How to Use a Paintbrush

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

Things You'll Need

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

Instructions

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.