Complete Guide to Paint Brushes

Coming in April 
The most complete brush article ever!
» All features explained
» Hands on reviews
» Tips on cutting... FAST!
» Advanced tips for experts
» New - never before seen videos 
» Wasted money at your fingertips
» How you load a brush might hold you back, why load balancing matters
» Syncing Quality of Cut with Speed 
» New Brushes added: Corona Cortez 18560, Elder & Jenks Generation Y E42625 and Purdy Elite. Including a Head-to-Head review of Purdy EXTRA NYLO-ANG & Purdy ECOPRO-Glide.

Discover how a good brush can throttle your productivity, and how a bad one can choke it in seconds. I’ll show you how to maximize your productivity by taking your brush to the edge, literally! Will the elusive Wooster Alpha SMASH the 7.3 sec speed record?! Find out – all this and more!

Purdy ECOPRO Brush & Roller Covers

This ECO brush & roller is heavy on features and light on the environment.

When you’re looking for an eco friendly synthetic brush and roller cover, it may be hard to get your groove on over anything other than its environmental friendly footprint. That’s the problem I had when I opened the Purdy ECOPRO-Glide brush and ECOPRO 3/8” knitted roller covers. On the one hand, it’s easy to yawn at the ECOPRO and be done with it; on the other hand, you do get a helluva lot of features for the money not to give it a second look!

DuPont™ black nylon is at the heart of the ECOPRO brush family (ECOPRO-Sprig shown). As you may have guessed from its name, this brush uses 100% recycled TYNEX filaments. You get Solid Round Tapered (SRT) filaments, FSC Certified¹ natural Beachwood handle, rounded-edge stainless steel ferrule, various filament lengths, hand chiseled tapered profile, targeted fine flagging, and it’s handcrafted and made in the USA!

The ECOPRO value pack consists of 3 white knitted roller covers made from 100% recycled fabric². Available in 3/8” and 1/2” size nap. Features a 1½” polypropolene core and virtually lint free fabric, in fact, I was not able to get any shedding off the samples sent to me.  The ECOPRO brush and roller cover family offer many of the same beneficial features you are probably already used to from Purdy.

The total recycled filament content of Purdy eco-friendly paintbrushes consists purely of 100% recycled DuPont Tynex Black Nylon filaments. Some brushes offer as little as 5% recycled filament content for comparison. The recent advancements in filament technology is nothing short of amazing.

¹ The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) emblem. The FSC is widely recognized as the most credible system in forest-management certification and is regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote better forest management worldwide. Companies which undergo certification and whose products bear the FSC insignia offer a visible sign to painters of a manufacturers’ commitment to maintaining sustainable forests. ² Eco Pro™ roller cover fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles.

This brush is currently under review. How well does a 100% recycled black nylon brush perform compared to a non-recycled  black nylon brush? Find out soon. We are performing a blind test on the Purdy ECOPRO-Glide vs. Purdy EXTRA NYLO-ANG. Both handles have been taped off so I cant tell which is which.

Sanding sucks! But not anymore.

Don't let the polished exterior of the FlexEdge fool you. Beneath lurks raw genius design. The guys at Full Circle International are known to be over-the-top when it comes to intuitive tools for our trade and the FlexEdge Multi-Layered Sanding Tool is no exception. I would have been happy if these guys designed a pole sander that simply had hook & loop but that’s not how these guys think, they don't stop there. The FlexEdge sander was clearly designed to eliminate all the shortcomings of traditional pole sanders with additional benefits.

There's an unwritten rule that states, "To be considered a professional painter, you must tweak every aspect of your craft." That means not only choosing the right combination of product, equipment and tools but also tailoring your systems to perform the way you want them to, not the other way around. After all, you built your business off the successful steps you made no matter how big or small, so why should you stop there.

Designed to compliment the Radius 360º, the FlexEdge system handles a variety of sanding challenges with everything you need to take on corners, tight angles, outlets, bumps, and more.

Features: Aluminum Head, 2 Abrasive Pad Options, Hook & Loop Pad Design, Pressure Pad, 1/4” Foam Pad, Flex Paper, Flex Foam and a No Flip Design. Are you serious? What else can you ask for?

Benefits: What I liked besides the effectiveness and versatility of the multi-layered FlexEdge System is the optional FX4 Lightweight Pole. Weighing only a mere 13.1 oz., this lightweight rigid 1¼” diameter pole coupled with the FlexEdge head provides a lightweight solution to reduce sanding fatigue. The FX4 has a nice comfortable rubber hand grip, you’ll like rolling walls with it too. You can really move fast with this system. I insist you head over to Full Circle International and watch some videos of the complete sanding system and see how it can benefit your productivity in more ways than you can imagine.

 

Wooster Brush - Alpha AS 4231

Last UPDATED Mar. 01 09:40pm

Finally, a brush that's made for power users. While other brush manufacturers were busy churning out the status quo, The Wooster Brush Co. was pushing the envelope. The same company that brought you the high performance Benjamin Moore 651-25 brush now offers performance enhancements with greater hold capacity, greater responsiveness and tipping so soft it’ll make a crying baby giggle. Find out how Micro Tip™ brush filament technology will affect your painting experience in more ways than you can imagine - because what good are Micro Tip™ filaments if they don’t have advantages?

A first glance at Wooster’s newest brush – the Alpha Series. This is a dry review.  The Wooster Brush Company is offering what appears to be - their absolute softest feather-like tipped brush ever, unlike anything they’ve done in the past, cleverly named Alpha with Micro Tip™ filament technology. As an enthusiast, you need a brush that consistently meets your increasing performance demands no matter what you're spreading. The Wooster Brush Alpha Series is designed specifically for professional painters seeking maximum overall performance, responsiveness and characteristics from a brush. Inferior brush performance can wreak havoc on your systems and processes and can lead to all sorts of efficiency issues that, let's face it -- you just cant have on the job.

Blend of Filaments Alpha is made with a truly unique blend of nylon and polyester, available only from Wooster. Micro Tip™ filaments produce absolutely the finest finish in today’s paints. Extensive testing shows it paints better than any other brush! Alpha is slightly fuller at the end to eliminate drag, but it still has a tapered shape for precise control. It holds more paint at the end of the brush, so there is less effort to release it – onto the surface, and after the job during cleaning. The bottom line: Alpha will increase your daily production. (from inside the cover)

Filament Lengths Alpha has a very unique blend of various filament lengths not seen on other Wooster brushes before. The various filament lengths provide what appears to be a brush within a brush. The overall length-out is shorter than most brushes in its class, similar to the Wooster Flaxen although the two brushes are breeds apart.

Hold Capacity Thumbing through the brush I noticed the brush felt fuller than I am used to on the Benjamin Moore 651-25 brush but this is a good sign for more hold capacity although a brush that carries paint farther than you can reach is overkill, but hey, I’m not complaining. The brush undoubtedly will hold a lot of paint. It’s the largest cavity I’ve seen on a 2.5” brush.

Responsiveness The brush felt good to hold, balanced, solid and true. I pressed it against all sorts of surfaces getting familiar with the characteristics of the brush. The Alpha is insanely responsive to even the slightest touch or movement (see video clip below). I can only imagine what I am going to be able to do cutting around intricate objects like a fireplace mantle as it returns to a wall or painting crown mold which is one of the more difficult trim items to brush nicely and have it look like it was sprayed or any fluted trim pieces. The filaments roll and move smoothly against themselves which eliminates binding often found with irregular filaments or certain blends of brushes with Chinex. The brush moves and responds instantly and accurately to your slightest movements.

Micro Tip™ When you look at the Micro Tips, they look soft and smooth, so smooth they collectively look blurry when you look at them. It’s very different and unique. What Wooster has done here is by far the biggest advancements I’ve see made to a brush. The Alpha Series appears to be reengineered from the handle to the head and it’s impressive.

What else to expect It’s obvious this brush will cut sharp and clean. In addition to massive hold capacity and micro tipping, the 3/4” portion of the taper and tipping is so unique - the Alpha should excel over medium to rough surfaces too. I’m not certain this was by design or simply a benefit of the Micro Tip process. You should expect to do longer runs regardless which brush loading method you use. Wooster suggests dipping and tapping the inside walls of the can to load a brush but I am not a big fan of that for more reasons than I care to mention here. I use this method. I would also expect better coverage with all paints due to how responsive the Alpha is over uneven surfaces such as casings with deep grooves or top edges of baseboards and I can see huge benefits on crown mold. Less loading, less screwing around with coverage and less traces the job was done with a brush.

Firmness Rating Unfortunately there are no standardized firmness ratings across brush manufacturers or independently so I developed a rating system based off Extra Firm brushes such as a Wooster ULTRA/PRO® EXTRA-FIRM LINDBECK® so you have some idea what to expect for those of you who order brushes online like myself. S-Soft, F-Firm, EF-Extra Firm

Also available: Wooster Alpha S 4235 3” (S) Semi-Oval and Wooster Alpha W 4234 3” (W) Wall, ALPHA™ THIN ANGLE SASH in 1/2” thickness among others.

Wooster Brush Alpha AS 4231 Length Out: 2 15/16” Thickness: 5/8” Handle: Sealed Maple Ferrule: Stainless Steel Firmness: Firm (printed on the cover) Smoothest paint flow, increased production. Micro Tip™ filaments for the finest finish. For all paints, easy to clean.

Below is a clip without paint, 2 file options, same video. Right-Click and Choose Save as   See the Wooster Alpha 4231 in action.

Wooster Alpha Hi-Res Wallpaper Size 3888x2592 px

Because this brush just came out, the review process will be posted soon. There comes a time when you’ve been painting so long that you don't necessarily need to put paint on a brush to know what to expect from one and I believe my expectations will be exceeded with the Alpha Series.

UPDATE:

The Alpha made it to paint today and my first reaction was actually a series of reactions as expected from a brush of this build. From faster loading to faster cuts - the Alpha stayed sharp and maintained a solid straight wet edge for quite a distance before experiencing any skips or misses. The brush stayed true to the line even over uneven semi-rough surfaces thanks to the unique way the Alpha is fitted and tipped. I noticed the ability to keep a straighter line over wavy edges too such as areas where the casing is caulked to the wall on a poor caulk job or ceiling line edges where mudding was less than perfect.

I mentioned earlier the brush feels like a brush within a brush and it performed that way providing two very beneficial means of carrying and laying down the load. Because the center filaments are cut back from the outer-most filaments, the shorter inner most group of filaments carries the load while the outer group provides a means of making the sharp cut and laying it off, collectively working in unison to provide a smooth effortless cutting experience.

So do I like it so far? Absolutely, and I was quickly able to perform cuts quicker, easier and make longer runs vs. using the Benjamin Moore 651-25 brush of equal size due to Alpha’s thicker build and wider stance. Because the brush is thicker, less skill from my part is needed to keep it straight. The Alpha does not require any break-in period to perform great things straight out of the cover. As always, I pre-wet my brushes prior to painting. If you were to paint without masking tape, it’s at that point when you notice how effective your brush is.

The 2½" Angular Alpha performs with similar characteristics found with some 7/8" X 3” flat brushes — all the more evidence this brush isn't like its siblings. After spending more time with this brush, I believe it’s now, in our industry that true professional tools exist for our trade. The past few new brushes I’ve seen come into the market lately are major improvements. The Alpha truly makes me feel as if I own a quality professional tool of the trade. I'm not sure which makes me more giddy, this brushes bad-assness or the things I can do with it.

Be sure to read the Comments Section below the post.

How We Test Brushes

Real-field benchmarks. Real-field results

The following acrylic paints are used to test brush performance relative to our previous best results:

Sherwin Williams PROMAR 200 Flat
Sherwin Williams PROMAR 200 Low-Sheen Eg-Shel
Sherwin Williams ProClassic WaterBorne Interior Acrylic Semi-Gloss
Sherwin Williams Superpaint Exterior Satin
Glidden Ultra-Hide Flat 1210
Glidden EVERMORE Super Washable Flat
ICI Dulux Ultra Velvet Sheen 1201
ICI Dulux Ultra Low sheen eggshell 1410
ICI Dulux Ultra Semi-gloss 1407
ICI DULUX™ PROFESSIONAL Exterior 100% Acrylic Semi-Gloss Finish 2406

All testing is done freehand; no masking tape is ever used. Our current best brush results are obtained with the Benjamin Moore 651-25 and 654-30 where the (-25) in the model name and the (-30) represent the brush size. (25) 2.5” and (30) 3”.The brush types tested are 2 ½” (65mm) angular sash and a 3” (75mm) flat unless otherwise specifically requested. Each brush type is tested at a minimum rate of 1,000 linear feet – the equivalent of 142 casings 7’. (The Alpha is likely to supersede the 651-25) in future reviews based on initial test results.

Main areas tested are hold capacity, release, responsiveness, length of run, form, function, sharpness of cut, degree of sharpness, bend recovery and search for any other unknown characteristics or limitations of the brush. Primarily testing is done over new materials to best determine trace evidence if any.

Two types of tests are performed for each brush type; cutting and painting.
Cutting
Our cutting tests for 3” flats are performed against door and window casings, cutting ceiling lines, cutting into wall corners, cutting walls to crownmold and baseboard. Our cutting tests for 2 ½” angular brushes are performed cutting walls against door and window casings and walls to baseboard.

Painting
Our painting tests for the 2 ½” angular brush are performed on 6 panel doors made from wood, Masonite and fiberglass. In addition, Andersen double-hung windows are painted. Trim pieces include, baseboard, casing, crownmolding, fluted trim and PVC brick mold casing. Tests are also performed to determine how well the brush can paint shoemolding as it sits between hardwood floors and cabinets where no paint can get on either surrounding surface. You would likely be forced into taping an area like this with most brushes on the market. A precision brush with good form will perform this task with ease.

10 Prep Products I can’t Live Without

by Jack Pauhl

Be sure to check out my Top 10 Prep Products I Can’t Live Without in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of PWC Painting & Wallcovering Contractor magazine.

It’s FREE. You can subscribe to PWC Magazine here.

The Full Circle Sanding System

Be sure to check out Full Circle International for the complete sanding system. Products designed to do specific tasks the way they were meant to be done, fast and effectively.

Painting – Dealing with Weather

I came across this clip and had to post it here. Enjoy.

Tapered Chiseled Tip Precision Brushes

Some corners you just don’t cut!

Precision brushes offer many advantages over those that are not such as fast accurate tapeless cuts with many other benefits. The sole ability to be free from masking tape not only saves money but also countless labor hours. A precision brush allows you to cut farther, faster, more accurately and more easily. Many guys think a brush is a personal preference but I don’t. A brush is simply capable or not capable of doing certain things (PERIOD). Are racing tires going to perform well in snow? I do however think a brush handle can be a personal preference. So, all that said, is it your personal preference to be handicapped by your brushes inability to do great things for you and make your life easier? It may be, but if your goal - like mine - is to maximize every damn second on the job and earn top dollar for your hard work then you need one.

All brushes have learning curves, all of them. What you may or may not know about your cutting-style is that you probably nurse your current brush and manipulate it to do what you need it too. You have grown accustom to working the brush instead of the brush working for you. I won’t argue that you can’t get the job done, eventually - but a precision brush will increase your production rates substantially. I study watching other painters manipulate a brush to get a straight line – all the constant repositioning is eating up your time. I’ve seen guys take multiple loads of paint and reposition a brush a few dozen times simply cutting the side of a casing. I had the whole casing cut in the time it took some of them to cut 18”.

So let me ask you this... Can you take a single load of paint and cut the side of a stained casing in one swift stroke accurately with your current brush? If you can then great but if you cant... keep reading.

How to determine precision capable brushes 
Take a look at the photo above, one brush stands out as thinner, sharper and more tapered and beveled than the other three. A precision brush will be non-flagged with various tapered filament lengths, chiseled tips, ability to pick up and release paint smoothly with a load capacity to go 7’ (the side of a casing) while staying sharp and true to the line you cut. A precision paint brush with optimum hold capacity can allow you to take a single load of paint and cut a sharp edge over a distance of 7’ accurately in one swift stroke (without) repositioning the brush. That is what a professional precision brush is capable of much like a studless Blizzak tire is capable of stopping and cornering on ice better than any other tire on the market. Those tires are designed to do specific things well.

Blend of Filaments A general purpose precision brush for latex and acrylics will often have a blend of two filament types, nylon and polyester. The percentage of the blend, the overall profile of the brush and the taper ratios indicates the suitability, capability and performance of the brush over various surfaces using various products.

Filament Lengths Just because a brush has various filament lengths doesn't mean it will be a precision brush as you can see in the photo above, again one brush stands out as sharper, more beveled and a chisel profile vs. the other three. Thumb through the filaments. The filaments should have various lengths that combined offer a chisel profile to the brush as you can see on the brush (far right). Paint is held in the center of the brush as well as the tapered tips. Filaments with equal dimension along its length are “level” filaments. Filaments with a diameter larger at one end (the butt) than the other are “tapered” filaments. Snap a sharp round double-ended toothpick in half, this is similar to a tapered filament. Notice all the various filament lengths in the brush below.

Tapered Chiseled Tips Filaments will be thick at the butt with precision tapered tips that release paint gradually, evenly and smoothly. Chiseled tips provide substantially sharp cuts in comparison to flagged tips. In addition, a brush with a rounded-off profile can’t and never will be as sharp as one cut blunt at the end. Would a steak knife be as sharp if it had a rounded edge? What happens with rounded profile brushes is this – the hump or convex profile becomes a handicap and serves as a pivot point not allowing adequate contact of the filaments on the outer edge of the brush to make good sharp contact with an edge, the result being – constant repositioning of the brush as you try to reposition the center cluster of filaments to be out of the way to cut close to something.

Over time a paint brush will automatically develop a convex or triangular shape due to excessive wear depending on how often you alternate the brush while cutting, it’s at this time the brush should be replaced as it’s sharpness is drastically reduced.

Taper Ratio characterized by noting the ratio of the thick to the thin diameter of a filament. Standard synthetic tapered filaments are found in ratios such as 15⁄10, 12⁄8, and 9⁄5 where the numbers reference the diameter in thousandths of an inch (mils).

Hold Capacity To go a distance of 7’ with one load it must have large hold capacity somewhat determined by the size of the wood plug in the center of the brush that creates a cavity to hold paint. To determine this, pinch the filaments about ½” from the base of the ferrule, the less dense the more hold capacity. You would think by looking at the photo above the first three brushes would have greater hold capacity over the one on the far right. Not always true, while all four brushes are equal in thickness at the butt (above the shiny metal) the filaments are thin allowing more paint to set in the same area. Take two bowls full with equal amounts of water, place a golf ball in one and a tennis ball in the other. The tennis ball obviously will make the water overflow more than the golf ball.

Sharpness The sharpness of a brush is determined by the various filament lengths, taper ratios and overall quantity of the filaments. Determine the sharpness of a brush by pinching the brush ¼” up from the tapered tips. Sharp brushes will produce a blade-like tip when you pinch. In addition, if you were to take your finger and touch the tips while you have them pinched, they will feel sharp like needles. Its this sharpness that I believe is what makes a true precision brush capable of fast accurate cuts that maintain a constant solid wet edge.

Quality Filaments DuPont’s CHINEX, TYNEX and OREL

CHINEX is (S-R-T) Solid Round Tapered self-flagging modified soft nylon with an irregular surface, more expensive than polyester, stays stiffer longer, better shape and stiffness retention, cleans nicely, long brush life, abrasion resistance 7 times greater than natural china bristle and low moisture absorption.

TYNEX is nylon type 612 and softer than CHINEX with twice the abrasion resistance of OREL.

OREL is polyester, offers stiffness retention and bend recovery, three times the abrasion resistance of hog bristle.

Each are quality filament types found in brushes with their own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Some brushes use a blend of one, two or three of these filament types to make a brush unique with specific characteristics and features.

Looking for the DuPont S-R-T name on a brush is by no means an indicator of a great brush. While the filaments are quality - the blend of filaments – the various filament lengths – the cut and taper ratios make or break a brushes precision characteristics and what the brush is capable of or best suited for.

Tynex® is a registered trademark of DuPont for its brand of nylon filament. Only DuPont makes Tynex®.

Purdy® Cageless Frame 754009-1

The new Purdy Cageless Roller Frame is 22% lighter than the leading 5-wire roller frame and a damn good frame that does double duty. I am all about using fast and reliable product with multiple advantages. I don't roll rooms in 10 mins or so because I’ve been painting forever – it takes great product too. Purdy first introduced this cageless frame for 1 1/2” cores back in June 2008 and its becoming more and more popular. When the first 1 3/4” cageless frames came out years ago as part of the Purdy PRO-EXTRA Series, I knew a standard nine had to follow.

Nylon-fitted bearings provide smooth rolling, a hexagon spring tension ring ensures roller covers fit securely on the frame and the aluminum-alloy construction is lightweight yet durable.

Purdy replaced the wooded handle found on the original 1 3/4” cageless frames with a nice contoured,  rubberized ribbed comfortable grip if and when you ever need to handle the frame on its own. This is the kind of grip I’d like to see on their extension poles.

Features an integrated six-pin ferrule which securely snaps into a matching receptacle on the QuickFit™ Extension Pole.

The rigid Purdy Cageless Frame is best paired with the QuickFit™ or PRO-EXTRA Extension Poles which both feature a 1-touch, JiffyLoc™ release system allowing users to hot-swap roller-cover frames on the fly, enabling painters to complete entire projects faster than ever before providing the ultimate rolling experience. You can use this frame with any legacy pole but why would you do that?

Mark Eichelberger of Purdy demonstrates attaching a White Dove roller cover to the cageless frame.

 

Purdy PRO-EXTRA Extension Poles 754624

The Purdy PRO-EXTRA JiffyLoc Extension Pole 754624 is sold as a 2’ – 4’ pole but it’s not. Length Closed: 24 3/4” Length Open: 3’ 7” add 3” with the quick-release adapter to be used with the PRO-EXTRA or cageless frames. Weight: 1lb 6.5oz. Heaviest in its class. This pole features square aluminum tubing with 6” incremental adjustments enclosed in a fiberglass casing and a firm bulky rubber grip that will rip up your already dry hands.

The Purdy PRO-EXTRA series extension poles are very rigid and easy to adjust even while rolling without having the roller ever leave the wall! It’s two inches shorter than its competition on legacy frames and a bit heavier.

This photo shows the comfort grip on a Purdy Cageless frame. This is the type of grip I would like to see JiffyLoc’d to the extension poles. Having the option to snap a handle on and off like this would make my day. I think a combination between the 6 prong JiffyLoc system and a male plug would make the handle solid.

TIPS: You can modify this pole like I did and punch-out notches anywhere you want one to adjust locking the length. The pole comes standard with 6” inch slots for adjusting. Also you can cut off the black rubber grip and replace it with bike handle bar grips of your choice. Heat the handle bar grip to get it on and use soapy water. The soapy water will evaporate in time. It’s not easy but can be done and worth it in my opinion. Adding a frame to this pole can easily bring its combined weight to over 2 1/2 lbs. without a loaded roller cover.

iPhone keeps getting better

When I purchased my iPhone for all the features it had over the competition, I never thought the iPhone would get better in time. With all the updates and web apps available – there is not anything I wish this phone would do besides take video which hopefully soon it will in future updates. We already know the phone is capable of video on hacked iPhones and the video looked great!

My iPhone never leaves my side. I use it for everything and its basically my pc away from home. From checking email, to blogging directly from the iPhone to reading and posting on painter forums, to checking things for level - this phone is an amazing addition to my line of work. The iPhone keeps me connected to all things I’m involved in at any moment. I wrote more on the iPhone here.