Paint brushes: overview, features, types and recommendations

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Repair is a long and very troublesome business, and moreover, it is costly. Today, the choice of materials in hardware stores is huge, which means that the scope for imagination has no limits. Despite this, the paint never loses its relevance. Radiator batteries and pipes, wall panels - all this requires annual renewal. Therefore, you will have to be a little painter as well. To get the job done quickly and efficiently, you need good paint brushes. And, of course, you need to decide on the material. It can be varnish or enamel.

Products for the painter

It can be difficult for the layman to imagine how many there really are. Paint brushes differ not only in size. And if until now you have used the only one to perform all types of work, then after reading the material everything will change. So:

• Machive (KM) - huge and fluffy, made of natural fiber with the addition of synthetics. I have a round shape and are widely used on large surfaces and for whitewashing. The diameter is about 60 cm, and the length of the hairs reaches 180 mm. They tolerate contact with any solvents, perfectly withstand temperature changes and are not afraid of hot water.
• Maklovitsy(KMA) - they are often used to paint the floor. These are wide, rectangular paint brushes based on natural horsehair and nylon. This allows the coating layer to be evenly applied. Hair length 100 mm, used for applying adhesive or casein material.
• Handbrake (KR). Small and round, they are great for covering windows or pipes. Consist of pure bristles and horsehair. The middle is empty so that paint can accumulate.
• Panelled - very reminiscent of the paint brushes that we used in childhood, in drawing lessons. Diameter 6-8 mm, they are used to outline contours.
• Radiators.
• Paint Flat (KF) - wide and flat, made of nylon and badger hair, it is used to eliminate smudges.
• Synthetic flat (KP) - artificial. Inexpensive and functional, it is perfect as an assistant in repairs. They ideally apply formulations diluted with water. Universal option to paint any surface, and sizes can be customized.

Using different piles

Synthetics, at first glance, this is an ideal option. It is cheap, works great on any surface, wear-resistant. In fact, painters know that quite a lot depends on the material chosen. Bristles made of natural materials absorb the composition well and evenly distribute it over the surface. It is slightly rough to the touch. But on some surfaces, it will leave lint, and the brush wears out quickly.

Synthetic paint tools are made from polymers and are thin. They are excellent for applying water-intensive paints, since such hairs do not absorb the material. This is also justified in terms of economy.

What do you need to know?

Quality brushes have a number of properties, but the main functional element is the pile. The longer its length, the more composition the tool will absorb. Therefore, the less often you will need to dip it in the jar. The hairs are not always straight, which allows for even better absorption and even surface treatment.

Not only the length is important, but also the elasticity of the hairs. If they are not flexible enough, then a large amount of material will remain on the pile. Another rule - the larger the surface area, the more voluminous the brush is. For ceilings and walls, wide, rectangular specimens are needed, and for tables and windows, small ones with various handles.

So the same and different

At first glance, it is very difficult to choose the best paint brushes. What are, we have listed, but it did not become easier from this. But a professional consultant will certainly help. Today, for each type of work there is a special tool. There are kits for working with synthetic resin lacquer, for painting with liquid wax or working with water-based compositions.

The main recommendations regarding the choice of brush are as follows. You need to be attached to that material,with whom you will be working. Later, among the varieties with the desired pile, you will select those that fit in size. If you plan to do varnishing, then it is better to purchase a tool not with synthetic, but with natural hairs. It will be ideal for formulations that include a solvent. The secret is that these hairs have a porous structure and can absorb much more composition.

If you have to work with water-based compounds, then natural pile, on the contrary, is not recommended here. It will lose its shape after the first application. Synthetics absorb less paint, but manufacturers are doing everything to bring its functionality closer to natural.

How to wash the brush from the paint?

After you have finished the work, you need to take care of the used tools. Someone thinks that they just need to be thrown away. But this is too wasteful. Much better to wash and save them. To do this, carefully wipe the brush on a paper or cloth towel. The more compound you can remove, the better the laundering process will be.

The second step is to use a solvent. Do not forget that the choice should be made in accordance with the characteristics of the composition used.

• Brushes for acrylic, watercolor and latex paints, that is, all that are produced on a water basis, are perfectly washed with ordinary water. The only rule is that they must not be allowed to dry out.
• White spirit allows you to cope with oil formulations.
• Denatured alcohol suitable for shellac.

The third step is to rinse again in water and pat dry with a towel.

For interior decoration and as a hobby

They are not always used only to cover the panel with an even layer. If you want to decorate your room with a bright image, then you need to choose the right paint brushes. The nylon tool is the best solution for artists who prefer acrylic. It is synthetic and comes in a huge variety of shapes and sizes. The main advantages are:

• Elasticity - the material from which the bristles are made does not break and is very flexible. This allows you to apply smooth and clear strokes. It is very convenient and perfect even for a beginner.
• Strength - if you take a brush made of natural bristles, you will quickly understand what the problem is. Painting and coating surfaces with acrylic involves the need to immerse the instrument in water. Therefore, the pile deteriorates and falls out. But the artificial one continues to serve.
• Easy to clean - nylon tools are very easy to clean from acrylic, which dries and crumbles. But a brush with natural bristles has a porous structure and is much more difficult to clean.

Rich choice

But which brushes for acrylic paints to choose for a particular job, you will have to decide directly on the spot. Flat, synthetic tools allow you to apply wide strokes due to the thick andlong pile. Round - used for painting and painting. Oval synthetic are more often used in painting. They are close to flat in functionality, but change line thickness more easily. Contour brushes are flat, with short bristles. They are needed for applying small details and drawing.

Brushes for oil paints

The main requirement for them is increased rigidity, which is due to the specifics of working with oil. A kolinsky pile tool is considered the best choice. The cost of kolinsky brushes is the highest of all, but the costs are offset by high performance properties. It is made from natural materials and pile. As a result, the brushes listen well, with their help you can not only apply an even layer, but also make a pattern or pattern. Unfortunately, the product from the column is very delicate. Even portrait painters note that it can not be used on all canvases. Flax, for example, will very quickly erase its delicate villi. Therefore, when carrying out repairs, most often combined brushes made of natural and synthetic bristles are used for oil paint.

Instead of a conclusion

As you can see, the choice is not as simple as it might seem. You will have to take into account the nature of the work to be done, its scale, as well as the coverage that needs to be updated. The material chosen as a coating will also play an important role. Therefore, first think over all the details, and then go to the store. Then success in a difficult task will definitely be ensured for you.