I am looking for a quality paint brush to apply varnishes and oil based poly. I have searched the web and have come across two brands,Purdy and Wooster. Are there any other brushes available? Which ones are the best. Also what type of brush or brushes do I need to apply finishes. Type of hair,size etc.
Thks
Bill
Replies
BB
Even though finsihing is not my strongest point, I will point out that I have used Purdy for a long time. Have some that are 10 years and older. Understand that Wooster is excellent also. Never used personally. BTW, have some Purdy latex brushes that are even older and still excellent.
For oil based use Chinese bristle, white or black doesn't matter. Clean throughly after use with lacquer thinner and a good comb brush. You will need various sizes over-all for various jobs. Try to use a size that fits the job.
Purdy is not cheap, but will last if cared for. If I had to start with one size as I added, probaly be a 2 1/2" as I find it gets more over-all use for my needs. But, the smaller sizes are of great value in smaller projects and tight spots. You can add as you go. Like clamps, you're always 1 short of what you really need. grin<>
Good Luck..
sarge..jt
If you're just looking for a decent brush, Purdy probably fits the bill, and they're cheap to boot. Well, relatively speaking. For varnishes & poly, china bristle. White is a little finer than black, but what you're probably most concerned with is how stiff a brush you want for laying out a finish. Try it out. I like the stubby white chinas Purdy sells with the round handles for small varnish jobs. That's one option. Up the scale from there, Purdy also makes ox hair brushes, which are finer than the white china. Then, from Garret Wade, Homestead Finishing, and others, you can order (or maybe buy in a real big city) badger hair brushes. Sometimes called fitch, but then badger vs fitch is a whole nother essay. Certainly more expensive, very stiff, very nice for varnishes & brushing lacquers, very easy to get ruined by improper cleaning and cost you a lot. (Had to throw in a down side). The reason I say easier to not get clean is these brushes are made for flowing finishes, and the splitter inside the ferrule is larger and creats a good void. The firmness of the bristle keeps things from coming out as easily, and a mistake I made early on was not cleaning them enough. The outside would be clean, but if you really went at it with a brush comb, there was a lot left inside. I glued one together a couple of times. Expect to start around $40 for a 2" brush in the badger or fitch arena.
Take a look at Jeff Jewitt's web site at http://www.homesteadfinishing.com. If you can't find recommendations in one of his forum articles (do a quick search), you can give him a call and talk to "the" expert. I try to give him all my finishing business because you can always call him if you run into a problem using a product you bought from him. He's a nice guy and only carries top quality stuff that he uses himself.
Terry in Delray Beach, FL
Bill,
Bite the bullet, save your money and buy four badger/fitch brushes. Get a three inch, two inch, one inch flats and a one inch round brush. They are expensive; but they're worth every penny. Nothing works as well for flowing on varnish; nothing works as well for vertical surfaces too. The badger/fitch brushes give you the most control and the smoothest finish. (Though even with badger brushes you will still have to rub out varnish to get that perfect look and feel.)
Spend a few more dollars and get a brush comb and a brush spinner. Those two tools will do the most to get your fine and expensive brushes really clean. (And don't skimp on spirits and lacquer thinner. It doesn't make sense to me to try to save a few nickles worth of solvents when you're cleaning a fifty-dollar brush.)
Alan
Likewise. I've aquired 2" and 3" badger brushes. I'm now begining to enjoy finishing.
Glendo.
where do you purchase your really good brushes. i've looked around locally, [large paint stores, local hardware stores] and cannot find them. thanks
Suzyt,
It's been quite a while since I bought any, so I'm not one-hundred percent certain, but I believe I got a couple from Garrett-Wade and a few more from from a local art/refinishers' store (they carry such things as dry pigments, dye powders, flogging brushes, and so on). You might try looking under re/finishing supplies, art supplies and craft supplies in the yellow pages.
Also, one of the best investments I've made is a brush spinner (A device you fit the handle of a brush into, operate the handle and it spins the brush around very fast.) It will drive most all of any moisture, whether solvent or whatever, from the bristles. That, along with a brush comb, has helped me to keep using the same brushes for many more years than they used to last.
Alan
never thought about a art supply store. there is one quite close to my home thanks!!!
Depends what they are to be used for and what kinds of paint. For general trim painting I get Purdy brushes at HD. Either latex or enamel brushes depending on the job.
For 'art' type work I use squirrel hair or camel hair brushes bought at Hobby Lobby.
My father in law was a house painter / decorator his entire life and he always said NEVER get a cheap brush for ANY job. Every night he would suspend his enamel brushes in a 5 gallon can of kerosene and then clean them out the next morning before going to work. His enamel brushes would last for years. During the day he would wrap them in plastic bread wrappers during short periods of non use.
ps - in the 'old' days he would pour the used kerosene out in the alley (after several weeks use). That was in the days when lead based paint was common. He retired before the hazards of lead was commonly known.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_KatyPlaneWood
I have purchased high quality Badger hair brushes from Lee Valley, and Woodworker supply. New York Central Art Supply ( http://www.nycentralart.com) has a huge assortment of brushes, some with outrageous prices. I bought high quality watercolor brushes from them for applying shellac, and an Omega oval varnish brush, the does excellent work.
Have you considered using paint pads ? The're cheap and dispensable. Ideal for flat surfaces and much easier to clean.
Regards LS
would you tell me more about them? thanks
Sorry I didn't reply sooner. I would buy the paint pads ( in England ) in a Super store, I'm not sure about the U.S ! There is a useful article on pads in Fine Woodworking in June last year (No 156 - p 40) . I wish you luck with the project.
Regards Len
hi, len. ditto for me. [about taking so long to reply.] i have been working too much!!!! thanks for your response, and for the reference to the article. i found it and read it, and it was helpful. thanks again.
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