Choosing The Right Brush

It's not often, but sometimes I find myself having to go to the national box stores to get my painting supplies and often times I encounter homeowners looking lost at the array of paint brushes. Quality vs economy, synthetic vs. natural, angled vs. flat, Chinex, nylon, polyester. The choices can be daunting and it DOES make a difference, each brush has a specific function and use. Knowing the difference in these brushes will go along way in ensuring you get the best finish possible on your project.

 First things first, it's never ok to buy a cheap brush you will only be disappointed. You may save 5 bucks versus a quality brush ( literally that's about the difference) but inferior brushes will most likely leave brush marks, loose bristles while painting and not hold as much paint as a quality brush which means project time is increased. Additionally cheap brushes tend to drip more which means more clean up, spend the extra 5 bucks. My preference in brushes is Purdy and that's no surprise, nearly every pro I know also uses only Purdy brushes.

 Angled vs. Flat really comes down to preference, angled brushes make doing cuts and edges much easier while flats work good on boards and flat wide surfaces. So what's the difference between natural bristle brushes and the synthetics? Whether it's White Bristle, Black China Bristles or ox hair these brushes are used for oil based alkyds. White bristles are soft and fine so they leave a smooth finish, these brushes are best used for varnishes, stains, and polyurethanes. Black China Bristle brushes are much stiffer and the bristles broader than white bristles which makes them great for cutting in because they allow for more control. These brushes are best with with oil based paints enamels and primers. Purdy makes great White Bristle and Black China Bristle brushes.

Cleaning these brushes is important. NEVER use water to clean natural bristle brushes it will ruin the brush as these bristles absorb water and lose their shape. Mineral spirits or paint thinner must be used to clean these brushes, but never let them soak in these cleaners. Proper care will ensure a quality brush bristle lasts you a long time.

Synthetic bristles are mostly made for the more common household paints, latex. There are many different types of synthetic, the differences being stiffness mostly. A good quality synthetic brush is a painter's best friend. I like using a synthetic blend for the best results, a good blend will give you stiffness for cutting in and softness for a smooth flawless finish. Purdy makes specialty blended synthetic brushes for specific projects like the ClearCut series, designed specifically for smooth cuts. My favorite everyday brush is the XL Sprig because of its versatility. Made of a blend of Satin-Edge Nylon (Tynex) and Orel, it's both stiff and soft. It has good hold and can be used in different humidity and temperatures. Synthetic Brushes are much easier to clean up, soap and water is all you need, but it is important to clean them good to ensure they last a long time as well, I've had one of my Purdy brushes for almost 2 years now.

By: Jeff Hartford