Any person who has started renovating an apartment or house is faced with choosing a brush for painting. What is the best brush to use to paint a wall? What bristles are suitable for repair work? Which pen will be more convenient to apply paint with? The answers to all these questions will help you easily choose the right brush and quickly and efficiently complete the repair that has begun. After all, a high-quality brush will help you easily distribute the paint and varnish material on the wall, ceiling and any other surface, and be satisfied with the result of the work done.
So, what is a brush? It would seem a simple device, but everything is not as simple as it seems. Let's look at what it is made of and how it is constructed:
Bristle.
If the brush has more than one row of bristles, then it is of high quality. 2. Wedges - fibers are separated into them. Wedges help fill and hold paint or any other paintwork material inside the brush. According to the width and texture of the brush, it is necessary to select the size and size of the wedges.
Adhesive composition.
With its help, the fibers are attached to the wedges. The better the characteristics of the adhesive composition, the longer the brush will serve you. After all, if the bristles are strong and reliable, connected to each other, then when working with paintwork materials, they will not fall out and remain on the walls, ceiling or any other surface being treated.
Bandage.
Connects the upper part (head) with the handle of the brush, located along the width of the bristles, around its wedges. It is made mainly of stainless steel and treated with an anti-corrosion mixture to prevent rust from forming.
Brush handle or handle.
The comfort of holding the brush in your hand depends on its characteristics. Professionals attach great importance to this parameter, because they hold the brush in their hands and work with it for a long time. The handle should be made of such materials that the brush will hold firmly in the hand and not slip out of it.
Such materials include:
- wood - standard option;
- plastic with rigid characteristics;
- connection of soft and hard polymer materials.
At the moment, various handles are made for professionals, as long as they satisfy the taste of the master, fit comfortably in the hand and make work easier. A professional will also advise you to pay attention to all the components of the brush, because even the characteristics of the adhesive composition are an important indicator that increases the service life of the product.
Each component must be optimally selected to meet the desired characteristics. But pay special attention to the bristles, because they are an important component that ensures the functionality of the brush. Brushes are made from natural, artificial and mixed materials.
Natural bristles
A brush with natural bristles is more wear-resistant, absorbs paint well and releases it, while easily and evenly applying paint on the walls. That is, a brush made of natural fiber has “good paint release,” as the professionals say. Paint brushes currently use pig bristles, which have a rough and scaly structure.
Pig hairs are a cone, at the end of which there is a split, which is a panicle. Thanks to these characteristics, a pig bristle brush perfectly picks up paint and holds it there. Another important indicator for a brush when painting is elasticity. A pig bristle brush does this well.
Pig bristles are distinguished by colors: black, gray and light, and they also vary in hardness and elasticity - all this determines its final price. The most expensive is black bristles, as it surpasses its competitors in wear resistance and mechanical properties. The lowest price is light bristles, since its wear is lower than that of other varieties, but because of its cost, light bristles are in great demand among buyers.
To maintain its performance characteristics, such as strength and elasticity, manufacturers boil pig hair. And if they boil it two or three times, then such bristles will be considered the best.
Due to the fact that each hair has a scaly structure and a panicle at the end, any paint and varnish material is well retained in the bristles and is evenly applied to the surface being treated.
Brushes with natural bristles are suitable for use with any paint and varnish material, but it is better to give preference to materials that have an oil base or thick varnish. It is also worth limiting the use of such a brush for paintwork materials that are based on water, since natural bristles absorb it very well.
And over time, it will simply swell and lose all its positive characteristics, including elasticity. To reduce the cost of natural bristle brushes, manufacturers often add horsehair to pig brushes, which is much cheaper. You should not chase the price, because such a brush will serve you much less and will not do the job as well as you would like. Brushes based on horse hair do not hold the paint material inside themselves well, are not as elastic and flexible as brushes made from pig bristles, and accordingly have a shorter service life.
Therefore, it is better to opt for a pig hair cyst, which can be double or triple boiled. You can also determine how well the bristles are boiled using tactile sensations. Hair, boiled several times, has no grease, is very smooth and silky to the touch, it has no unpleasant odor, and it also perfectly absorbs paint and evenly applies it to the surface being treated.
In order for the brush to have good characteristics, a number of measures must be taken:
- Select the length of the bristles based on the width of the brush. The longer the bristles, the more expensive the brush will be.
- Increase the number of hairs in the brush that have maximum length. Since it is very difficult to achieve the same length for the bristles, short and long bristles are combined into the brush. The more hairs with the maximum length in a brush, the thicker the bristles, and, accordingly, the higher the price of the brush.
Artificial bristles
When making a brush from artificial bristles, so-called brush bristles are used, which consists of polyester and polyester fibers. A brush with such bristles can also be used when working with paints and varnishes that contain water, since such bristles will not change their elasticity. A brush with artificial bristles has a long service life, is wear-resistant when working with it and does not lose its shape when interacting with water-soluble coatings.
When such bristles are made, they artificially give them a cone shape and split the end, like pig bristles.
These properties help the artificial hairs retain the paint within themselves and apply it evenly to the work surface. If you are working with water-based coatings, then we will advise you to use a brush made of artificial bristles. After all, when interacting with a water-based emulsion, artificial bristles will not lose their elasticity, and therefore will retain all their characteristics normally.
But it is worth remembering that artificial hairs do not have a scaly structure, and therefore their paint absorption is lower than that of natural bristles. When making brushes with artificial bristles, there is no need to take measures regarding the length and density of the bristles; in this case, these properties are not critical.
Mixed bristles
If you need a brush that combines the advantages of natural and artificial bristles, then you need to choose a brush made of mixed bristles. After all, its fibers will transfer paint well, like fibers from natural bristles, and will retain the elasticity of the brush if you work with water-based paints and varnishes, just as artificial bristles retain the shape of a brush.
A mixed bristle brush is the optimal choice, as it combines the best characteristics of natural and mixed fibers, and can be used with any range of paints and varnishes. Mixed bristles have positive characteristics such as high wear, excellent paint absorption, retention and smooth application to the work surface. When working with impregnations, stains, and wood protective compounds, a mixed bristle brush will be an indispensable assistant.
Paint brushes also differ depending on their shape and purpose. There are:
Flat (flat)
This type of brush is very common. These brushes are used when painting any surfaces, for both interior and exterior work.
Round
Mainly used for painting windows, baseboards, and doorways. A round brush is convenient for gluing wallpaper or smearing paint.
Maklovitsy
This type of brush is designed for large-scale work. These large brushes will pick up a lot of paint and apply it evenly to the surface. Therefore, they are used to paint facades, ceilings, apply primer to the wall or glue wallpaper.
Radiator
With its long, angled handle, this brush will help you work on hard-to-reach surfaces, corners and joints.
Narrow and thin brushes.
Which brush you choose is up to you. After all, there are different types of work with paintwork materials, which require their own brush. And you can only rely on your opinion and your price range.
Modern paints and varnishes can be applied using: a paint brush, a paint roller, a paint sprayer.
In this article we will talk about the most common painting tool - a paint brush.
Types of paint brushes
Flat paint brushes– the most popular type of paint brushes.
They are used for applying paints and varnishes to treated surfaces of different sizes when carrying out interior and exterior finishing work. The main characteristic of a flat brush is its width, which is indicated in inches, but some manufacturers also indicate the width in millimeters in addition to inches. Standard width sizes for flat paint brushes: 3/4” (20mm), 1” (25mm), 1.5” (38mm), 2” (50mm), 2.5” (63mm), 3” (75mm), 4” (100mm) . Depending on the area of the surface to be treated, the width of the flat brush is selected.
Round paint brushes- less popular than flat ones.
They are used for painting long narrow surfaces, because... This type of brush has a denser filling and, accordingly, good paint-exchange properties. The main characteristic of round brushes is their width (diameter). I indicate the size of round brushes in numbers or in millimeters. Standard sizes of round brushes: No. 2 – 20 mm, No. 4 – 25 mm, No. 6 – 30 mm, No. 8 – 35 mm, No. 10 – 40 mm, No. 12 – 45 mm, No. 14 – 50 mm, No. 16 – 55 mm, No. 18 – 60 mm , No. 20 – 65mm, No. 22 – 70mm.
Radiator or angled paint brush.
This type of paint brushes is used for painting hard-to-reach or high-lying places, because... the brush has an elongated handle and a bandage with bristles, located at an angle to the handle.
The standard sizes of radiator brushes are the same as flat paint brushes.
Squeegee brush.
It is a flat brush of increased size. These brushes are used for applying paints and varnishes to large surfaces (processing facades or ceilings). The handles of these brushes are adapted for the use of extension rods. Standard squeegee sizes (width and length): 30x70mm, 30x100mm, 30x120mm, 40x140mm, 50x150mm.
Maklovitz brush.
It is a base block to which a handle is attached. Holes are drilled on its surface into which artificial fibers are hammered. These brushes are very convenient to use when applying adhesive to wallpaper, as well as washing and applying whitewash compounds. The handles of these brushes are also adapted for the use of extension rods. Standard sizes: 140x50mm, 150x70mm, 170x70mm, 180x80 mm.
The choice of the type of paint brush directly depends on the area of the surface to be treated, the place where the painting work will be carried out, as well as on the individual preferences of the artist.
What are paint brushes made of?
A paint brush consists of several components. The main working part of a paint brush is the bristles, which are fixed in the holder using an adhesive composition. The clip with bristles is attached to the handle. The bristles in the holder of the paint brush are separated by special inserts that create a working chamber for the paint and varnish material. The size and number of inserts in the holder of a paint brush depends on its thickness, and also greatly affects the cost of the brush and the quality of surface painting. For example, if we have a paint brush with a disproportionate number or size of liners, then accordingly the density of the bristles of the paint brush will be less, therefore, the paint material will be less well retained and the paint-exchange properties of the paint brush will be reduced. Inserts are made of wood or plastic; plastic inserts increase the durability of the paint brush, because plastic does not deform when in contact with water.
The adhesive composition holds the bristles of the liner and the holder of the paint brush together. The bristles should be glued to the height of the liner. The service life of the paint brush depends on the quality of the adhesive composition. Cheap paint brushes use inexpensive adhesives. Expensive paint brushes use epoxy glue. If the adhesive composition is of poor quality or is not sufficient to secure all the bristles in the cage, then the loose bristles will fall out of the bandage and accordingly reduce the quality of the treated surface.
Checking the quality of the adhesive composition is quite simple; you need to remove the paint brush from the packaging, grab the handle with one hand, and pull the bristles with the other. At first, the stubble will fall out of the bandage, but gradually the amount of stubble that falls out will decrease. If the adhesive composition in the brush is not of high quality, then the bristles will constantly fall out and it is not recommended to carry out painting work with such a brush.
The clip (bandage) of paint brushes is mainly made of steel, less often of plastic. Steel clips have sufficient strength and resistance to organic solvents that may be contained in the paint and varnish material.
The disadvantages of steel clips include, first of all, the appearance of corrosion, which occurs during long-term storage at high humidity, and corrosion also occurs due to the fact that during breaks between painting jobs the brush is stored in water (so that the paint does not prematurely has dried up). To avoid corrosion on the paint brush holder, it is coated with anti-corrosion coatings or made of stainless steel. The second disadvantage is that a steel clip can damage the surface being treated (for example, when painting corners) or the container for storing paint and varnish material.
Plastic clips are not susceptible to corrosion and do not damage surfaces, but may not be resistant to some types of solvents that may be contained in the paint material.
Paint brush handles are usually made from three materials::
- Tree.
- Plastic.
- Rubberized plastic.
Handles made of wood are the most popular on the Russian market. They have sufficient strength and low weight. In the manufacture of wooden handles, various types of wood are used, from the cheapest, for example, pine, to expensive varieties (sycamore, beech, etc.). Handles made from cheap types of wood are usually coated with paint, which can be transparent (varnished) or opaque (painted and then varnished). A clear coating is applied to protect the handle material from environmental influences, while an opaque coating is usually applied to hide imperfections in the wood and create a more premium appearance for the paint brush. Despite their appearance, painted handles do not provide a secure grip; the paint brush will slip out of your hand when working, because paint and sweat will get on the handle.
The handles, which are made from expensive types of wood, do not have any paint coating. This emphasizes that the handle is made of an expensive type of wood and has no major defects. These handles absorb sweat and provide a secure grip when working.
The main working part of a paint brush is the bristles; it is the bristles that pick up, hold and distribute the paint material over the surface being treated.
The materials used to make paint brush bristles can be divided into three main types:
- The bristles are of natural origin, mainly pig bristles are used.
- Synthetic bristles, polymer fibers.
- A mixture, in various proportions, of natural and synthetic bristles.
III. Types of bristles
Natural bristles have excellent paint-exchange properties, hold paint and varnish material well and apply with good coverage. In our market, natural bristles are very widespread and very popular. High paint-exchange properties are achieved by the fact that there are microscopic scales on the entire surface of natural bristles; this can be determined by touch by running your fingers from the tip to the root of the bristles; it will seem slightly rough (in this way you can especially accurately distinguish natural bristles from synthetic ones). The paint material is held on the bristles due to their presence. The high coverage rate that is achieved when working with brushes with natural bristles is ensured by the small cross-section of the bristles at its tip.
The disadvantages of natural bristles include loss of shape in a humid environment or after washing the paint brush under water and subsequent storage, as well as long and expensive manufacturing technology.
The largest proportion of natural pig bristles is produced in China.
The production of natural pork bristles can be divided into two stages:
livestock stage and processing stage. The first stage is not particularly interesting to us, because it involves raising pigs and obtaining primary bristles after slaughter.
The processing stage is usually a separate factory that deals only with the processing and sale of bristles. The processing process takes considerable time and includes many cycles, such as: peeling, washing, carding, boiling, sorting by length, etc. Cooking is the most significant process that directly affects the quality of the bristles. During cooking, animal fat is removed from the surface of the bristles. According to standards, the surface of natural bristles should contain 5-10% fat. If this indicator is higher, then a brush with natural bristles will have low paint-exchange properties. If this indicator is lower, then the bristles of the paint brush will be brittle, and accordingly it will fall out of the brush and remain on the surface being treated.
Because Since natural bristles are a product of animal origin, they come in different lengths. The length of natural bristles is the most important indicator that affects its cost, which subsequently transfers to the cost of the brush itself. It is natural to believe that a pig has much fewer long bristles than short bristles, so the cost of natural bristles, depending on its length, does not have a linear relationship.
Natural bristles come in both light and black, as well as gray - a mixture of light and black natural bristles. The color of natural bristles depends on the breed of pig.
Black natural bristles have increased (compared to light natural bristles) elasticity and wear resistance. Accordingly, it costs more than light. Also, if you paint the surface with a brush with black natural bristles, then the fallen hair can be easily seen on the surface being painted and then removed.
If you choose a paint brush with black natural bristles, it is important to make sure that the bristles are actually black and not light natural bristles that are dyed black. On the market, replacing black natural bristles with light colored bristles is very often practiced. To make sure that you are not being deceived, you need to rub the stubble firmly between two fingers. If the bristles leave a dark mark, then it is light bristles dyed black. In the process of working, especially with paints and varnishes containing an organic solvent, this bristle will begin to stain the surface being painted, and the result will be unsatisfactory.
Another indicator that influences the cost of a natural bristle paint brush is the number of “tops” - the percentage of long to short bristles.
The natural bristles in a paint brush have different lengths, this gives a conical shape to the head of the paint brush and also saves material. The higher the number of “tops”, the correspondingly more bristles will be of maximum length; therefore, the paint brush will cost more, but its painting characteristics will be much higher.
Synthetic bristles are very thin polymer fibers produced by extrusion. Artificial bristles can be of any color, depending on the chosen dye that is used to obtain it. Depending on the type of polymer material, artificial bristles can be obtained with different hardness, wear resistance, and also the degree of recovery after deformation. Artificial bristles have one significant drawback - low paint-exchange properties, because... On the surface of artificial bristles, unlike natural pig bristles, there are no microscopic scales on which the paint and varnish material is held. Therefore, to improve paint transfer properties, artificial bristles are made with different cross-sectional profiles, for example, hollow cylindrical, petal structure, etc. To improve coverage, the ends of artificial bristles are often split, as in the case of hollow cylindrical bristles, or made into a conical shape, but then it is necessary to have a high packing density.
Mixed bristles are a mixture of natural and synthetic bristles in various proportions. By selecting different percentages of natural and synthetic bristles, you can achieve high paint transfer rates, as well as elasticity and wear resistance of the paint brush.
Paint brushes UNIVERSE
Branded paint brushes UNIVERSE divided into series: Slim, StandardExpert, Profi.
Brushes series Slim are the most inexpensive brushes in the line UNIVERSE. They combine acceptable quality at an economical price. In the brushes of the series Slim Natural bristles and a varnished wooden handle are used.
Brushes series Standard– these are the most optimal brushes in terms of price and quality of painting the surface being treated. This series of paint brushes under the trademark UNIVERSE has a wooden handle coated with varnish. The bristles of the standard series flat painting brushes are made:
- Made from natural pig bristles (the tip of the brush is painted red), these brushes evenly apply paint and varnish material to the surface to be treated. They have good paint-exchange properties. Can be used with all types of paints and varnishes, but are most effectively used with paints and varnishes that are dissolved with organic solvents.
- Made from an optimally selected combination of synthetic fibers (hollow, split at the tip) and natural pig bristles (the tip of the brush is colored green). Natural bristles in this combination increase the paint-exchange properties of the paint brush, and the synthetic component provides wear resistance, as well as a fine structure of the coating.
- Made of synthetic bristles (the tip of the brush is painted blue). These brushes use conical synthetic bristles and high density padding. Thanks to this, the most acceptable paint-exchange characteristics are achieved, as well as stable hiding power.
Brushes series Expert And Profi made with ergonomically shaped wooden handles. The head parts of these brushes have high-density natural bristles. These series of brushes can be classified as semi-professional and professional painting tools with a long service life.
Paint brushes are used to apply primer, paint, glue, and varnish. Of course, this can be done with any brush. But the question is the quality and labor intensity of application. Brushes are different for a reason. And they differ not only in price, but also in size, type of bristles, and shape. Natural hair provides higher quality coverage, synthetic brushes are more durable. Depending on the type of work, one or another type of paint brush is chosen.
Flat brush (+fluted)
A flat brush is used for priming, painting and varnishing surfaces, especially if you want to achieve a smooth, glossy surface. A flat brush is often called a flute brush, as it is used for fluting (smoothing) freshly painted surfaces - the brush allows you to remove traces of rough painting and paint drips. For fluting, use a dry brush to level the paint. The work is done with the very ends of the hair, without pressure, in the direction opposite to the direction of applying the paint. The brush is periodically cleaned of paint. Brush width: 25 - 100 mm.
Radiator brush
This is a type of flat brush, but with a long curved handle. Using a radiator brush, you can paint any hard-to-reach place, even through a narrow gap. For this reason, radiator brushes are used when painting heating radiators, outside and inside; pipes and corners; spaces between profiles. The width of the brush can be very different: from 20 to 150 mm.
Hand brush (handbrake)
The brush has a round shape. Designed for painting and priming small surfaces. Before work, to maintain elasticity and shape, the brush is tied with twine, leaving a pile length of about 3-4 cm. Paint is picked up in small portions, lowering the brush by 15-20 mm. As you work, the brush wears out, and the turns of twine unwind, increasing the length of the pile. The brush size varies from 26 to 54 mm.
Flying brush
This brush is also round, but larger than a handbrake. Therefore, it is convenient when working on large areas: walls and ceilings. Using a brush you can prime, whiten and paint the surface. The handle of the brush is made hollow so that, if necessary, it can be attached to a long handle. The fly brush is also tied up. Diameter of brushes: 60 - 65 mm.
Brush
Like the fly brush, the fly brush is large. Its large area beam easily covers large areas. Like the swing hand, it can be extended with a long handle to increase performance. Macks are rectangular and round. They are used for applying aqueous solutions, but they are not suitable for oil paint. Brush size: 100 - 200 mm.
Fileting brush
Designed for “jewelry” work: applying a narrow strip of paint (panel) and painting small, hard-to-reach areas. Most of all, it resembles a large paint brush. Brush diameter: 6 - 18 mm.
All sizes
The size of the brush is also chosen in accordance with the tasks. Wide brushes are for large areas, narrow brushes are for small or narrow areas. 
For this reason, for outdoor work over a large area, as well as for walls and ceilings indoors, brushes with a width of 8-10 cm are taken, for processing corners - 5 cm with beveled edges, for decorative details, window frames and baseboards - 3-6 cm.
Anton Tsugunov
Reading time: 4 minutes
Many people don't even realize that paint brushes and repair brushes are simply amazing in their abundance and functionality. It is common to use only one tool in all situations, but is this correct? So, let's take a closer look at what types of brushes there are.
Types of brushes
- Fly brushes (KM) are huge fluffy brushes made of natural fibers and with the addition of synthetics (nylon), and have a round shape. Their diameter is 60-65 mm, and the length of the hairs reaches 180 mm. Typically used for painting large surfaces, washing or for whitewashing work. They are highly resistant to contact with various solvents and other aggressive substances, tolerate high temperature changes and are not afraid of hot water. When interacting with the work surface, they bend a little, but then immediately straighten.
- Mock brushes (KMA) are an improved type of brushes that I use for applying adhesive or casein paint to various surfaces. They are based on natural horsehair (50%) and artificial bristles (nylon 50%), which allows you to evenly apply a layer of coating to a specific surface. There are two types of such brushes: round and rectangular. Their diameter is 120-170 mm, and the length of the hairs is 100 mm.
- Hand brushes (KR) are small round brushes used for painting wooden windows or pipes. Their diameter ranges from 26 to 54 mm. They consist of pure bristles and horsehair and have a round shape. The center of this tool is empty, allowing it to accumulate paint material. It is not recommended to use with adhesives and lime substances, since the hairs are held on an adhesive base. Usually this tool is simply called a round paint brush.
- Filet brushes (FKF) are small brushes with a fairly comfortable handle and coarse white bristles. They are used on small surfaces to outline lines and paint hard-to-reach areas. The diameter of the brush is 6-18 mm.
- Radiators are a wonderful device for applying paint to hard-to-reach places: seams or bends. The name itself suggests that they are ideal for (radiators).
- Flat paint brush (KF) is a flat, wide brush from 25 to 100 mm with a comfortable handle. It is made of bristles and badger hair. Ideal for eliminating smudges that may have occurred from other brushes.
- A synthetic flat brush (KS), or a flat brush with artificial bristles, is a synthetic brush. It has a special property: its fibers, unlike natural fibers, retain their original (even) shape during use. It is great for paints diluted with water. Such a tool ideally holds the composition not only on the outer part of the nylon fibers, but also in their inner base.
- A crosscut brush (SCB) is a hard and very stiff brush, which consists of spinal or semi-spinal bristles. They are used to finish freshly applied paint. It very effectively eliminates all irregularities caused by other devices.
Note: Spine bristle brushes are shaped like a cone, which allows them to capture more paint and apply it evenly to the surface.
Natural fiber bristles are ideal for painting work; they hold the composition well, applying it in an even layer. It feels a little rough to the touch, which allows it to absorb more paint. This is what distinguishes it from artificial (nylon) hairs.
Bristles made of synthetic materials consist of polymers and have a small thickness. Different types of modern polymers allow you to achieve the desired rigidity. Nylon polyester bristles are perfect for water-intensive paints; their hairs do not absorb the paint material; nylon repels moisture and retains its original structure. In addition, nylon is better suited for painting timber without leaving lint on it.
If you care about your tools and want them to serve you as long as possible, then you need to follow certain rules for their storage and use. New or unused paint brushes should be washed with hot water and a little soap to remove dust and broken fibers from the bristles. After this, the bristles are squeezed out and dried.
Before starting painting work, it is necessary to soak the bristles so that they absorb moisture, softening and increasing in volume. In this simple way you can achieve a smoother and more even application of paint.
Before starting painting work, the tool must be developed so that it takes the correct shape. To do this, take a little paint mixture and the brush itself; use any rough coating (brick, plaster, concrete) as a test surface. This way, the hairs will find the correct shape for further work. It is better to clean the working surface of all excess.
It is very important to use the tool correctly. For example, a round brush on a work surface should be gradually rotated in your hand so that its hairs are erased evenly. You don't need to press it hard.
There are times when a person is simply physically unable to work through the entire surface. Naturally, he needs rest. At this time, the brush can be left in the paint or immersed in a special solution. If glue, lime, oil and casein solutions are used, then soak the tool in water. For kerosene, turpentine or drying oil compositions, it is recommended to use special solvents.
Very important: You do not need to immerse the brush completely, but only to the depth where the bristles lightly touch the bottom, otherwise the hairs will bend or break; it is best to hang them on a wire or other device.
How to wash your brushes? To do this, take kerosene, and then use water and soap. Such simple procedures should be continued until the water stops being colored, remaining clean. At the final stage, we hang them up and dry them. The cleaning process is complete.
How important is brush shape?
Most people are used to saving their resources by using old tools since time immemorial, but this is completely wrong. You just think you're saving money, but you're not. For example, you can paint one surface all day with a small round bristle brush. It is much more profitable to purchase a large flat brush, which will paint an impressive surface in one stroke.
HELPFUL INFORMATION: Modular sockets on din rail
A small round brush is more suitable for a small work surface. This tool allows you to coat special areas such as round pipes. For hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to use so-called angled brushes. It is important to remember that, first of all, you save time.
Usually every house has a couple of brushes with which he paints everything: from windows and doors to fences in the country. They also use it to tint batteries and glue wallpaper. Let's figure out what types of brushes there are and what they are suitable for.
Kinds
Fileting brush
A small brush with a comfortable handle and stiff white bristles with a diameter of 6–18 mm. Suitable for painting hard-to-reach places or for outlining lines for decorative work.
Radiator brush
The name itself suggests that this brush is intended for painting batteries. With its help you will get to all the seams and bends.
Bristle
All brushes can be divided into three categories:
- Brushes with natural fiber bristles. They absorb and hold paint well and apply it in an even layer. Suitable for oil-based paints, drying oils, varnishes and wood oils.
- Brushes with bristles made of synthetic materials. Thin and smooth, suitable for water-based formulations: nylon fibers repel excess moisture and retain their shape.
- Mixed bristle brushes. They hold paint well and do not lose their shape. They can be used for both water-based and oil-based formulations. Ideal for outdoor use.
If you just bought a brush, wash it before use with hot water and soap to remove dust and broken fibers. Then be sure to squeeze it out and dry it.
Before painting anything, leave the brush in water for an hour. The bristles will become softer and swell, and the layers will lie evenly. The main thing is not to put the brush in the jar, but hang it up, otherwise the bristles may become deformed.
If you have oil- or alkyd-based paint, dry your brush well before use.
To prevent the brush from “streaking” and leaving hairs on the surface, work it on brick, concrete or rough plaster before starting work.
If you used oil-based paints, first rinse the brush thoroughly in a solvent (kerosene, turpentine, white spirit), and then wash with hot water and soap. If the paints are water-based, go straight to hot water.