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How to select the perfect brush

There’s a huge variety of paintbrushes on the market and it can be difficult to know which is the best for your project. In this blog, we’re going to narrow down the options to help you find the perfect brush. The type of brush you select will depend on your project, but there are a number of different factors to help you distinguish them.


Types of filament

Filament are the long strands or hairs on a brush. There are three types of filament to choose from

  • Synthetic Filament: good for all paints, best with water based paints

  • 100% Pure Bristle: best with oil based paints

  • Polybristle Blend: best with oil based paints

 

Style of brushes

  • PAINT/WALL BRUSHES: these are the most standard and common type of brush. With a short handle in comparison to the cutter bushes they come in various widths for various painting jobs.
  • CUTTER BRUSHES: These are popular brushes for cutting in before roller painting. Specially made for door and window frames and ceiling/wall/corner sections. They generally have less filament than wall brushes as paint holding capacity is not paramount while the long handle helps to control the stroke. There are several alternative
    shapes in these long handle brushes.
    • Sash Cutter: is a full bodied cutting in brush ideally suited for the application of water based paints.
    • Oval Cutter is a compromise between the two other styles because of its oval shape. It gives greater control and accuracy on the edges of the brush and holds more paint in the centre
    • Angle Cutter is basically the same as the sash cutter however the top of the brush is made at an angle rather than straight across. The head of the brush and the ferrule are both made at an angle so that the tips of the filament or bristle are retained. This angle assists the user to be able to cut to a sharper more accurate area.

 

Size of brush

  • 25mm: For small jobs & touch-up work such as chairs & timber
    trim.
  • 38mm: Suitable for furniture, small panels, window frames, trellis,
    mouldings, shutters and downpipes.
  • 50mm: For small to medium size work such as doors, screens,
    table tops, railings and cabinets.
  • 63mm: A handy size for outdoor furniture, cupboards, gutters,
    eaves and doors.
  • 75mm: For medium to large areas such as fence posts and rails,
    floor boards, steps, skirtings and fascias.
  • 100mm: For all large areas. Most suitable for walls, floors, ceilings,
    roofs, fences.

Quality of brush

A good brush holds more paint, makes paint application smoother and reduces paint spattering. A quick way to check this is to feel the pack of filament. It should feel full and slightly resilient. Although cheaper brushes will not last as long as premium grade brushes they are quite suitable for the occasional job where finish, quality and brush life are not critical.

 

Match the bristle type to your finish 

Paintbrushes are available in either synthetic or real animal hair. The type you choose will depend on the type of paint you are using. If you are using oil-based varnish or paint, you may find that a natural bristle is your best choice. You can still use a synthetic brush, but natural bristles will provide a smoother finish in most cases. Avoid using a natural brush to apply a water-based finish because the bristles will soak up moisture and become too soft.


Synthetic brushes are available with nylon, nylon/polyester blends or Chinex bristles. A nylon-polyester blend provides a good compromise between softness and stiffness whilst Chinex bristles are designed for optimal use and easy cleanup. 



Best paintbrush in the world 

It’s difficult to say that one particular brush is the best in the world because different people will like different brushes depending on their project and what they like to work with. However, one very popular and versatile brush that we can recommend is the Wooster Brush Q3211-2. This brush features long, solid brush hairs and a comfortable, large handle to keep you painting for longer. The brush tips are specifically designed to increase the paint capacity you get each time you dip the brush into the can. The handle is flexible enough to fit into tight spaces and gives you an extra reach that other brushes lack.


Best paintbrush on a budget 

Cheap paint brushes can be hit or miss depending on the brand and quality. If you’re on a tight budget but still want a durable brush, the Wooster Brush Q3118 is a great option. Despite its low cost, it is designed to be durable - rather than one of the cheap brushes that breaks after just a few strokes! Its nylon polyester fibres are extra absorbent, allowing you to take in as much paint as possible with less stray drips. The brush handle offers a firm but flexible feel in your hand while the brush is easy to clean. 


Best paintbrush kit

If you’re someone who does a lot of painting projects but doesn’t have a big supply of paint brushes, a brush kit is a great place to start. The Presa Premium Set kit will cover your basic painting needs with five brushes of different lengths and styles. The kit comes with two large brushes for large surface painting and three smaller, narrower brushes for detailed work.


Why is a good paint brush important?

Even though it might be tempting to choose a cheaper option, a low-quality brush can actually slow down your project. In fact, cheaper brushes often leave you with a host of problems that outweigh the initial saving of a few dollars. 


Loose Bristles

Loose bristles getting stuck in wet paint and ruining the finish can be a real annoyance and take valuable time picking out and reapplying paint for a smooth finish. Avoid this by opting for a high-quality professional painting brush that will not shed into your paint such as the Hamilton Expression range of brushes which have been stringent quality tested and carry a lifetime guarantee.

Too Stiff or Too Limp Bristles

Cheap paint brushes with stiff bristles are one of the top causes of visible brush strokes and streaking, this can lead to wasting time when painting and decorating by having to apply further coats of paint to rectify the problem. While a brush with overly stiff bristles can create streaks, limp bristles can cause drips and splatters around the work area. For ‘just right’ bristles and finish, use a high-quality brush such as a brush from the Hamilton Performance range which has a superior pick up and spreading rate for a great looking finish.

Body Aches and Pains

Spending a day painting and decorating with a badly designed brush can be painful. To avoid this, a professional painter needs brushes that have been ergonomically designed to help you perform the job at hand with the lowest possible risk of sprains, strains or injury. Choose a brush with an ergonomically designed handle to help you work all day in comfort.

Frequent Brush Replacement

Cheap brushes often have a short lifespan, and as they age the quality of your work can be affected by splaying bristles, wobby handles, and plenty of other issues. You’ll find yourself in the position of having to continually replace your brushes.

 

The solution? Spend a little more for a higher quality brush. 

It can be tempting to buy a cheaper brush and throw it out after use without attempting the hassle of cleaning it. Cheap brushes may initially seem like a smart, money-saving option however, their poor quality will just mean extra costs and more hassle for you down the road. Cost is the simplest indicator of quality, and you should expect to spend $10-20 for a premium brush. After all, a higher quality brush can hold more paint, provide smoother results, and last longer, making them a worthwhile investment. 

Popular paint brush brands 

To find a good quality paint brush, you need to select a brand that you can trust. Here at PaintAccess, we’ve gathered only the most premium selection of brands to offer you plenty of choices. Our wide range of brands include:


  • Uni-Pro
  • Oldfields
  • Wooster 
  • IQUIP


Check out our paint brushes page to view our full range. If you’re looking for further advice or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email and we’ll be happy to guide you. 

 

Here you can find great selection of paint brushes from all over the world. Our direction is to select quality brushes with reasonable price. 

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT PAINT BRUSH  


There are 2 main decisions to make when choosing a brush

Types of filament

 

Filament are the long strands or hairs on a brush. There are three types of filament to choose from 

  • Synthetic Filament: good for all paints, best with water based paints
  • 100% Pure Bristle: best with oil based paints
  • Polybristle Blend: best with oil based paints

 

Style of brushes


paintaccess wall paint brush

paintaccess sash paint brush

paintaccess sash oval brush

paintaccess angle paint brush