How to choose a Brush?

If we investigate the history of humanity and its connection with painting, it is probably possible to go back to the beginning to find how the techniques that began with the use of natural dyes, printed on rock walls, have been changing until today, where we find the most diverse types of paintings and applicators. In a recent article, we discussed modern spray guns, their features and how to choose the most suitable one depending on the job to be done. The truth is that, for certain jobs and because of its ease of use, the brush is the most suitable tool, therefore, below we will develop some general considerations that will allow us to get to know it and prepare ourselves for the next articles where we will delve into how choose or which one to buy depending on the work to be done.

To begin with, we will describe below the parts that make up a brush or paint brush.

Handle of the Brush or Brush

It is the point of grip, the anchoring with the hand, therefore, among the most important considerations is the ergonomics. That is, how comfortable it is at the time of use. An inappropriate design would make the Brush it becomes uncomfortable, difficult to maneuver and therefore makes the task difficult. In contrast, a well-designed handle allows the hand and the Brush they are almost like a single body, therefore, the task will tend to be easier, better precision will be achieved and that will eventually result in a better job. In addition, painting days are usually intense, it is essential to work comfortably.

As for the components of brush handleThey are mostly available in wood or plastic. Actually, the most important thing, as we said, is ergonomics and grip. In the particular case of wood, it is essential that it be of a quality such that it does not arch or change its shape, for example, when exposed to water or humidity.

Lastly, some manufacturers have decided to incorporate a hole or hole in the brush handle, which is very useful for transporting it, hanging it, when drying the brush, or even to keep it identified, for example, assigning a colored ribbon that identifies it and links it to a certain task.

Ferrule or cap of the Brush or Brush

The function of brush ferrule, is to keep the bristles attached to mango. That is to say, it is a fundamental piece. Formerly the brush caps were made of some flexible wood, such as bamboo, however, little by little they were replaced by materials such as sheet metal, copper, rubber or, what is even better, stainless steel. Although the advantage of a material that resists oxidation and corrosion is obvious, since it is a somewhat more expensive material, not all manufacturers include it. It is very common to find inferior quality materials on the market.

Ferrule Nails – Parts of the Brush

Now, there is a detail on which we propose to pay special attention, it is that we have seen on several occasions that, despite the fact that the ferrule is made of INOX, the nails that hold it firm in the handle are not. This seems like a detail, but it is not so if we consider that, if the nail fails, the Brush it may completely lose its usefulness. So, keep this point in mind when choosing the brush!

And since we are in the details, we have seen in some cases an idea that can be very useful for those who go deep into the details. It is that when choosing the brush, the measure is fundamental, of course that «by eye» one can know more or less what the measure is, in any case and not to fail, we have seen some models that incorporate in the ferrule the measure of Brush. In this way, it is easier to maintain order at work.

Bristles or hair of the Brush or Brush

Here we come across an issue of fundamental importance, since, although all the elements that make up the Brush or brush are important, none are as important as the bristles or hair. A stainless steel ferrule, or a comfortable handle, is of no use if we later find that the bristles do not fulfill the function. In general, we find models of brushes with natural bristles, mixed (eg a proportion of natural bristles and the rest synthetic) or completely synthetic. In addition, the density of the bristles is a key factor when choosing.

Each of these factors has its advantages and disadvantages. Logically, it always depends on the work to be done and the budget available. We will cover this topic in depth in a future article.

Some recommendations that we must always keep in mind to give the brush a longer useful life:

• When using latex-type paints, wash the brush with warm soapy water immediately after finishing the job.
• For oil-based paints, clean the brush first with the paint manufacturer’s recommended solvent or thinner, then wash with warm, soapy water immediately after use.
• Do not let the brush soak for long periods of time.
• For best results and longer brush life, comb the bristles when they are dry.