Choosing the right paintbrush can make all the difference in your next project. Hardware store shelves are lined with a multitude of options; so how do you know which brush to pick? The most important factor in determining which paintbrush is best for your project depends on the type of coating you’re using.

OIL-BASED COATINGS

Natural bristle is the best choice for oil-based paints, varnishes, shellac, alkyd enamels, stains, and polyurethanes. The highest quality bristles come from mainland China. Experienced, traditional painters will say there’s nothing like the finish that a China bristle paintbrush can provide for oil-based coatings. If you’re painting a smooth surface, use a white China bristle for a smooth finish or, if you need to achieve an even finer finish, a China bristle blended with ox hair is recommended. When painting a textured surface, a black China bristle will work best because it’s slightly stiffer and is excellent for high-productivity applications. If you need to paint a rough surface, natural bristle brushes are not recommended. Rough surfaces will break the tips off of natural bristle and will ruin the brush. A synthetic, firm brush is best for this application even when using oil-based coatings because it’s very durable and will resist wear on the rough surface.

A good quality nylon and polyester blended brush is the best choice for all latex paints and coatings. Many painters prefer a synthetic brush for oil coatings as well. Natural China bristle: High-quality natural China bristle brushes have qualities that control oil-based coatings for better flow and leveling for the smoothest finish. Purdy Nylox Brushes: This brush gives an amazing finish when working with water-based products like latex paint and polyacrylic.It glides on smoothly and comes in several different sizes. I really love the angled brushes – they work really well for cutting in around edges and also work well on flat surfaces. What paint brush do I use The MONARCH range of paint brushes are available in different shapes and sizes, to provide a specific best paint brush for every paint project and allow you to “paint like a pro!”. Stiff to Soft The stiffness of the bristles makes a difference in the finish.

Perfect Gloss Finish Using A Paint BrushAlways wear a dusk mask when sanding and be extra careful sanding old paint.

WATER-BASED COATINGS

Synthetic brushes are recommended for latex and acrylic paints and water-based wood finishes. Synthetic brushes are available in a variety of filaments including Chinex®, nylon, nylon/polyester blend, and polyester. Chinex® FTP® brushes are designed for today’s paints and offer excellent paint pickup and production with a smooth, professional finish and easy cleanup. Chinex FTP brushes will maintain their stiffness for control even when exposed to heat and humidity. Nylon brushes are very durable but may soften in hot weather or after prolonged use in latex paint. Polyester brushes will maintain their shape and control when exposed to heat but have lower paint pickup and production meaning you will spend more time loading your brush than the wall. Also, today’s paints contain more acrylic resins and fast-drying solids which stick to polyester making them difficult to clean and limit the life of the brush. A nylon/polyester blend brush combines all the positive qualities of nylon (precise tipping, excellent paint pickup, and smooth finish) and polyester (added stiffness and control) and is, by far, the most popular professional paintbrush choice due to their versatility.

The Wooster Brush Company offers quality brushes for every variety of coating available, but different brushes excel in specific applications. To help you select the perfect brush for your next project, visit our Paint Brush Advisor. If you have additional questions or need more information, please contact our Customer Service Department.

Even if you have the best quality paint, using the wrong roller or brush for your project can waste time and money. By taking a moment to consider your tools, your paint job is going to get the most payback for your investment.

Kinds of paintbrushes: Natural and Synthetic

Natural-hair bristles are best used with oil-based paints, stains and varnishes while Synthetic bristles are better with water-based and latex paints. Synthetic bristles hold their shape and maintain stiffness no matter how much water they’re exposed to. A top quality polyester brush is well worth the initial cost—when cleaned and stored properly, they’ll keep painting smoothly for years to come.

Choosing the right brush size and shape

Brush Sizes

• 1” – 2 ½“ Straight Edge are best for woodwork and molding
• 1” – 2 ½” Angled Sash are best for window frames and trim (more precise applications)
• 2” Straight Edge are best for cutting in at the corners of exterior and interior walls
• 3” – 4” Straight Edge are best for painting interior walls and ceilings

When you’re buying any paintbrush, there are a few things to look out for:

• Tug on the bristles. If one or two bristles can be pulled out, the brush is probably poorly made.
• Hold the brush by the handle. Choose a brush that feels comfortable in your hand.
• Note the type of bristle tips. Flagged bristles, or split ends, hold more paint, while tipped brushes are favored by pros for their precision and control.

Best Paint Brushes For Wood

Choosing a paint roller

The best part of using a roller is you can cover a lot more surface area in a lot less time. So, if you’ve got a large, flat area to paint like a wall or ceiling, rollers are a great option. As with brushes, when you’re painting with latex and water-based paints, make sure you use synthetic roller covers.

When you’re choosing a roller, just like brush sizes, you’ll want to think about the roller’s width:

• 3” are best for trim and narrow areas
• 9” are best for most interior wall and ceiling jobs

Another important consideration when you’re shopping for rollers is the length of the nap, or the material that makes up the roller cover. Generally speaking, you should paint smooth surfaces with a short nap, and rougher surfaces—like stucco, brick and masonry—with longer nap so those fibers really get the paint into every nook and cranny. Design software for 3d printing free download mac. That’s going to save you time.

• 1/8 ” – 1/4” are best for wallboard, smooth plaster, wood or metal
• 3/8” – 3/4” are best for light-textured stucco, poured concrete and rough wood
• 3/4” – 1” are best for heavy-textured stucco, concrete block and brick

Consider the paint’s finish or sheen when picking a roller cover

Gloss and semi-gloss paints go on better with short-nap rollers because these tend to generate less foam and fewer bubbles when you’re rolling the paint out.

When you’re buying any paint roller, as with brushes, you’ll want to pay attention to a few things:

• Squeeze the roller cover. If the roller cover quickly returns to its original shape that means it’s well made.
• Choose a plastic “cage.” Cardboard handles and rotating “ribs” tend to fall apart; go for a plastic cage that will stand up to the job and cleaning.
• Opt for quality covers. Cheaply made roller covers can leave nap fibers and lint behind on the paint surface.

Good Paint Brushes

It’s an extra step in your DIY project, but choosing the right tools can get the job done faster with higher-quality coverage and a better finish.