Choosing the right paint brush seems like a simple decision, but the type of brush you choose has a big impact on the finished look of your painting job. Everything from the type of paint you use to the type of job helps determine which types of paint brushes work best.
Type of Bristles
The choice between natural and synthetic bristles is an important one. Natural bristles have a flagging or splitting at the tips, which helps produce a smooth finish and holds plenty of paint. Natural-bristle brushes are better suited for oil-based or solvent-based paints. The natural bristles are stronger, so they stand up to the chemicals and let you apply the paint without leaving marks.
Synthetic brushes come in different materials, such as nylon, polyester and a blend of nylon and polyester. These brushes are easy to use and clean up well. Synthetic brushes work best for water-based paint. Natural-bristle brushes draw moisture out of the water-based paint, making it difficult to apply properly.
Paint Brush Types Paint brushes are available in angled and flat styles. Angled brushes work well for cutting in along edges and getting straight lines. Choose a thin angled brush when you need a particularly crisp line. A thicker angled brush holds more paint and works well along ceilings and for painting trim. Flat brushes work well when painting a large, flat surface. Some flat brushes are designated for use on trim or for use on walls, with designs specific to those uses. |
Natural Hair Brushes. Blick offers a large selection of natural hair brushes for every type of painting media and every painting technique. Natural hair such as sable, fitch, squirrel, sable blends, and others can be very resilient and durable for oil painting, or soft and fine for delicate watercolor techniques.
Bristle Ends
Natural Boar hair or bristle is the perfect material for applying oil-based paint, varnish or polyurethane. These brushes are made with a quality beaver tail shaped wood handle and tin ferrule. Browse our full selection of sizes and styles below. A quality interior paint brush is essential for getting stuck into DIY jobs. We offer a choice of different size to target those smaller, fiddly sections such as door frames, as well as bigger paint brushes offering maximum coverage for larger areas. If it’s your outside spaces that need a new look or treatment, a specialised exterior brush. This Bianco Primo Charcoal Pencil by General is handmade in the USA using high quality sustained cedar and a rich organic charcoal. Smooth and creamy, the contrasting drawing tones and values of this Primo pencil make it perfect to use alone or in combination with other charcoal graphite, pastels, mixed media or as a quick layout in oil paintings. Get free shipping on qualified Bristle Brush Natural Paint Brushes or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Paint department. #1 Home Improvement Retailer. Store Finder; Truck & Tool Rental. Trusty Block Professional Black China Bristle Brush Model# 0Z15160060 $ 52 98 $ 52 98. Set your store to see local.
The bristle ends affect how well the paint brush picks up paint and releases it onto the painted surface. Flagged or exploded bristles on higher-end brushes let you pick up more paint with each dip. The split ends also help the paint go on smoothly without brush marks.
Brush Sizes
The size of the brush affects how well-suited it is for a particular job, including both the width of the bristle area and the thickness of the bristles. Thick brushes hold more paint to cover more ground before you need to reload, while thinner brushes are lighter and offer better control.
Choose a brush that is wide enough to cover efficiently, yet narrow enough for control over the paint application. If you're painting narrow trim, a wide brush doesn't work well. A 2- to 2-1/2-inch brush is a good general size that works for a variety of projects. If you're painting narrow trim or small spaces, opt for a 1-inch brush. Large, flat areas work best with a 4-inch brush so you can cover the surface faster.
Paint Brush Quality
No matter what type of paintbrush you choose, focus on the construction quality for the best results. Look for dense bristles throughout the ferrule. Test the brush by bending it back near the base. A solid paint brush springs back. A tapered design with a slim profile at the end and flagged tips allow for excellent control and even coverage.
Reach for a brush with quality construction and the type of bristles best-suited to your specific project. When you do, your clients get smooth, quality finishes that make them come back to you over and over.
As you likely know, paint brushes come in what seems like an unlimited variety of shapes and sizes, bristle types and price. Knowing the difference between natural and synthetic bristle paint brushes will help you figure out what to choose for your next DIY project.
Natural Bristle Paint Brush B&q Refills
Natural
As the name suggests, natural bristle paint brushes are made from natural animal hair such as hog, sable and badger.
When to Use Natural Bristle Brushes
Natural bristle brushes are great when you are using:
- Oil-based paint
- Varnish
- Shellac
- Shellac-based primer
- Alkyd enamels
- Stain
- Polyurethane
- Chalk-based paint
- Milk paint
- Clay-based paint
The Good
These type of bristles actually split naturally which makes them designed to pick up, hold and distribute natural paints and can speed up painting. The soft flexibility of natural bristle brushes help to apply a thin, even layer of paint reducing streaks and distributes paint evenly. When using these brushes with natural paints (chalk/milk/clay-based) there is less chance of streaking than with synthetic brushes.
The Bad
If you are looking for precision painting, natural brushes can be difficult to use.
Natural bristle brushes also shed the first few times you use them. If you have bought a quality natural brush, the bristles should stop shedding after the second or third use.
Synthetic
Synthetic bristles are made from materials like nylon, polyester or a mix of both.
When to Use Synthetic Bristle Brushes
Synthetic bristle brushes are great when you are using:
- Water-based latex paints
- Water-based primers
- Gloss Paint
- Acrylic paint
- Water-based wood finishes
The Good
Nylon brushes are durable, excellent paint pickup, and smooth finish.
Polyester brushes maintain their shape and control which is great for detail work.
Nylon/Polyester blend brushes combine all the positive qualities and is the most popular choice.
The smooth texture and springiness of the bristles make for an even finish aand great for woodwork and furniture in water based satin,eggshell and gloss finishes.
Modern synthetic brushes are excellent and have the advantage of being cheaper than natural hair.
The Bad
Nylon brushes soften in hot weather or after a lot of use with latex paint. Brushes can lose the ability to create a smooth, precise finish.
Polyester brushes have a lower paint pick up which means you will need to reload your brush more often.
Paint with fast-drying ingredients (majority on the market right now) will stick to polyester making them harder to clean. If you look after these brushes, they’ll last for years.
What happens if you use the “wrong” bristled brush with the recommended paint?
If you try to apply latex paint with a natural-bristle brush, the bristles will absorb the water from the paint and become extremely limp, making it difficult to spread the paint smoothly.
If you try to apply chalk/clay-based paint etc. with a synthetic brush, you will likely have a lot of brushmarks and have a lot of extra work getting a smooth finish.
Natural Bristle Paint Brush B&q Reviews
Not sure what size of brush to use either?
The size of the brush to use will really depend on the type of project you are tackling. Here is a short guide to help you get started. Don’t forget to read the packaging on each brush. Many manufacturers list the recommended use for their brushes.
4″ – 6″ This size would be great for painting large flat areas. I have one this size but have yet to use it!
2″ – 3″ The size I use the most! Great size for painting all types of smaller flat surfaces.
1″ – 1.5″ Perfect for more detailed smaller projects. Great for trim work on doors & walls too.
0.5” I have a ton of these small brushes for all my “crafty” projects.
Shapes
The shape of the brush can affect how easily you will be able to paint your project. A brush with a squared-off end works well for flat surfaces because it will hold plenty of paint and spread evenly. Angled brushes are for precise work on trim and corners because they allow for more control and a straighter line.
Do your really get what you pay for with a paintbrush?
As a general rule, you do get what you pay for with paintbrushes. Although I have a lot of inexpensive brushes in my workshop, I have found that I keep going back to the more expensive brush. I am currently using a Cling-On brush, which I paid $30 CND, and LOVE it because of the smooth finish I achieve.
Quality brands to check out:
- Cling-On! – synthetic bristle brushes
- Zibra – synthetic bristle brushes
- Purdy – offers both synthetic and natural bristle brushes
- Wooster – offers both synthetic and natural brushes
- Staalmeester – synthetic / natural bristle blend
Don’t forget about Prep Work!
Even the perfect paint brush isn’t a guarantee for a smooth, flawless finish. If you haven’t prep your surface properly, you will be disappointed with the final product. Do you need a refresher on what steps to take for proper prep work? Check out the blog post I wrote 7 Steps To Prep Furniture .