Do you get overwhelmed when you go to the paint store and see a sea of paint brushes? Why so many? Dozens of different types are available in all shapes and sizes, materials and bristle types! Professionals always get great results and it comes in part from the brushes they use and how they take care of them. A lot of experience and skill is also involved of course but the right brushes do make a difference.
Different Types of Paint Brushes & Their Uses
Angle sash– smooth clean edges are created for using this brush- it is used to cut into the ceilings or for painting trim
Thin angle sash– this brush is identical to the regular one but smaller for narrow areas that are too tight
Flat sash– as the name implies it’s the perfect brush to paint surfaces that are flat
Trim brush– this is the brush to use in large areas and excellent for exteriors
Wall brush– this brush is similar to the trim brush but larger- it holds more paint for it provides efficient, even coverage for large, flat surfaces.
These are the different brushes to pick from. Now you know which brush to pick, you can go the job at hand!
Natural & Synthetic Paint Brush Bristle Material
Natural bristle brushes are best suited for use with oil-based paint, varnish, shellac or polyurethane paint while polyester or nylon-polyester blend brushes are good brushes to use when using latex paints.
How to Clean & Care for Paint Brushes
After you have chosen the perfect brush you need to know how to take care of it. After you have finished painting you need to run water over the bristles until the water is running clear. Use a brush comb to make sure there isn’t any paint left at the base of the bristles. If you’ve used oil-based paint, then you need to use paint thinner to rinse with brush out. Use a mason jar with a lid that’s wide enough to dip the brush into and swirl the brush to rinse it. Never dump paint thinner down the drain though! After the paint solids have settled to the bottom of the jar all you need to so is pour the rest of the thinner into another mason jar to store it till the next time. Wait for the solids to dry and dispose of them the right way. Buying cheap brushes will cost you more in the long run as you’ll throw them out more often!
Paint Brush Bristle Shape & Width
As mentioned above, paint brushes are available in natural made from animal hair (usually hog or badger) varieties or synthetic bristles (usually nylon polyester) or a combination of both. Brushes are also available in different widths and shapes etc.
Paint Brush Width – 1 inch to 2 or more inches. Typically, the wider the brush, the more paint that is applied but it’s important to be mindful of the surface being painted when choosing a brush width.
Paint Brush Bristle Shape – Most are square-cut brushes that are great for holding and laying paint on pretty much any surface. When painting into corners or along narrow edges, use a sash brush.
Paint Brush Bristle Tips – Better quality brushes will have flagged or split ended bristles. This allows them to hold more paint and spread more smoothly. Sash brushes have tipped ends and shouldn’t be confused with flagged ends. Tipped brushes give you more control and precise application. A good brush can be used for years … but you have to take care of it!
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