation - The stick must be directly below the copper, not beside it
  • Using copper blocks - You need ingots, not blocks or raw copper
  • Insufficient materials - Double-check you have exactly 1 of each component

Mastering Brush Usage Techniques

Simply holding right-click while facing suspicious blocks excavates them gradually. Unlike mining tools, the brush:

  • Preserves all contents within suspicious blocks
  • Has 78 uses before breaking (more with Unbreaking enchantment)
  • Works faster on sand than gravel
  • Produces experience when uncovering pottery sherds

Pro Excavation Strategies

Optimal Brush Efficiency Tips

  • Use in desert temples and trail ruins where suspicious blocks cluster
  • Combine with Feather Falling boots to avoid fall damage in excavation pits
  • Carry multiple brushes when exploring large ruins
  • Apply Mending enchantment to extend tool lifespan indefinitely

Troubleshooting Brush Issues

If your brush isn't working as expected:

  • Can't craft? Verify you're using copper ingots, not raw copper or blocks
  • Not excavating? Ensure you're targeting suspicious sand/gravel (has subtle particle effects)
  • Breaking too fast? Enchant with Unbreaking III for 4x durability
  • No treasures? Some suspicious blocks contain nothing - average yield is 1-2 items per block
Player using brush on suspicious gravel in Minecraft

Advanced Brush Applications

Seasoned players leverage the brush for more than basic excavation:

  • Archaeology farming - Create suspicious block farms using dispensers
  • Redstone integration - Build automatic brush excavation systems
  • Treasure mapping - Combine uncovered pottery patterns to locate buried treasure
  • Enchanted book strategy - Use brush to collect experience from sherds for enchanting

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you craft a brush without copper in Minecraft?

No, copper ingots are essential for brush crafting. You cannot substitute other materials - the recipe specifically requires 1 copper ingot positioned above 1 stick in the crafting grid.

What's the fastest way to get multiple brushes in Minecraft?

Create a brush farm using dispensers filled with suspicious blocks. Place multiple dispensers in a row, activate them with redstone, then use your brush on the ejected blocks. This method yields experience and items while conserving your brush durability.

Does the brush work on all block types in Minecraft?

The brush only works on suspicious sand and suspicious gravel blocks. These special blocks appear in trail ruins, desert temples, and other structures with subtle particle effects. Regular sand and gravel won't respond to the brush.

How do I repair a broken brush in Minecraft?

Combine two damaged brushes on an anvil, or use the Mending enchantment which repairs durability using experience orbs. Crafting a new brush requires the same copper ingot and stick recipe since brushes can't be repaired in the standard crafting grid.

Marcus Lee

Marcus Lee

A former industrial designer making DIY crafting accessible. He breaks down complex projects into simple, practical creations for beginners.