Expressing Myself Through Crafting

« Back to Home

How To Choose A Paintbrush

Posted on

When it comes to painting, choosing a paint color is only half the battle. An important step a number of people overlook is choosing the appropriate paintbrush. You can find an awesome color with the right type of sheen, but if your brush selection isn't correct, the application process and your finished results will be less than stellar. Here are some tips to help you select the right paintbrush.

Material

Paintbrushes come in two common options; blended polyester/nylon and natural bristle. In terms of blended brushes, the shape retention that the polyester offers coupled with the durability of the nylon make them a go to selection when using latex paints. If you need a brush that you can use regularly, long-term, this is also a great option because it is easy to clean.

Natural bristles brushes are made from animal hair. The texture of the hair allows the bristles to hold a greater amount of paint than blended brushes, which makes for a smoother application and finish when using an oil based paint.

Brush End

Make sure you are considering the end of the brush as well. If your painting project involves painting trim or an object with sharp edges or corners, such as a table, you want to choose a paintbrush with a chisel trimmed edge for the best results. If your job involves painting window trim, choose an angled style brush as it will be much easier to get into the corners around the trim with an even application.

Lastly, square trim brushes are best suited when painting a wall or any other surface that is primarily flat. Keep in mind, you may need to use more than one brush end style for a single project.

Bristle Style

How the bristles are installed in the brush is also an important consideration. The reason this factor is so important is that the angle of the bristle will determine how the paint is applied and how much paint the brush can hold. For example, a wall brush style is one where the bristles are flat, but they are thicker, which allows them to hold a more paint. They are ideal for painting walls.

Trying to use this bristle style on trim or furniture would lead to a clumpy finish. For this type of project, a thin angle sash style bristle is a better option because it doesn't hold as much paint, allowing for a smoother application.

Make sure you are taking all of these factors into consideration when choosing a brush for your next project in order to ensure the best outcome. If you're looking for paint supplies, visit Koontz Hardware.


Share