One of the best Purdy brushes for smooth surfaces is the NYLOX. The Nylox is known for giving the smoothest finish and comes in an angled or flat brush. It also comes in different sizes depending on the coverage you need for your project.
The best paint brush for a smooth finish is the Purdy Nylox Glide brush. It has super soft bristles that do not leave brush marks. It's perfect to use with latex paint. Projects that are perfect for this paint brush include painting cabinets, trim, furniture and doors.
A quality roller will leave a smooth finish with no fibre residue and can complete your project faster. But keep in mind, you still need to cut in around the ceilings, floors and hard to reach areas that a roller cover can't reach. That's where brushes can be your best friend.
Use a Quality Brush or Roller: A high-quality synthetic brush or a foam roller can help achieve a smooth finish. For flat surfaces, a foam roller is preferable. Apply Thin Coats: Use thin, even coats of paint to avoid drips and ensure smoothness. Multiple thin coats are better than one thick coat.
The two best paint rollers for a smooth finish is a High Density Foam Roller with a Rounded Edge and a Lint Free Low Nap Roller, but I will say that even though both of these are good rollers one wins the prize for the smoothest finish.
SAND IN BETWEEN COATS
Sanding in between paint coats will smooth out any imperfections like dirt or loose fluff that may have stuck to the paint as it dried. It will also even out any brushstrokes/roller marks. But not with any sandpaper...you want a superfine sanding pad.
White China—These natural bristle brushes are best used with oil-based paints, especially enamels and varnishes. Ideal for woodwork, enamels, or marine applications, White China bristles virtually eliminate brush marks.
The way you apply the paint to your surface will help determine the finish. For a smoother, hand painted finish, use long, light strokes and ensure that you DON'T overload your brush. Just dip the tip of your brush in the paint.
There are a few ways to fix paint brush strokes. You can use a thinner to make the paint flow more smoothly. Use a liner brush and clean up the edges of your stroke. Also, you can use a dry brush or another type of brush with a smaller tip to blend in your strokes.
Eggshell finish, perennially popular with professional and DIY painters alike, has a low-sheen reminiscent of flat or matte, but it is infinitely more durable than its namesake.
Professional painters typically use both brushes and rollers when painting. Brushes are used to apply paint in tight spaces or areas with intricate details, while rollers are used for larger surfaces like walls and ceilings.
Foam Brushes.
Their greatest selling point is they are inexpensive. But when it comes to applying a smooth coat of clear finish, such as polyurethane, a foam brush is not my first choice. Instead of bristles, it has a blade. The blunt sides leave two parallel ridges of finish, like a snowplow on the highway.
The porous surface of the roller holds much more paint than a brush and distributes an even layer of paint much faster. Different finishes can be achieved with different rollers: Rollers with a smooth surface will produce a smooth finish. Rollers with a thick or fluffy surface will create a more textured finish.
Dry time is important because if you recoat before the recommended time, the finish might become texturized and bumpy. Most paint will require a minimum of 15-30 days to fully cure and become scratch resistant. If you touch or move the surface before it's fully cured then you might scratch, smudge, or ruin the finish.
Or, you can use additives like Floetrol or Penetrol to extend the open time without sacrificing durability. Meaning, these additives specifically help with greatly reducing the brush and roller marks.
Paint additives seem like an extravagance, but many products like Floetrol and Penetrol slew down the drying process, which makes the final product thinner and smoother. Thinner paint lays down better than thicker paint and helps hide brush marks. Thick paint looks, well, gloppy, and lumpy.
By painting with a very light touch, you can create a smooth, flat finish with ease. If you're finding the paint a little thick, dilute it with water to help it go on even more smoothly. You can also sand lightly when done, too. After painting, seal indoor furniture with Chalk Paint™ Wax.
If you're painting a smooth surface, use a White China Bristle for a super-smooth finish. When painting a textured surface, a Black China Bristle will work best because it's slightly stiffer, more durable, and is excellent for high-productivity applications.
Don't Overwork the Paint.
If you go back and forth over the paint, brushstrokes will almost certainly occur. Rather, THINK THIN. Instead of using globs of paint, apply multiple thin coats. Also, brushing (or rolling) from one end to the other of your piece will avoid starting and stopping strokes.
Opt for Purdy's White Bristle brushes to provide an extremely smooth finish and top-of-the-line results onen woodwork, furniture, or marine surfaces. White Bristle Brushes are designed for use with oil-based paints, stains, and clears.
Traditionally professional decorators would use a natural bristle brush for gloss paints, however as we have mentioned good quality synthetic brushes are just as effective and much cheaper today.
Walls, Wood, and Metal - Small 1/4″ roller covers or foam rollers will produce the smoothest finish. Light to Medium Textured Surfaces - Microfiber rollers are best. Smooth Surfaces - Use a white woven short nap roller for an ultra fine finish.