Painting is often one of those projects that is viewed as a “chore” rather than an enjoyable activity. But choosing the right brush can reduce time, reduce the effort, and make the outcome one of longer-lasting enjoyment.
Move the furniture. Take down the pictures. Patch the holes. Cover the floor. Choose the paint. Re-think and choose the paint over again. Test the paint on your wall with the lighting. Choose different lighting. Choose the paint.
Yes, painting an interior surface can include many steps. And because it’s usually something we’ll live with for months if not years, the choices need to be made with lots of thought and considerations. Which sheen will look best? Should all the walls be the same color? Should I add a border? And the list goes on.
But once you’re down to doing the actual painting project, don’t forget one of the most important tools to ensure your end result is what you wanted. The lowly paint brush. A simple tool that incorporates so much technology. A good paint brush- and one that is right for the job you’re tackling- can ease your frustration, add to the experience, and make coating a surface less time-consuming and efficient.
SIZES & SHAPES
Paint brushes come in many sizes and shapes designed to aid in getting in those crevices, handling any angle, and coating large flat surfaces in a flash. A roller cover is the best choice if you are covering large surfaces like ceilings and the bulk of walls, corridors, etc. But a brush will be the best option for edges, trim, and finer details.
Angled sash paint brushes have bristles cut at an angle to give you the best coverage for corners, woodwork, moulding and other surfaces that require detail or fine work.
Flat sash paint brushes have straight cut bristles across the end. They are best for larger flat surfaces where there is less detail to paint.
Paint brushes generally come in sizes ranging from 1″ width to 6″. Larger brushes will hold more paint and cover more surface area faster. A 4″ to 6″ brush is great for wide-open, obstruction-free flat surfaces. A 3″ to 4″ wide brush is great for large flat surfaces like walls, doors and book shelves. A 2 1/2″ flat sash brush will be best for narrower flat surfaces like wide moulding, cabinet doors and baseboards.
Smaller brushes allow for greater control. A 2″ wide angle sash brush is best for cutting in corners and a smaller (1″ to 2 1/2″) angle sash brush is great for painting woodwork, moulding and the details of carvings and trim work.
TIP: When choosing a brush. Hold different quality brushes of the same type. Brushes have different sized and shaped handles. And choosing one that fits the size of your hand will reduce fatigue and hand cramps during your project.
VARIETY OF BRISTLES
Most painting projects will be best completed with a combination of sizes and shapes of brushes. Angled sash for trim and detail work. Plus flat sash for larger flat surfaces. Then maybe a foam brush for smooth finishes on cabinets, furniture and trim.
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Paint brushes can have natural or synthetic bristles. But if you have a choice, opt for the synthetic versions. They are the most practical and work well with water-based paints. There are many options in bristle types.
- Nylon & Polyester: These are great for latex, acrylic and oil-based enamels. They give exceptional coverage and hold the most paint.
- Soft Nylon & Polyester: You’d want to use this type of bristle for all paints, especially semi-gloss and satin finishes. They’ll give extra flex for fine and smooth application and leave very few bristle marks.
- Extra-Firm Nylon & Polyester: This type of bristle is good for all types of paint, but especially for thick or heavy coatings. Because of their hardness, they provide a sharp edge for controlling paint even in hot or humid conditions. They hold a lot of paint and provide fast results.
- 100% Polyester: These bristles are good for all paints but especially for lighter or thin coatings. If you don’t want brush marks, this is the brush for you. They’ll result in superior smoothness and have great paint capacity.
- Natural Bristles: Choose natural bristles if you are painting with oil-based or alkyd paints like Benjamin Moore’s “Satin Impervo”. They work well with oil-based varnishes and stains and are ideal for woodwork, enamels, clear coats, urethane, and marine applications. You’ll most likely see “White China” brushes in the natural category. They are made from natural fibers like hog hair.
TIP: When you take your new brushes home, save the cardboard wrapper. It’s designed to keep the bristles from spreading out after washing. Make your paint brush last by properly cleaning and storing them too.
USING YOUR NEW BRUSH
Now you’ve got your best brushes, perfectly suited for the job at hand. Just grab it like a baseball bat and start swinging paint!
WAIT! Never mind that. For the best control of your paint slinging activities, hold your paint brush like a pencil. Your index finger should be close to the ferrule with your thumb on one side, forefinger on top, and your other three fingers (if you didn’t loose one opening the paint can) on the opposite side. With this hand positioning you’ll cramp less and be more accurate.
QUALITY
As with most tools, quality matters. Buying cheap paint brushes will lead to more frustration and re-work than might be worth it. You will probably be picking bristles out of the paint on the wall and then re-coating those areas. A cheap brush will be good- or marginal- for only one job. A quality brush holds more paint and applies the paint more evenly. It won’t leave brush marks or bristles behind, and it will last for multiple jobs if cleaned properly. Here are some other great benefits to spending a few dollars more:
- Flagged (machine distressed) bristle tips are a different color than the bristles and they provide a more even finish than non-flagged brushes. They’ll also hold more paint.
- A good brush will flex at the tip and spring right back into shape
- When bristles are pulled apart on a good paint brush, they won’t have a gap in the center that exposes the handle.
- The best paint brushes have unfinished wooden handles. They don’t slip in your hand like finished or plastic handles.
- The shaft behind the bristles that holds the bristles together (ferrule) is nailed firmly in place and won’t wobble and loosen with use.
- The best brushes have copper or stainless steel ferrules so they don’t rust like nickel plated or tin ones.
CLEANING & CARE
Since you’ve invested in quality brushes for your project. Now it’s time to invest in their care so your dollars last longer. Here are some basic supplies (some if which you probably already have on hand) you’ll need.
- Brush comb
- Dish detergent
- Paint thinner or mineral spirits (oil-based paints & stains)
- Plastic wrap
- Rags
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- Rubber gloves
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- Scrap paper
- Scrub pad
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- Hot water
- Scrape off any excess paint. It’s best to do this when the paint is still wet or damp. You can do this on the inside lip of the paint can. Then you can brush excess paint off on scrap paper.
- Clean the brush. Just run hot water over the brush and add a couple of drops of dish detergent. The hotter the water, the better (that’s why a good pair of rubber gloves is best for this- as well as keeping paint out of your nails and cuticles). Don’t use too much soap. If you are cleaning a brush that was used for oil-based paint or stain, use a small container of thinner or mineral spirits to dip the brush into- all the way down- to get the solvent to do its job. Once the brush is clean, shake as much water out of it as possible and re-shape the bristles using your hand or a brush comb to make it look like new again. Dry it with rags and lay it on a flat surface or in the cardboard container it was packed in to prevent the bristles from splaying.
- Protection. You can protect the shape of the brush by using its original packaging, or by wrapping it in paper towel or newspaper. You can also use two pieces of cardboard- one on either side of the flat bristle surface and secure with painters tape.
TIP: If you are in the middle of a project and need to continue in a few hours or the next day or so, just wrap the brush head well with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Move it to room temperature an hour before you start painting again.
