Types of Coating: Oil-Based 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.
To eliminate brush strokes in oil painting, use a soft-bristled brush or a palette knife to smooth the paint. Another technique is to use a medium like linseed oil or a slow-drying medium to make the paint more workable. Apply thin layers of paint, and blend as you go.
Natural Brushes
The classic brushes for oil painting are made from pig hair (hog bristle brushes). Some common types are filbert, flat, round, bright and fan brushes. Filbert: Filbert paintbrush is extremely versatile and fits almost any painting style.
No, it's not recommended to use the same brush for both latex (water-based) and oil-based paints. Here are some reasons why: Material Compatibility: Brushes designed for latex paint typically have synthetic bristles, which are better suited for water-based products.
What you plan to paint with will determine what kind of brush you need. Natural bristle brushes were designed to work best with oil-based paints. Synthetic bristle brushes are for water-based paints. It's a matter of how the bristles are able to hold onto and release the paint.
If you're using oil, natural hog hair brushes are a good choice. They are naturally stiff and each bristle is split into two or three at the tip. These splits are called flags and they allow the brush to hold on to more paint and apply it evenly.
Brush Care
Avoid dipping a dry brush into oil paint. For natural hair brushes, first, dip the brush into painting medium. This distributes the natural oils of the brush hairs and allows each hair to load properly with paint. Different levels of the painting require different types of brush hair.
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.
Painting with an oil based paint over latex is OK but doing the reverse will cause you grief for many years to come since any further coats of paints applied will stick to the latex only.
Acrylic brushes can be used for oil painting but oil painting brushes should not be used for painting in acrylic. The number on the brush lets you know the width of the bristles. The brush should be labeled with the brand and the type of bristles.
Soft Nylon & Polyester—Use this type of bristle for all paints, especially semi-gloss and satin finishes. They provide extra flex for smooth application, leave few brush marks, and have an excellent paint capacity.
Mixed roller sleeves use a combination of synthetic and natural materials. They are best used with oil-based paints, such as gloss. Natural roller sleeves can be made of materials such as lamb's wool and mohair. They are suitable for use with any type of paint.
Natural brushes are a favorite among oil painters, as they offer a lot of control and spring. Hog bristle brushes are the most commonly used natural brushes for blending. They are durable, stiff, and hold their shape well, making them a great choice for blending and working with thicker paints.
Natural bristle is the best choice for oil-based paints, varnishes, shellac, alkyd enamels, oil stains and oil-based polyurethanes. The highest quality bristles come from mainland China. Experienced, traditional painters will say there's nothing like the finish that a China bristle can provide for oil-based coatings.
Inconsistency in coverage is indeed a chief cause of paint streaks. This typically occurs when the amount of paint loaded onto your brush or roller varies with each application. Each time you dip your tool into the paint, try to ensure you're picking up roughly the same amount of paint. Consistency is key here.
Brush marks are caused by strokes that leave the paint with a rough texture and visible brush strokes. The rough texture and visible brush strokes can be easily covered in a second coat of paint by using a slightly different technique than you used for your first coat.
Oil-based paints also offer a smoother finish than latex paints due to their slow drying times; this allows for a more even coat of paint on your walls without any visible brushstrokes or unevenness in the coverage area. There are some downsides to using oil-based paints as well. One disadvantage is their strong odor.
The glossy surface of oil-based paints makes it so difficult for any other paint to bond. That's why, if you apply water-based paint straight to oil-based, it will flake and crack as the water-based paint pulls away. So, to get oil-based ready to paint over, you need to take away a lot of that gloss.
Purdy brushes are ideal for projects requiring a fine finish, such as cabinets and trim. Wooster brushes are best suited for large areas and rough surfaces where speed and paint pick-up are critical.
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.
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.
If you work in oil, clean the brush in a brush-cleaner, which is a small receptacle with a tight-fitting lid and a wire coil in its bottom. The receptacle should be half-filled with turpentine, mineral spirits, or another solvent designed for use with oils. Gently rub the brush hairs on the coil.
Before painting
With your brush, soak it in an inch of water for 10 minutes. Ensure you shake out excess moisture from both your brush and roller as you don't want any drip marks on your surface.