Replies

1. 
   AaronRosenthal | Nov 04, 2007 09:45am | #1

   Well, I admit, I'm stumped.
   I use Woosters and Purdys in preference to all others, and I never have the problems you are describing.
   I wash the brushes reasonably often and spin them damp-dry. Use a brush comb. Lightly sand-sponge the bristles on the outside as you're washing.
   You ARE using the correct type of brush for the paint, are you?

   Quality repairs for your home.

   AaronR Construction
   Vancouver, Canada

    

2. 
   Hiker | Nov 04, 2007 06:08pm | #2

   We use both Purdy and Wooster with the Nylox, Syntox, or Tynex bristles.  Very good results.  Also important to buy high quality paint and in my opinion that paint is not at the home centers.  I prefer Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore.

   Bruce

   
   

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   Edited 11/4/2007 10:09 am by Hiker

3. 
   peteduffy | Nov 04, 2007 06:15pm | #3

   I really like the Purdy brushes.  Keep in mind that there are different types, i.e. different density of bristles.

   Use the synthetic brushes for latex, and natural hair brushes for oils.  If you use natrual bristles with latex, they will suck up all the water out of the latex, and get gummy, like you describe.

   Before painting, wet the bristles with the appropriate paint solvent (water for latex, mineral spirits for oils) and shake it out real well.

   Dip the brush in the paint, then tap it against the inside of the container.  Don't drag the brush over the can lip.  That just effectively paints the can lid.

   If the paint starts to dry up near the ferrule, then stop and rinse out the brush.  This usually happens with quick drying paints or primers, like Zinsser 1-2-3.

   Keep the brushes really clean, and wrap them in paper towel or craft paper to dry and retain original shape.

   But what I would really guess to be the problem here is cheap paint.  Try a high-quality paint, like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Pratt & Lambert, Muralo etc.  Once you try a good paint with a good brush, you'll never use Behr or Glidden ever agian.  Good piant goes on better, lasts longer, and is more durable.  It might be 2x the cost or more, but IMHO, it's worth it.

   One of the best things I've ever done is walk into a real paint store and ask them for their best brush and some really good paint.

   Pete Duffy, Handyman

1. 
   tcseacliff | Nov 05, 2007 03:10am | #6

   well that was my original thought that lowes and home depot don't always have the best, but that does not guarantee that a paint store wont just sell you an expensive brush. I do agree, cheap paint is the worst,my last bad expeience was glidden,wow,what a chore, nver again. so far the valspar is great. dries nice, no odor and does clean up vey nice. even their pimer is pretty good. doesn't hide like zinnser but that also cleans up nice, i was just hoping to get knowlege on good brushes, but since the purdy and wooster get pretty good marks from folks I feel better. tahnks for the info.

4. 
   DonCanDo | Nov 04, 2007 06:32pm | #4

   I use a variety of different brushes depending on what I'm painting.  I don't think you'll get a simple answer to your question because brush choice can be very subjective and depends on the surface, the paint and technique.  You can go to a "real" paint store and ask for their best brush (which will also be their most expensive) and wind up with the very same brush you can buy at the big box.

   I like the Purdy brushes, but they are just a little soft so I use them mostly for trim where I don't want to see brush marks in a glossy finish.  Elder & Jenks makes some very good brushes in their "Ultra" line and I find them to be slightly more of an all-purpose brush.  E&J also makes a brush called GenX which cleans up easier than any other brush I've used.  Paint slides easily off the bristles which makes cutting in easy, but it also lets paint build up by the ferrule.  For this reason, I don't use these brushes for ceilings.

   I rarely stop in the middle of a paint job to clean a brush.  If a brush gets unusable (which would only happen on a very hot, dry day), I'll get out another brush.  When I get home, my brushes get cleaned.  I suspect there's something different in your technique, rather than the brush itself, that's causing issues for you.

   For cleaning brushes, I use lots of warm water, soap, a little denatured alcohol and a stiff scrub brush.  It takes me at least 5 minutes per brush, but I take my brushes and the cleaning thereof very seriously.  I've been using some of the same brushes for years and I do a lot of painting.

1. 
   tcseacliff | Nov 05, 2007 02:50am | #5

   thanks for all the replies. I suspect my problems are part my technique,and some paint issues. the paint I am using is valspar. I really like it . hardly any VOC's, but I does dry fast,which probably is adding to my percieved stickyness.I like the purdy for  trim,and my wooster for my doors and such. and I think I am having all the problems all painters have,they just learn how to work around it. they are made for latex an I have been cleaning them as described by you guys. one thing i do notice ,if you paint too slow , you roller will pull paint off the pan and then you wil lhave skin in the aint.

1. 
   Jeff_Clarke | Nov 19, 2007 05:09am | #8

   Try E & J - they make fine brushes .... especially Generation X and Y.   (E & J = Elder & Jenks - owned by Muralo I think).  Try their oval profile brushes.

   Cleaning tip - buy one of those Dawn battery-powered brushes - http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(nzsg4eint5onboqcnchc4345)/LargeImage.aspx?SKU=998005682&Image=998005682_090107_ANKV.jpg Ace Hardware has them - makes cleaning brushes a snap.

    

   Jeff

5. 
   jvl | Nov 14, 2007 04:27am | #7

   if its a water based paint wash a few times in water and take maybe 2 tablespoons of laquer thinner and work it into the brush rinse again use another treatment of laquer rinse again ,then rinse with water laquer thinner is expensive but you dont use that much will last for a longtime.try some fagric softner afterwards.purdy brushes are overated,used linzer but hard to find.

6. 
   Piffin | Nov 19, 2007 02:17pm | #9

   Purdy and Wooster are the best I know of.

   Are you using chinese bristle or polyester bristle? The later is for latex.
   The real bristle brushes ahve porous bristles and are for oil only

    

    

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