How to Use a Paintbrush

A good brush, well-tended, can be a thing of beauty if it's used for the right job.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flat Paintbrushes
• Angled Paintbrushes
• Paint Thinner
• Paints
• Paint Thinner
• Buckets

1. Use the right brush for the paint: latex (water-based) paints need synthetic brushes, such as nylon or polyester. Alkyd (such as oil-based) paints need natural bristle or polyester. You can use foam brushes with either kind of paint, but these are throwaways, and may not always be right for the job.

2. Start at the top of whatever you're painting and work your way down.

3. Dip the brush no more than halfway into the paint: you'll get all the paint you need, and it will be a lot less likely to dribble off.

4. Use long, even strokes, and try to feather (thin out) all the edges as you go.

5. Paint from dry areas into wet ones - this will minimize paint ridges and humps.

6. Always follow the grain if you're painting wood.

7. When painting detailed work, such as moldings or windows, use only the tip of the brush. Remember that these areas don't require as much paint as a flat surface; the details will catch and hold paint, which may sag or drip when you're not looking.

8. Wipe off the brush from the can, don't tap it, and wipe off only one side.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy the best brush you can afford.
• Clean your brushes well and they'll last for years. For latex paints, use soapy water, rinse and dry. For alkyd, use solvents of whatever kind the manufacturer suggests.
• If you have to set a brush aside for a while (to eat lunch or even overnight) either clean it or wrap in a damp rag, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap. You can even put it in the refrigerator (but never in the freezer).
• Good brushes are contoured on the end, never flat-topped. Use angled brushes for areas of detail, such as the trim or panels in a door. For exteriors, you'll usually need a flat brush (except for details such as windows or trim).
• "Cutting in" is a way of creating a line of one kind of paint (such as semi-gloss) next to another kind of paint (such as flat). For instance, using just the tip, you can slide the brush along a piece of trim where it fits next to a wall surface or another piece of trim.

[jestastic]

on 2/17/2009 fabulous article!

on 8/8/2006 stick brush onto pole for hard to reach places

on 3/8/2006 You can wrap a paintbrush in aluminum foil while you finish lunch, and it will still be wet to finish the job.

on 2/16/2006 I used to pour my paint into a paint pan, which meant I would spend half my time pouring paint from the can to the pan. My fianc and I now have a home renovation business and he's taught me some wonderful things. I used to dread painting. Since working with him, I've grown to have a real passion for it and his tips and lessons have made it a breeze.

1. Even if you're only using one gallon of paint, invest a few bucks on a 5-gallon paint bucket from your local home improvement store.

2. Pour your paint into the bucket and drop in a paint screen you'll also find at the home improvement store. They're also only a few bucks and if cleaned at the end of a paint job, they'll last you for a long time.

3. If you need to quit painting for a while, simply unscrew the roller arm from the extension, drop the roller and nap into the bucket, slip the screen off the side of the bucket into the paint, and pop on the lid - securely! When you go back, simply pull off the lid, hook your screen back on the bucket, grab the roller arm and screw it back onto the extension and you're good to roll!

4. Save your back! Invest about $30 - $40 on a roller extension arm. They come in various lengths and make rolling a room a real snap, especially ceilings.

5. Spend some decent money on a paint brush, clean it when you're done with the job, and slide the dry brush back in the shuck and they'll last longer than most marriages.

6. While you're buying that 5-gallon bucket, be sure to pick up a 1.5 - 2 quart plastic bucket with a handle and plastic lid. That works great for cutting in and you can pop the lid on the bucket at the end of the day and it keeps your paint fresh until you start back again.

7. Cut in around the area you'll be painting before you roll. That's where the good brush really pays off. A good brush will help the paint flow smoothly - especially after it fills up with paint after a few strokes and dips in the bucket.

8. When you're done painting, clean all your tools well and treat them with a certain sort of respect. That way, they'll be there for you for years to come.

9. Speaking of cleaning; search that same home improvement store for a brush and roller spinner. Once you clean your brushes and roller naps, you spin them dry and they're ready to put away until next time.

If the average homeowner or small project tackler invested no more than $50 - $75, they could have themselves quite a set up for any paint project and knock out the dread that is usually associated with such a task.

on 11/22/2005 stick brush onto pole for hard to reach places