Abstract: Disclosed herein is a paint brush which includes a locking screw at the base of its handle, which allows the brush to pivot unrestricted from side to side allowing the brush to engage and lock at any of a continuity of angles along the axis of the handle.

Abstract: Alkaline earth metal alkyl phenates are produced by reacting at elevated temperature, in the presence or absence of sulphur, an alkyl phenol with an alkaline earth metal base in the presence as solvent of either an alkylene or polyalkylene alkyl ether of formula R(OR.sup.1).sub.x OR.sup.2 wherein R is C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl, R.sup.1 is alkylene, R.sup.2 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 to C.sub.6 alkyl and x is an integer in the range 1 to 6 and as catalyst an inorganic halide, preferably a hydrogen halide, an ammonium halide, an alkaline earth metal halide, a zinc halide or an aluminum halide. It is preferred to add an acid. Furthermore, carbon dioxide is preferably incorporated in the phenate.