If you’ve got some painting to do at home and you pop down to the hardware store to get some supplies, you are going to be confronted by a huge choice of paint brushes. Shelves of them. So many different manufacturers, lots of different sizes and of course a huge variety of quality. The amateur decorator is usually swayed by price or brand, because they don’t know what else to look out for you. However, by being a bit more clued up, you can make a much better choice. How many times have you seen bristles stuck in paintwork? This is an obvious sign of a poor quality paint brush. So what should you be choosing?
When it comes to paint brushes you need to choose the bristles carefully to make sure they are of acceptable quality. Look for natural fibre, nylon blends or polyester filament.
Natural fibres are best suited if you are working with oil based paints. The same is true of varnishes and stains. Where they aren’t so good is when you need to work with latex based paint.
A paint brush with synthetic fibres is very versatile. They are durable because of the firmness of the bristles. You can use them with pretty much any sort of paint. So there’s a quick guide to the bristles, but what about the handle? Bet you hadn’t even given it any sort of thought at all?
Wood is best. This is because it’s strong without being too heavy. If you have a big job you don’t want to get cramp in your hands. You don’t want to throw your brush away after one use. Choose one that has a stainless steel ferrule which last and last. If you look after your brush it might last you a good few years at least.
So there you have it. Choose a little more carefully and invest a little extra and you’ll have some great brushes you can use over and over again, and do a great job too.