The first thing to bear in mind is that even the most expensive paint can produce very disappointing results if the ideal paint bush is not utilized well.
With the different paints available, there are different paintbrushes that you can choose from.
How To Choose? Types Of Brushes For Specific Paint
The different types of paint brushes include:
1. For Oil Based Paints
- Ox
- Badgers
- Horse
- Camel
- Hogs
The type of brush to use in applying oil-based paints are natural bristles. The natural bristle brushes are gotten from natural sources like animal hairs, and they may be hairs of:
Do not try to use them for water-based or latex-based paints as they will simply absorb the water or latex and swiftly swell out of its shape. The ox hair bristles are actually the most ideal for interior painting where ultra-fine finish is needed.
2. For Water-Based Paints
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The synthetic bristle brushes are used in applying water-based paints. The bristles are man-made plastics like polyester, nylon and sometimes a mixture of both.
However, the nylon bristle brush is commonly recommended for the water-based paints.
As for the polyester bristle brushes, they are used in applying shellac, lacquer, or even wood stains. These brushes can also be used for latest based paints.
3. For Latex Based Paints
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The type of brush for latex paints are those brushes that have been flagged. Flagging simply means that the bristles’ end has been divided. They are used exclusively for all latex paint works.
Brushes Introduction: The Different Types Of Brushes
The diverse types of brushes you can find in the market are:
1. Natural Bristle Brushes
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These ones are made using animal hairs and majorly used for the application of oil-based paints, shellac, polyurethane, varnishes, and any other oil-based finishes. Their natural flagging actually creates divided ends in the bristles, and it holds more paint.
2. Blended Nylon or Polyester Brushes
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These ones are simple to clean, and they work very well with every type of latex paints. The mixture of polyester’s shape retention with nylon’s durability is the notable mark of a brush with high quality. With adequate care, they last for years.
The polyester brushes are the best for latex paints. They are capable of holding their stiffness and shape in any paint, and they apply the paint evenly as well as smoothly.
Size Of Brushes
The various sizes that are available for paintbrushes include:
- The 1″ to 2″: Used for windows and some other small trim.
- The 3″: Used with glossy paints for both cabinets and doors.
- The 4″: They are used for large yet flat areas.
Brush End Types
Some of the end types for brushes include:
1. Chisel Trim Brush
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The bristles here are slanted, and they generate straight lines that are good and used for trimming in edges and corners
2. Square Trim Brush
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The bristles here are cut squarely at the end, and they are used majorly for applying paints on flat areas.
3. Angled Brush
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The bristles here are cut in a way to make it simpler to apply the paint on the window trim.
Brush Styles
The styles available for brushes include:
Thin Angle Sash
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With slanted bristles plus a thin profile, straight lines are produced for trimming corners as well as edges.
Angle Sash
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This style features the bristles as slanted, and it holds more paint than its thin partner. It is ideal for cutting in at your ceiling or for painting trim.
Flat Sash
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Here, the bristles are actually straight across, and they are used majorly for the application of paint on flat areas.
Trim
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This style is actually a flat brush that is ideal for painting large flat surfaces, most notably the siding’s exterior.
Wall
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This is a thick flat brush that actually holds a bigger volume of paint. It is ideal for painting certain areas that are large.
Re-using The Brushes And How To Clean Them
If you are going to make use of the brushes by the next day, there will be no need to clean them.
However, you can simply wrap them in cling-film as this will prevent the paint from drying before the next day usage.
But, if you need to clean the brushes properly, the steps to follow are:
Remove excess paint
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After making use of the paintbrush, you should squeeze the bristles against the edge of the paint-can lip to extract moisture. The paint should be wiped away from the brushes using a newspaper or probably your old cloth.
Rinse And Dry
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Rinse the brushes and tap until you see the water running clearly. Pat the brushes dry using either a kitchen towel or an old cloth that is at least clean. Make sure you double-check all of the cleaning instructions on any paint you are using.
Immediately the brush is clean, lay it flat using an elastic band to keep the bristles in the right position. Also, try not to stand the brushes using the bristles even if it is in water for re-use purposes.
You can drill a small hole through its handle and pass some strings through hole in a bid to hang the brushes.
How To Get Dried Paint Off A Brush?
Dried paint that is already hardened can frequently be removed from the paintbrush naturally by making use of household vinegar.
The steps include:
- Position the paintbrush in an aluminum baking pan that is disposable.
- Heat the vinegar in a pot on the stove for it to almost boil.
- Pour the hot vinegar over the brush that is in the pan.
- Allow the brush to soak thoroughly for about ten minutes or maybe longer. This will soften the hardness.
- Use a brush comb or probably a wire brush to remove the already softened paint.
- Wash the brush using soap and warm water.
- Then, rinse the brush with clean water.
Finally, allow the brush to dry off on a flat surface, or you can hang it.
