Information
Paint Brush Advice
Paint Brushes - Why Pay More?
As with most products, you get what you pay for; this is certainly the case with paint-brushes.
Quality paint brushes have longer bristles and can hold more paint within their bristle or filaments - this reduces the user time spent reloading the brush.
The handle will be comfortable to hold and work with for long periods of time.
The structure of the paint brush is more robust, allowing for longevity. A well maintained paint-brush can last a professional, with daily use, up to 3 years!
Paint Brushes - Synthetic Filament or Natural Bristle?
Natural bristle paint brushes are made with animal hair. Pig hair is regarded as best within the industry. Professionals who prefer natural bristle paint brushes like them because; they allow the user to use the brush for different types of work at different stages of the brushes life.
Synthetic filament is nylon, polyester or a combination of both, and can last up to five times longer than natural bristle.
The performance with paints is comparable but requires a slightly different brushing technique.
Ideally, you should use a combination of both depending on the work required.
Paint Brushes - Selecting the correct size brush
Size is important, larger 3 and 4 inch brushes are ideal for large area coverage, and smaller 2 inch brushes or less are ideal for trim work and cutting in around corners. See also, information on Specialist Use Paint Brushes
Brushes commonly come with either a Kaiser or Beaver Tail style handle, Kaiser is generally preferred for detail painting and Beaver Tails suits users with larger hands.
Paint Brushes - Specialist Use Paint Brushes
There are many different types of paint brushes – they allow for different applications. The correct selection will improve the final result and can dramatically reduce the time spent decorating.
Sash paint-brushes are long handled and get their name from painting sash windows. However, the larger sizes are perfect for cutting in, whilst the smaller sizes are excellent for detail painting.
Fitch paint-brushes are divided into three areas main areas; Round, Flat and Slant. Their common characteristic is that they all have long artist paint brush handles and are narrow in width. They are widely used in areas that require a high degree of accuracy, such as painting coving or window trims or frames.
Striker paint brushes are sometimes called industrial brushes. These paint-brushes are ideally suited in hard to reach areas where detail is not critical. They are ideal for painting roofs, garden fences and lamp posts.
Varnish, Masonry, Angled brushes have been manufactured for use with a specific application. Varnish for the application of varnishes. Masonry for the painting of rough internal and external abrasive masonry surfaces and Angled paint brushes for hard to reach areas.
Block paint-brushes have a thicker stock which allows these brushes to hold more paint or treatment, and have wide internal and external applications.
Wall paint brushes are popular as a standard paint brush for painting large areas. These brushes can also be used as paste brushes.
Paint Brushes – Watch out for…
Cheap brushes normally mean poor quality and poor performance.
You will save money on the purchase of the paint brushes but the application will take longer and the brush will need replacing sooner.
Bristle loss can be a major headache whilst decorating. This normally occurs with budget paint brushes.
Plastic or rubber handles can become floppy when placed within a Brush mate Vapour box.
Certain paints primarily industrial or oil based exterior paints can make your paint brush difficult to clean; don’t use your best brushes to apply these paints!
Paint Brushes - Look for…
The basic elements of a high quality paint brush are materials and craftsmanship.
The materials that make up a brush include - the brush bristle or filament material, whether natural bristle or synthetic, the ferrule and the handle.
Quality natural bristle paint-brushes have longer bristles and a divider inside to provide a paint reservoir, which increases the amount of paint they hold.
The ends of the natural bristles are flagged or split at the tips, this allows greater paint pick up.
They have tapered chisel shaped ends which means there have shorter bristles on the outside and longer bristles in the centre. This means the paint will go on smoother and more evenly.
Natural bristle generally comes from Chinese pigs, the softness or stiffness will depend on the climate the pig encountered during its life.
A top quality paint brush will not shed bristles like a budget paint brush, because the bristles are seated firmly in a pinned, rust resistant ferrule.
Wooden handles are preferred by most professionals. Hardwood handles minimise the absorption of coatings if left over night in water, and reduce potential expansion of the wooden handle.
Lighter handles are preferred as they increase brush control and minimise hand aches or fatigue.