Natural Hair Brushes
The natural
hair in natural hair-brushes usually comes from Chinese (sometimes called
Chinese brushes) hogs or from badgers. Natural hair paintbrushes work best with
oil-based paints, although this means they need to be cleaned with paint
thinner.
Synthetic Hair
Brushes
Synthetic
hair means the bristles are made from polyester or nylon. They’re much rougher
than natural hair paint brushes. These
brushes are used with latex paints.
Natural fibers work best with
oil-based paint, while synthetic bristles perform well with latex paint.
Most
paint is now latex; you asked for a gallon of paint they would automatically
give you latex paint. Oil-based paint used to be the norm and higher quality
but because of EPA standards and technology latex paint is better for the
environment and higher quality.
Foam Brushes
Foam brushes are well suited
to intricate work such as painting molding or window casings. I use foam
brushes exclusively for oils and stains. These brushes are normally good only
for one use, as they're hard to clean and easy to tear.
Rollers
Rollers are great for large
surfaces, such as wall painting. However, they are also great for small areas
like furniture because they don’t show brush strokes. They have a shorter lifespan
versus brushes but the top layer dries quickly and makes it a better option.
Cleaning Brushes:
Cleaning your paint brushes
immediately after use is the smart course of action.
For water based paint (latex),
first, remove any excess paint that is still on the brush by wiping it on a old
rag. Then, run cool or slightly warm water over the brush until the water
dripping from the brush is clear. Gently press the brush bristles against the
side of the sink or other hard surface to remove excess water. Allow the brush
to dry.
For latex paint put some soap in a bucket of water and then
clean the brush in that bucket. (Please avoid washing the paint down your sink
if you have a septic system. The chemicals in the paint can really do some
damage to your system and could get absorbed into groundwater, contaminating
your well.)
If you have waited until the paint has dried fully before
you clean your brushes, you will need to use a special solvent that was
formulated to remove latex paint. A painter mentioned recently that he uses
rubbing alcohol to clean up dried latex paint - this might be something you can
try in a pinch.
Oil based paint simply will not
wash out with water no matter how hard you try. It is basic science – oil and
water don’t mix and the oil just repels the water. You will have to use a
chemical based product, such as paint thinner, to clean your brushes. Make sure
you wear protective gloves and have plenty of ventilation before you start as
the fumes can be very toxic in a confined space.
You will need a metal
container, such as an old coffee can, the paint thinner or other solvent and a
rag. Put a few inches of paint thinner in the coffee can, dip the brush in and
move it around a bit to make sure the thinner removes the paint. Make sure you
get rid of any solvent on the brush before you pull it out of the container.
