Paint brushes

[sandspider]

Morning all

Doing a bit of house painting on to wood yesterday, and it seems that my brushes leave a lot of brush marks - hard to get a decent finish. These are mid range brushes from Toolstation, maybe the odd Aldi set. Are there better brushes I should be looking at, or is it likely to be my paint, my technique / my prep?

I try not to spread the paint too thin, but it seems that the bristles bunch up and leave several distinct gaps with less paint along the brush line. (This is Leyland fast drying undercoat, but I seem to remember similar problems with top coats / gloss in the past)

 

Thanks

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, If you want to get good paint brushes that last and give smooth coats you need a proper shop like Brewers ,something like Hamilton or Harris Trade, Clean after each use, eg, Water base paint, Warm soapy water, Oil based paint , White spirit or Paint thinners, My old school friend, Time served in those days always buys the best brushes and some are many many years old

Edited July 3, 2024 by oldypigeonpopper

[ditchman]

10 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, If you want to get good paint brushes that last and give smooth coats you need a proper shop like Brewers ,something like Hamilton or Harris Trade, Clean after each use, eg, Water base paint, Warm soapy water, Oil based paint , White spirit or Paint thinners, My old school friend, Time served in those days always buys the best brushes and some are many many years old

this.....buy the best(expensive) you can afford...and what is said above ..look after them

[oldypigeonpopper]

3 minutes ago, ditchman said:

this.....buy the best(expensive) you can afford...and what is said above ..look after them

Hello, I have some years old to but nothing like the condition my school friends are

[sandspider]

Cheers. None of that sort of shop round my way, maybe something in Bristol...

I do look after my brushes, but even when new, they don't seem to leave a good finish. Maybe it is me!

[oldypigeonpopper]

5 minutes ago, sandspider said:

Cheers. None of that sort of shop round my way, maybe something in Bristol...

I do look after my brushes, but even when new, they don't seem to leave a good finish. Maybe it is me!

Hello, New brushes need a good clean to get rid of the making process , keep brushes separate if oil or water based, thoroughly dry, There is a Brewers in Bristol

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I NEVER use new brushes on top coats.

I break them in on under coating/sealing work.

I keep them scrupulously clean and dry.

If in between coats I wrap in clingfilm to keep wet and to save on cleaning and drying.

Oh and store the brushes upside down in an old tin.

[Yellow Bear]

40 minutes ago, sandspider said:

Cheers. None of that sort of shop round my way, maybe something in Bristol...

I do look after my brushes, but even when new, they don't seem to leave a good finish. Maybe it is me!

Crown decorating centre in Fishponds.

[oldypigeonpopper]

27 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

I NEVER use new brushes on top coats.

I break them in on under coating/sealing work.

I keep them scrupulously clean and dry.

If in between coats I wrap in clingfilm to keep wet and to save on cleaning and drying.

Oh and store the brushes upside down in an old tin.

Hello, Yep all of the above me to 😀 not that i do much painting now👍

Edited July 3, 2024 by oldypigeonpopper

[wisdom]

Totally agree about the advice over brushes.I also stopped using DIY centre paints and started going to a paint and decorator supply shop the difference in paint and its finish is amazing.

Never go anywhere else now.

[ditchman]

when my hair brushes are clean....now and agin i soak them in hair conditioner for a couple of hours

[sandspider]

Cheers chaps.

I don't have enough hair to need hair brushes, I'm talking paint brushes! 😉

[Dougy]

On 03/07/2024 at 12:44, ditchman said:

when my hair brushes are clean....now and agin i soak them in hair conditioner for a couple of hours

Or soft rinse 👍

I just bought a bumper pack of cheapo for exterior walls and the post and rail fencing ive just put up, but for posh work pure bristle. 

[mel b3]

I used the same set of brushes for years , and would clean them meticulously,  after every use. One day someone borrowed them , after agreeing to look after them , exactly how I'd explained.  So the fool ruined them within 24 hours , and I really couldn't be bothered running in a new set .

These days , I use those horrible cheap brushes. I run them in on my bench sander (it only takes two minutes). Then wrap them tightly in a freezer bag between coats , and throw them in the bin when I've finished the job .