Tips for selecting the best Paint Brush for your painting project
A little history on the paint brush.
Paint brushes have been around for many years in one form or another. Some research has indicated that forms of brushes for painting have existed for more than 12,000 years this has been realized by the discovery of primitive cave paintings and drawings found to be dated for such a time. The use of paint brushes for Calligraphy in China around 300 BC is well-documented. Primitive forms of paint brushes were man kind’s first instrument to express themselves. Their primitive existence around the world by multiple cultures has been noted in various other examples as well.
In the 18th century animal hair was hand-glued to a handle. The beginning of 19 century gave way to rapid industrialization and the invention of the metal ferrule, this would have been a breakthrough for the painting industry that would have allowed it to mass produce a much higher quality product. In the beginning the metal ferrule was originally attached to a wooden handle using glue but it would loosen off due to the wood swelling from getting the brush wet which end turn would break the glue bond. The industry quickly move to cramping the metal ferrule to the wooden handle and have continued to do so to this very day.
The modern day paintbrush consists of three main parts
The handle – Handles are made from a wide usually from plastics or wood. Their shape is very important to those who paint often. Long handles help an Artist reach further while shorter ones provide more control.
The ferrule – Is the metal ring, in the middle of the brush, that is crimped and therefore holds the bristles too the handle. It started the paint brush Revolution in the 19th century as we discussed earlier.
The bristles – Bristles are what you spread the paint with and can differ drastically between brushes. Basically you will be selecting your paint brush based mostly on type of bristles it has and we will get to this shortly, read on.
Let’s get started on picking out the perfect paintbrush for your project
Step 1
Take a good look at your overall project and figure out what you will need to paint with a brush. Some examples such as door trim, doors, baseboards,
wall corners and ceilings areas too tight for a paint roller. The angled sash brush is your best paint brush for cutting in between the wall paint and the door trims. Use the following guidelines to select your paintbrush size.
| Brush Size | Best intended Surface use |
| 1 ” to 1 1/2″ Inch | Hobbies & crafts. window mullions, tight corners, very detailed areas |
| 2″ to 2 1/2″ inch | Baseboards. cabinets. furniture. stain, railings, shutters, gutters |
| Angle sash Edging Brush 2″ to 2 1/2″ Inch | Window frames. casings, mouldings, cutting-in edges of walls & ceilings |
| 3″ to 4″ Inch | Exterior siding, decks. Fences. walls masonry,ceilings, doors, large areas. |
Step 2
Consider what type of Coatings, paint or stain you will be using?
Paints or coverings basically have two classifications, water and oil base coverings.
- Water base or latex classification you can find many different qualities of paints for different purposes. Some latex paints have more polymers for better coverage and stain hiding properties, others have inhibitors for prevention of mold and mildew crate for kitchens and baths. Paint technology in the area has come a long way over the years.
- Oil paint consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil and is a slow-drying paint. Common applications of oil paint are in finishing and protection of wood in buildings and exposed metal structures. It as hard-wearing properties and is commonly use on the exterior surfaces.
Table outlining the different available paint brush bristles, their properties and the paints they pair with for best painting results.
| Paint brush bristle | Painting properties and best use |
| Chinex | Perfect for today’s low VOCs and fast drying paint and stains. Maintains stiffness for good control. Softer tips for increased paint pickup and release. Easy to clean. |
| Nylon & Polyester | Excellent for all pants and stains Micro-tipped filaments result in finer paint finish. Combines the stiffness of polyester with the precise tipping of nylon Releases paint easily leaving a smooth painting result very good for trim work with latex. Takes more effort clean time to clean. |
| Nylon | Works well for all paints, especially low viscosity and faster drying paints. Delivers a nice smooth paint finish due to its extra flex and feather soft bristles. Extra durable, holds up well on rough surfaces and resists wear. Softens in hot weather or pronged use latex. Very easy to clean. |
| Polyester | Best uses are for latex paints and thinner water base paints. Will not absorb water and resist softening. Polyester bristles help eliminate brush marks. Has excellent smoothing and leveling properties for latex paint. |
| White China bristles or natural bristle | Use with oil-based coatings, paints, stains, and varnish with natural bristle paint brush Excellent results when fine finishing is desired. The bristle tips provide virtually no brush marks for a Ultra smooth finish. |
After making your selection based on the paint your using and selecting the best corresponding brush, we have a few more considerations to keep in mind before you go shopping.
- If you’re painting a textured or rougher surface then select the shorter bristles therefore should be stiffer to work the paint into the surface
- Select an angled brush 4 trimming around moldings and baseboards makes it easier to cut in
- Expensive brushes are usually better quality but they are not necessary just check your brush for straight uniform bristles. make sure none of the bristles become easily dislodge from the handle by giving a few a good pluck. If they do become dislodge from the brush move on to another brush.
When applying latex-based paint, it’s best to use brushes that have synthetic paint bristles because they hold their shape better and maintain their stiffness. Polyester brushes can be more expensive but they are well worth the upfront additional cost. If you clean and store them properly, they will last and perform well for many years.
Tips on how to clean and take care of your paintbrush
Never allow paint dry on the bristles of a paint brush. While using your brush to paint always keep a little bit of fresh paint loaded on your paint brush bristles this will prevent the paint from drying while using your brush. As soon as you’re done painting with your brush it should be cleaned right away to avoid paint from drying on the bristles.
It’s easy just do the following
- Remove excess paint using a paper towel or rag to squeeze out the excess paint.
- Go to the sink, and rinse your brush under running lukewarm water. Using your fingers, gently and quickly squeeze the bristles to further dislodge any leftover paint.
- Swish the brush around in your cup of water to release any leftover paint.
- Gently shake off the excess water.
- Use dish soap or regular hand-washing soap on your brush and gently wash the bristles with your fingers by working the soap through the bristles.
- Place the bristles in between a paper towel or rag, and squeeze out the excess water.
- Once you are certain all the paint has been you should removed, shake the brush to remove the excess water.
- Place the bristles in between a paper towel or rag, and squeeze out the excess water.
- Wrap your paintbrush with a piece of paper towel let it set for a few hours in the horizontal position to absorb all the water in the bristles.
- After your brush is thoroughly dry it is most important to storage in the packaging that came with it when you purchase it.
Before you go shopping don`t forget to check our post on How to Select a Paint Roller
Here is a link to the best Paint Brushes available for your painting project.
Questions, comments or ideas please contact us.