A Bad workman always blames his tools!
The four elements of a paintbrush
A = Handle - traditionally beech, ash or Elm, Nowadays just cheap nonsense made for maximum profits
B = Stock - to fix the handle to the filling, traditionally copper, then nickel, then polished steel, now whatever is cheap and more profitable.
C = Setting - the adhesive used to bond the filling in place, traditionally. Vulcanised rubber, now more often a profitable epoxy resin.
D= Filling - traditionally natural bristles, now man made profitable nylon or polyester.
Sadly, yet another example of what really drives so called 'progress' these days 🤔
An impression of a single bristle showing the barbs along it's length, wich carry the paint to the 'split ends' of the bristle tip where the finer finishing strokes are carried out to I imise the risk of brushmarks in your finish.
In our opinion, based on decades of experience, Pure bristle brushes are
far superior!
Today's world is sadly just capitalistic and false, even paint brushes today are. Pure bristle brushes are made from natural fibres, predominantly pig, hog, boar, sable, squirrell and even badger. (Don't get worried, no animals are ever hurt!)
Today we now see the majority of paintbrushes made using synthetic fillings, and there is a vast difference in performances between these two options:
Each individual pure bristle contains natural barbs along it's length which helps to move the paint to the ends of the bristle, and that's where it's needed!
Synthetic fillings are today made from nylon and polyester which are springy, soft and 'spongey' and in our opoinìon are no good for oil based paint systems, but are OK for use with water based paints, but who really wants inferior water based finishes?
Even on walling, with no natural (nor synthetic) barbs, if you are cutting in to a ceiling line your hands, wrists, arms and even armpits often get painted!
Natural bristles also have every lady's nightmare: naturally split ends which gives a much finer bristle tip for the finish strokes, known as laying off, and this minimises the risk of brushmarks in the dried paint film.
Now, people really do need to be under no illusions here: it is very possible to create a 'mirror' gloss using oil based paints applied by pure bristle brushes, but that takes a lot of practice and skill, so don't start thinking that you are going to be an amazing Decorator tomorrow, just because you bought a bristle brush today - despite a ridiculously huge number of people today thinking that Decorating is easy, the simple truth of Decorating is that it is a real Craft, which takes years, sometimes decades, to perfect.
What is pure bristle?
Pure bristle brushes are crafted from natural animal hair, offering superior paint retention and release. This results in fewer brushstrokes and a more consistent finish. Their natural flexibility allows for better control on uneven or textured surfaces, making them ideal for the unique challenges of old buildings.
Your brushes need to be taken care of
Remembering. That hou are dealing with natural hair, in order to prolong the life of your pure bristle brushes, proper cleaning and care are essential. After each use, thoroughly clean the brush with appropriate solvents, ensuring all paint residue is removed, then the solvent must be cleaned out fully which is where a liquid soap is required, and ideally followed up with a conditioner. Store brushes flat or hanging with the handle facing upwards to maintain the brushes shape and prevent damage to the bristles. Regular care will ensure consistent performance and longevity.
The image above shows phosphor bronze brushes which are useful for 'combing' any dried paint from the bristles, wgere they going the Ferrous of the brush, these brushes are a softer metal than a conventional wire brush and are therefore less damaging to your beautiful natural bristles paint brushes, but don't go thinking you have to 'comb"
' your brushes after every use, you only need to do this when it is obviously needed.
