03.12.2015 15:54
Paint brushes are one of the simplest, most affordable and popular tools for applying paints, varnishes, whitewash on various surfaces. Any brush usually consists of two parts: a handle (plastic or wooden) and bristles. At the same time, the bristles can be made both from natural materials and from polymer pile created using chemical technologies.
The modern assortment of brushes is extremely diverse. Natural bristles, which are used in paint brushes, perfectly hold and distribute paint and varnish compositions over the surface. Polymer bristles distribute paint over the surface somewhat worse and are more suitable for water-based emulsion formulations, but at the same time, polymer bristles are much better fixed and the likelihood of hairs on the painted surface is minimal.
Flutes (flat)
Flute brushes are a common, familiar to everyone, flat brush. Designed for applying various primers, enamels, varnishes on flat surfaces, pipes and other products. Professionals use flutes to post-finish freshly painted surfaces after the main paint job has been done with a coarser brush. A flat brush allows you to get the perfect coverage.
Flat brushes are presented in a wide range of widths and thicknesses. The larger the painting area, the wider the brush must be selected. When painting various products that have a complex shape or consist of many elements, it is quite convenient to use several brushes of various sizes. The main advantage of flute brushes is their low cost, huge range, ease of use.
Radiator brushes are used for painting radiators in heating systems. The handles of these brushes have a precisely defined angle of inclination, which makes them incredibly convenient for painting remote and hard-to-reach surfaces. Otherwise, radiator brushes are similar to ordinary flat brushes: their bristles are made of natural bristles, which perfectly “hold” the coloring solution and ensure high-quality distribution.
Paneled brushes are designed for painting on small surfaces. Such brushes help to apply decorative patterns, thin strips of paint, paint over the joints of two different shades, and also draw the boundaries of the separation of colors or textures. It is also worth noting that a flat paneled brush is used with a paint ruler to apply clear lines 6-18 mm in size.
Paneled brushes have a small feature in their work: if you set too much paint on the bristles, such a brush can leave streaks. Therefore, each master must clearly monitor the amount of paint that captures the brush. Otherwise, these brushes have excellent characteristics, which are explained by the use of natural bristles, which perfectly hold the paint and evenly distribute it over the surface.
Maklovits are designed for work on large areas, such as ceilings, walls, floors. Such a tool is also used to perform work that does not require high aesthetic qualities, for example, priming surfaces, applying wallpaper paste, whitewashing, and the like.
Among the features and main characteristics of such brushes, it is worth highlighting the following:
- the shape of the brush can be rectangular or rounded;
- Maclovits have long handles, which makes it easier to work from a stepladder.
Fly brushes (round)
Rounded fly brushes are indispensable for painting walls, ceilings and other large surfaces. Such brushes are mounted on a long stick (telescopic rod) during operation, which allows you to quickly process large areas of the surface to be painted.
Fly brushes are made in the form of a large bundle of natural bristles, sometimes with the addition of artificial polymer fibers. The large size of the brush allows you to apply large strokes and shade the paint by moving the end surface of the beam. The main feature of such a brush is a pyramidal mount, which prevents the bristle bundle from rotating during operation. When choosing such a brush, it is necessary to take into account the length of the bristles, which often does not exceed 10 cm. The beam diameter can be from 5.5 to 8 cm.
Bast brushes are designed for preparatory work and whitewashing. With the help of such a brush, it is very convenient to wash whitewash, wash walls and ceilings before painting.
Bast brushes are made from linden bark, for which it is cleaned of knots and soaked in containers without air penetration. After that, the fibers are divided into thin identical strips and wound into a brush. Such a wicker product is very comfortable and holds solution or water well. The master in the process of work only has to monitor the volume of the collected solution, since its excess will form a lot of streaks.
Oval brushes are often classified as professional. They are made from natural bristles and have a rounded tuft that allows you to apply strokes in two directions. Such a brush is a versatile tool that combines 2 sizes at once for painting large surfaces and narrow places.
Oval brushes are made in an approximate ratio of 1:2. For example, the most common size is 50 * 25 mm, which allows you to replace 2 flat brushes with the corresponding width of the working part. Natural bristles perfectly absorb the paint and guarantee its uniform distribution over the surface. A variation of the oval brush is the ellipse brush, which is larger and works on larger surfaces.
Round brushes (handbrake)
Round brushes or handbrake brushes are used for painting or priming surfaces. Such brushes provide a large intake of paint and at the same time avoid unnecessary streaks, which makes this tool quite economical and convenient. Round brushes are suitable for working on flat surfaces.
Handrails are made from natural bristles, which makes it possible to work with any type of varnish or paint. When choosing such a brush, you only need to focus on the size, which is determined by the area of the surface to be painted and the presence of bottlenecks on it.
Flat brushes (rakli)
Flat brushes (squeegees) should be chosen if necessary to apply an impregnating composition, primer or paint to a significant surface area.
The main feature of the doctor blade brush is a large internal space that can hold a significant amount of paint, which is then perfectly distributed over the surface. The design of the doctor blade prevents the formation of splashes in the work, so this brush allows you to get a perfectly smooth surface. Brushes of this type are produced from natural or artificial bristles and can be selected according to the width of the working part.
In this age of high technology, the production of such a simple thing as a brush seems to be a simple matter. However, creating a quality art brush is quite a serious job. Three centuries ago, artists had to make their own brushes, and only then did artisans appear who began to produce these tools for artists.
Today, the brush production process combines both traditional methods and advanced modern technologies, offering all professionals and amateurs of artistic creation wonderful tools for painting.
Art brushes are produced in a wide range of sizes, types and materials. How to understand this diversity?
Let us first consider what main parts an artistic brush consists of:
- hair bundle / head (working part of the brush) consists of natural or synthetic hair, collected in a bun of a certain shape and size,
- metal clip / ferrule (capsule, sleeve) provides structural support for the hair bundle, serves to shape and connect it to the handle. The clip, as a rule, is made of metal resistant to corrosion: brass, copper, aluminum. A high-quality clip should be all-metal (seamless).
- handle / handle (shaft) It is produced mainly from hard wood (birch, aspen, beech, alder). There are exceptions, such as watercolor brushes with acrylic handles. Wooden handles are usually varnished to protect them from paints and liquids.
Let us now dwell on the main forms of artistic brushes.
From the whole variety of shapes and sizes, we distinguish 2 main types of brushes - round and flat. Round brushes have a cylindrical clip shape, and flat brushes have a flattened (flat) shape. And round and flat brushes are also divided into subspecies depending on the length and shape of the beam.
Perhaps the most versatile. The hair bundle is compressed into a cylindrical clip and forms a rounded tip when wet.
A high-quality round brush allows you to create a wide range of shapes and effects, holds water well, absorbs excess paint and rinses easily. The extraordinary elasticity of such a brush allows you to display every gesture of the artist who wants to achieve a special expressiveness of the stroke. A good round brush has a sharp tip, which allows you to perform the finest detailed work.
By the way, in the old days, it was round brushes that were the most common, because. the consistency of traditional oil paints at that time was more "creamy". held more paint and gave clear juicy lines.
There is a wide variety of round brushes, their thickness and size depend on the area of artistic creativity they are used in: for miniature works, fills, fonts, liners.
Miniature brushes- thin and the shortest of the round brushes, having a fairly short or medium length pile. They are used for fine, meticulous work. Such brushes allow you to put the thinnest dot or draw the thinnest line of small length.
Fill brushes- thick round brushes made of soft pile. Used in watercolor painting to fill large areas with color, as well as for basic dense strokes.
These are flat-rimmed, straight-edged brushes that were originally popular among the Impressionist painters of the late 19th century. They are versatile enough to hold a lot of paint and are good for both filling large areas and creating crisp broad strokes. Almost all strokes made with a flat brush form an angled or straight edge, so they are often used “wet on wet” (which masks or softens the characteristic hard edges). Flat brushes are in great demand in architectural painting.
The forms of a flat brush stroke are varied and depend on the material from which the beam is made, on its rigidity, as well as on the technique of applying the stroke.
contour brushes- a type of flat brushes that has a shorter bunch. This gives them greater resilience and better control over the quality of flat strokes. In addition, shorter hair makes it easier to create a smooth transition from one color to another and highlights the contour well.
Angled brushes (retouching)- flat brushes with a beam beveled at an angle. Used to create sketches and sketches, they allow you to draw very clear lines, outlining sharp corners.
Cat tongue (oval, filbert)- a flat brush of domed or oval shape, beloved by many artists. This brush is versatile and is suitable for both large strokes and small details, combining the properties of both a flat and a round brush (when held perpendicular to the surface). With this brush, you can easily move from thick to thin lines without taking your hands off, as well as create transitions from one color to another.
Most of the work, as already mentioned, requires two or more basic - round and flat brushes. In addition, there are a number of special brushes, which are not needed so often and are designed to create any specific effects.
retouching- the best brushes for a very precise stroke. They resemble a flat brush cut at an acute angle. The tip of this brush allows you to quickly and confidently change the volume of the hair or bristle that carries the paint, so this brush is an excellent tool for creating transitions from one color to another in hard-to-reach, narrow areas of the picture, as well as for drawing contours.
Stencil- voluminous dense brushes of round shape, have a blunt flat tip of the hair bundle. Brushes are used to apply paint through a stencil with vertical strokes. They are also great for glazing or loose layers of paint.
Fleitz- a wide flat brush designed for applying wide layers of paint in one stroke and for free painting with fills. Mainly used with watercolor as it can hold a lot of paint; With just a few movements, you can create large textures.
fan- flat brushes with a thin bunch in the shape of a fan. They are designed to blend the paint already applied to the base. With the help of these brushes, you can make a sophisticated color stretch. They are also suitable for blending, softening contrasts and textures. Used to create special effects in portrait, landscape and abstract painting.
(mop) - a round brush made of soft natural hair, able to absorb a large amount of paint. It is used to work on large areas, wetting the surface, removing excess moisture.
To finally decide which brush is needed to work with certain paints, knowledge about the nature of the pile from which the brush's hair bundle is made will help.
Font brushes (schleppers)- round thin brushes with long pile for working with liquid paints. They are used to apply thin even lines, inscriptions, to create illumination. The elongated hair tuft serves as a reservoir for paint, allowing you to draw a long line without refilling the brush.
Special brushes with long bristles (from 10 mm to 25 mm), often used in airbrushing to emphasize contours, for drawing very long lines of uniform thickness. The base of the brush tuft serves as a reservoir for paint, "feeding" the elongated core, which allows you to draw a thin continuous line for a long time without additional additional paint.
Before choosing a brush for painting is any person who started repairing an apartment or house. What is the best brush to choose to paint the wall? What bristles are suitable for repair work? Which pen is best for applying paint? The answers to all these questions will help you easily choose the right brush, and quickly and efficiently complete the repair that has begun. After all, a high-quality brush will help you easily distribute the paintwork material on the wall, ceiling and any other surface, and remain satisfied with the result of the work done.
So, what is a brush? It would seem a simple device, but everything is not as simple as it seems. Let's look at what and how it is arranged:
Bristle.
If the brush has more than one row of bristles, but several, then it is of high quality. 2. Wedges - fibers are divided into them. Wedges help fill and hold paint or any other paintwork inside the brush. According to the width and texture of the brush, it is necessary to choose the size and size of the wedges.
adhesive composition.
With its help, the fibers are attached to the wedges. The better the characteristics of the adhesive composition, the more durable the brush will serve you. After all, if the bristles are strong and reliable, connected between themselves, then when working with paintwork materials, it will not fall out and remain on the walls, ceiling or any other treated surface.
Bandage.
Connects the upper part (head) to the handle of the brush, located along the width of the bristle, around its wedges. It is made mainly of stainless steel and treated with an anti-corrosion mixture so that rust does not form.
Brush handle or handle.
The convenience of holding the brush in the hand depends on its characteristics. Professionals attach great importance to this parameter, because they hold the brush in their hands for a long time and work with it. The handle must be made of such materials that the brush will hold firmly in the hand and not slip out of it.
These materials include:
- wood - standard;
- plastic with rigid characteristics;
- connection of soft and hard polymeric materials.
At the moment, various handles are made for professionals, as long as they satisfy the taste of the master, fit comfortably in the hand and facilitate work. Also, a professional will advise you to pay attention to all the components of the brush, because even the characteristics of the adhesive composition are an important indicator that makes the life of the product longer.
Each component must be optimally matched to meet the desired characteristics. But pay special attention to the bristles, because it is an important component that ensures the performance of the brush. Brushes are made from natural, artificial and mixed materials.
Natural bristles
A brush with natural bristles is more wear-resistant, it is well saturated with paint and gives it away, while easily and evenly applying paintwork materials to the walls. That is, a brush made of natural fiber has a "good paint output", as professionals say. In brushes for painting, pig bristles are currently used, which has a rough and scaly structure.
Pork hairs are a cone, at the end of which there is a split, which is a panicle. Thanks to these characteristics, the hog bristle brush perfectly picks up the paint inside and holds it there. Not a few important indicators for a brush when painting is elasticity. The hog bristle brush does this well.
Pork bristle is distinguished by colors: black, gray and light, and it is also different in stiffness and elasticity - all this forms its final price. The most expensive is black bristle, as it surpasses its competitors in terms of wear resistance and mechanical properties. The lowest price is light bristles, as its wear is lower than that of other varieties, but because of its cost, light bristles are in great demand among buyers.
To maintain its characteristics during work, such as strength and elasticity, manufacturers boil pig hair. And if they boil it two or three times, then such bristles will be considered the best.
Due to the fact that each hair has a scaly structure and a panicle at the end, any paint and varnish material is well retained in the bristles and evenly applied to the treated surface.
Brushes with natural bristles are suitable for use with any paint and varnish material, but it is better to give preference to materials that have an oil base or thick varnish. It is also worth limiting the use of such a brush for paintwork materials based on water, since natural bristles absorb it very well.
And after the time has passed, it will simply swell and lose all its positive characteristics, including elasticity. To reduce the cost of natural bristle brushes, manufacturers often add horsehair to pig hair, which is much cheaper. Do not chase the price, because such a brush will serve you much less and will not do the job as well as you would like. Brushes based on horse hair do not hold the paint material well inside themselves, are not as elastic and flexible as pig bristle brushes, respectively, and have a shorter service life.
Therefore, it is better to opt for a cyst of pig hair, which succumbed to double or triple boiling. You can also determine how well the bristles are boiled with the help of tactile sensations. The hair, boiled several times, has no greasy content, very smooth and silky to the touch, it does not have an unpleasant smell, and it also perfectly absorbs the paint and evenly applies it to the treated surface.
In order for the brush to have good characteristics, it is necessary to observe a number of measures:
- Choose the length of the bristles based on the width of the brush. The longer the bristles, the more expensive the cost of the brush will be.
- Increase the number of hairs in the brush, having the maximum length. Since it is very difficult to achieve the same length for the bristles, short and long bristles are connected in the brush. The more hairs with a maximum length in the brush, the greater the density of the bristles, and, accordingly, the higher the price of the brush.
Artificial bristles
In the manufacture of artificial bristle brushes, the so-called brush bristles are used, which consist of polyester and polyester fibers. A brush with such bristles can also be used when working with paints and varnishes that contain water in the base, since such bristles will not change their elasticity. A brush with artificial bristles has a long service life, is wear-resistant when working with it and does not lose its shape when interacting with water-soluble coatings.
When such a bristle is made, it is artificially shaped into a cone and the end is split, like a pig's bristle.
These properties help the artificial hairs hold the paint inside and apply it evenly to the work surface. If you are working with water-based paintwork materials, then we will advise you to use a brush made of artificial bristles. After all, when interacting with a water-based emulsion, artificial bristles will not lose their elasticity, which means they will retain all their characteristics in the norm.
But it is worth remembering that artificial hairs do not have a scaly structure, respectively, and their paint intake is lower, is it not for natural bristles. In the manufacture of brushes with artificial bristles, there is no need to observe measures for the length and density of the bristles, in this case these properties are not critical.
Mixed bristles
If you're looking for a brush that combines the benefits of natural and synthetic bristles, then you should opt for a mixed bristle brush. After all, its fibers will give paint well, like fibers from natural bristles, and retain the elasticity of the brush if you work with water-based paintwork materials, as artificial bristles retain the shape of the brush.
The mixed bristle brush is the best choice as it combines the best characteristics of natural and mixed fibers and can be used with any range of paints. Mixed bristles have positive characteristics such as high wear, excellent ink absorption, retention and smooth application to the work surface. When working with impregnations, stains, protective compounds for wood, a mixed bristle brush will be an indispensable assistant.
Brushes for painting also differ depending on the shape and purpose. There are:
Flat (flat)
This type of brush is very common. Such brushes are used when painting any surfaces, for both interior and exterior work.
Round
They are mainly used for painting windows, skirting boards, doorways. A round brush is convenient for gluing wallpaper or smearing paint.
Maklovitsy
This type of brush is designed for work with large scales. These oversized brushes will pick up a lot of paint and apply it evenly to the surface. Therefore, with their help, facades, ceilings are painted, a primer is applied to the wall or wallpaper is glued.
Radiator
With its long, angled handle, this brush will help you reach hard-to-reach surfaces, help you paint corners and seams.
Narrow and thin brushes.
Which brush to choose is up to you. After all, there are various types of work with paintwork materials, for which you need your own brush. And you can only rely on your opinion and your price range.
Anton Tsugunov
Reading time: 4 minutes
Many people are not even aware that paint brushes and repair brushes are simply amazing in their abundance and functionality. Usually only one tool is used in all situations, but is this correct? So, let's take a closer look at what types of brushes are.
Types of brushes
- Flywheels (KM) are huge fluffy brushes made of natural fibers and with the addition of synthetics (nylon), have a round shape. Their diameter is 60-65 mm, and the length of the hairs reaches 180 mm. Usually used for painting large surfaces, washing or for whitewashing. They are highly resistant to various solvents and other aggressive substances, tolerate high temperature extremes and are not afraid of hot water. When interacting with the work surface, they bend a little, but then immediately straighten out.
- Maclovitsa brushes (KMA) are an improved type of brushes that I use for applying glue or casein paint to various surfaces. They are based on natural horsehair (50%) and artificial bristles (nylon 50%), which allows you to evenly apply a coating layer on a specific surface. There are two types of such brushes: round and rectangular. Their diameter is 120-170 mm, and the length of the hairs is 100 mm.
- Handbrake brushes (KR) are small round brushes used for painting wooden windows or pipes. Their diameter is from 26 to 54 mm. They consist of pure bristles and horsehair, have a round shape. The center of this tool is empty, which allows it to accumulate paint material. It is not recommended to use with adhesives and lime substances, as the hairs are held on an adhesive basis. Usually this tool is simply called a round paint brush.
- Filenochnye (FKF) - these are small brushes with a fairly comfortable handle and coarse white bristles. They are used on small surfaces to outline lines and color hard-to-reach places. The diameter of the brush is 6-18 mm.
- Radiator - a wonderful device for applying paint to hard-to-reach places: seams or bends. The name itself suggests that they are ideal for (radiators).
- Flat paint brush (KF) - a flat wide brush from 25 to 100 mm with a comfortable handle. It is made of bristles and badger hair. Ideal for removing streaks that may have come from other brushes.
- A synthetic flat brush (SF), or a flat brush with artificial bristles, is a synthetic brush. It has a special property: its fibers, unlike natural fibers, retain their original (smooth) shape during use. It is great for paints diluted with water. Such a tool ideally holds the composition not only on the outer part of the nylon fibers, but also in their inner base.
- Trimming brush (SHT) is a hard and very hard brush, which consists of ridge or semi-ridge bristles. They are used to finish freshly applied paint. It very effectively eliminates all the bumps caused by other devices.
Note: Spindle bristle brushes are cone shaped, which allows them to pick up more paint material and apply it evenly to the surface.
Natural fiber bristles are ideal for painting work, hold the composition well, applying it in an even layer. It feels slightly rough to the touch, which allows it to absorb more paint. This is what distinguishes it from artificial (nylon) hairs.
Synthetic bristles are made of polymers and have a small thickness. Different types of modern polymers allow you to achieve the desired stiffness. Nylon polyester bristles are perfect for water-based paints, its hairs do not absorb the paint material, nylon repels moisture and retains its original structure. In addition, nylon is better suited for painting timber without leaving lint on it.
If you care about your tools and want them to serve you as long as possible, then you must follow certain rules for their storage and use. New or old paint brushes should be washed with hot water and a little soap to help remove dust and broken fibers from the bristles. After that, the bristles are squeezed out and dried.
Before the actual start of painting work, it is necessary to soak the bristles so that they absorb moisture into themselves, softening and increasing in volume. In this simple way, you can achieve a smoother and more uniform paint application.
Before starting painting work, the tool must be developed so that it takes the correct shape. To do this, take a little paint mixture and the brush itself, as a test surface, you must use any rough coating (brick, plaster, concrete). Thus, the hairs will acquire the correct shape for further work. It is better to clean the working surface of everything superfluous.
It is very important to use the tool correctly. For example, a round brush on the work surface should be gradually scrolled in your hand so that its hairs are erased evenly. It does not need to be pressed hard.
There are times when a person is simply physically unable to work out the entire surface. Naturally, he needs rest. At this time, the brush can be left in the paint or immersed in a special solution. If glue, lime, oil and casein solutions are used, then we soak the tool in water. With kerosene, turpentine or drying oils, it is recommended to use special solvents.
Very important: Do not immerse the brush completely, but only to a depth where the bristles lightly touch the bottom, otherwise the hairs will bend or break, it is best to hang them on a wire or other device.
How to wash brushes? To do this, take kerosene, and then use soap and water. Such simple procedures should be continued until the water stops staining, remaining clean. At the final stage, we hang them up and dry them. The cleaning process is completed.
How important is brush shape?
Most people are used to saving their resources by using old tools from time immemorial, but this is completely wrong. You only think that you are saving, but you are not. For example, you can paint the same surface all day long with a small brush with round bristles. It is much more profitable to purchase a large flat brush, which will paint an impressive surface in one stroke.
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A round small brush is more suitable for a small work surface. This tool allows you to cover special places, such as round pipes. For hard-to-reach places, it is recommended to use the so-called corner brushes. It is important to remember that, first of all, you save time.
Modern paints and varnishes can be applied using: a paint brush, a paint roller, a paint sprayer.
This article will focus on the most common painting tool - a paint brush.
Types of paint brushes
Flat paint brushes- the most popular type of paint brushes.
They are used for applying paints and varnishes to treated surfaces of various sizes during interior and exterior finishing work. The main characteristic of a flat brush is its width, which is indicated in inches, but some manufacturers indicate the width in millimeters in addition to inches. Standard widths of flat paint brushes: 3/4” (20mm), 1” (25mm), 1.5” (38mm), 2” (50mm), 2.5” (63mm), 3” (75mm) , 4” (100mm) . Depending on the area of the treated surface, the width of the flat brush is selected.
Round paint brushes- less popular than flat ones.
They are used for coloring narrow long surfaces, tk. This type of brush has a denser padding and, accordingly, good paint transfer properties. The main characteristic of round brushes is their width (diameter). I indicate the size of round brushes in numbers or in millimeters. Standard sizes of round brushes: #2 - 20mm, #4 - 25mm, #6 - 30mm, #8 - 35mm, #10 - 40mm, #12 - 45mm, #14 - 50mm, #16 - 55mm, #18 - 60mm , No. 20 - 65mm, No. 22 - 70mm.
Radiator or angled paint brush.
This type of paint brushes is used for painting hard-to-reach or high-lying places, because. The brush has an elongated handle and a bandage with bristles, located at an angle to the handle.
The standard sizes of radiator brushes are the same as for flat paint brushes.
Squeegee brush.
It is a large flat brush. Such brushes are used for applying paints and varnishes on the surface of a large area (treatment of facades or ceilings). The handles of these brushes are adapted to the use of extension rods. Standard doctor blade sizes (width and length): 30x70mm, 30x100mm, 30x120mm, 40x140mm, 50x150mm.
Brush brush.
It is a base block to which the handle is attached. Holes are drilled on its surface into which artificial fibers are hammered. Such brushes are very convenient to use when applying the adhesive composition to the wallpaper, as well as washing and applying whitewash compositions. The handles of these brushes are also adapted to the use of extension rods. Standard sizes: 140x50mm, 150x70mm, 170x70mm, 180x80mm.
The choice of the type of paint brush directly depends on the area of the treated surface, the place where the painting work will be carried out, as well as on the individual preferences of the master.
What are paint brushes made of?
The paint brush consists of several components. The main working body of the paint brush is the bristle, which is fixed in the clip with the help of an adhesive composition. Clip with bristles are attached to the handle. The bristles in the holder of the paint brush are separated by special inserts that create a working chamber for the paintwork material. The size and number of liners in the holder of a paint brush depends on its thickness, and also greatly affects the cost of the brush and the quality of the surface. For example, if we have a paint brush with a disproportionate number or size of liners, then, accordingly, the bristle density of the paint brush will be less, therefore, the paint material will be held worse and the paint exchange properties of the paint brush will be underestimated. Liners are made of wood or plastic, plastic liners increase the durability of the paint brush, because. plastic does not deform when in contact with water.
The adhesive composition holds the bristles of the liners and the holder of the paint brush. The bristles should be glued to the height of the liner. The service life of the paint brush depends on the quality of the adhesive composition. Cheap paint brushes use inexpensive adhesives. In expensive paint brushes, epoxy glue is used. If the adhesive composition is of poor quality or it is not enough to fix all the bristles in the holder, then loose bristles will fall out of the bandage and, accordingly, reduce the quality of the treated surface.
Checking the quality of the adhesive composition is quite simple, you need to remove the paint brush from the package, take the handle with one hand, and pull the bristles with the other. At first, the bristles will fall out of the bandage, but gradually the amount of bristles that have fallen out will decrease. If the adhesive composition in the brush is not of high quality, then the bristles will fall out constantly and it is not recommended to carry out painting work with such a brush.
The clip (bandage) of paint brushes is mainly made of steel, less often of plastic. Steel clips have sufficient strength and resistance to organic solvents that may be contained in the paintwork material.
The disadvantages of steel clips include, first of all, the appearance of corrosion, which occurs during long-term storage at high humidity, as well as corrosion occurs due to the fact that in the intervals between painting works the brush is stored in water (so that the paint does not prematurely withered). To avoid corrosion on the clip of the paint brush, it is covered with anti-corrosion coatings or made of stainless steel. The second drawback is that a steel clip can damage the surface to be treated (for example, when painting corners) or a container for storing paint and varnish material.
Plastic clips are not susceptible to corrosion and will not damage surfaces, but may not be resistant to some types of solvents that may be contained in the paint material.
Paint brush handles are usually made from three materials.:
- Tree.
- Plastic.
- Rubberized plastic.
Handles made of wood are the most popular in the Russian market. They have sufficient strength and low weight. In the manufacture of wooden handles, various types of wood are used, from the cheapest, for example, pine, to expensive varieties (sycamore, beech, etc.). Handles made of cheap woods are usually varnished, which can be of a transparent type (lacquering) and opaque (painting and subsequent varnishing). A clear coat is applied to protect the material of the handle from environmental influences, while an opaque coat is usually applied to hide wood imperfections and create a more premium look to the paintbrush. Despite the appearance, the painted handles do not provide a secure grip, the paint brush will slip out of the hand when working, because. paint and sweat will get on the handle.
The handles, which are made of expensive types of wood, do not have any paintwork. This emphasizes that the handle is made of an expensive type of wood and does not have major defects. These handles absorb sweat and provide a secure grip when working.
The main working body of the paint brush is the bristle, it is she who takes, holds and distributes the paint and varnish material over the treated surface.
Paint brush bristle materials can be divided into three main types:
- The bristles are of natural origin, mostly pig bristles are used.
- Synthetic bristles, polymer fibers.
- A mixture, in varying proportions, of bristles of natural and synthetic origin.
III. Bristle types
Natural bristle has excellent paint exchange properties, holds the paint material well and applies with good covering power. In our market, natural bristles are very widespread and very popular. High paint-exchange properties are achieved by the fact that there are microscopic scales on the entire surface of natural bristles, this can be determined by touch by running your fingers from the tip to the root of the bristles, it will seem slightly rough (in this way, you can especially accurately distinguish natural bristles from synthetic). The paintwork material is held on the bristles due to their presence. The high coverage rate that is achieved when working with brushes with natural bristles is ensured by the small section of the bristle at its tip.
The disadvantages of natural bristles include loss of shape in a humid environment or after washing the paint brush under water and subsequent storage, as well as long and expensive manufacturing technology.
The largest share of natural pig bristles is produced in China.
The production of natural pig bristle can be divided into two stages:
livestock stage and processing stage. The first stage is not of particular interest to us, because it involves raising pigs and obtaining primary bristles after slaughter.
The processing stage is usually a separate factory that only processes and sells bristles. The recycling process takes a long time and includes many cycles, such as: peeling, washing, combing, boiling, sorting by length, etc. Cooking is the most significant process that directly affects the quality of the bristles. During cooking, animal fat is removed from the surface of the bristles. According to the standards on the surface of natural bristles should be 5-10% fat. If this indicator is higher, then a brush with natural bristles will have low paint-exchange properties. If this indicator is lower, then the bristles of the paint brush will be brittle, respectively, it will fall out of the brush and remain on the surface to be treated.
Because natural bristle is a product of animal origin, it has a different length. The length of a natural bristle is the most important indicator that affects its cost, which is subsequently transferred to the cost of the brush itself. It is natural to assume that a pig has much fewer long bristles than short bristles, so the cost of natural bristles, depending on its length, has a non-linear relationship.
Natural bristles come in both light and black, as well as gray - this is a mixture of light and black natural bristles. The color of natural bristles depends on the breed of the pig.
Black natural bristle has increased (compared to light natural bristle) elasticity and wear resistance. Accordingly, it costs more than light. Also, if you paint the surface with a brush with black natural bristles, then the fallen hair is easy to notice on the painted surface and then remove it.
If you choose a paintbrush with black natural bristles, it is important to make sure that the bristles are really black, and not light natural bristles dyed black. In the market, replacing black natural bristles with light colored bristles is very often practiced. To make sure that you are not being deceived, you need to rub the bristles between two fingers hard. If the bristles leave a dark mark, then this is a light bristle, dyed black. In the course of work, especially with paints and varnishes containing an organic solvent, this bristle will begin to stain the painted surface, and the result will be unsatisfactory.
Another indicator that affects the cost of a natural bristle paint brush is the number of "tops" - the percentage of long bristles to short bristles.
The natural bristles in the paintbrush have different lengths, this gives a conical shape to the head of the paintbrush, and also saves material. The larger the number of "tops", the correspondingly, there will be more bristles of maximum length, therefore, the paint brush will cost more, but its painting characteristics will be much higher.
Synthetic bristles are polymer fibers of very small thickness, they are obtained by extrusion. Artificial bristles can be of any color, depending on the chosen dye, which is used in its preparation. Depending on the type of polymer material, artificial bristles can be obtained with different stiffness, wear resistance, as well as the degree of recovery after deformation. Artificial bristles have one significant drawback - these are low paint-exchange properties, because. on the surface of artificial bristles, unlike natural pig bristles, there are no microscopic scales on which the paint material is held. Therefore, artificial bristles are made with various cross-sectional profiles, for example, a hollow cylindrical, petal structure, etc., to improve the paint exchange performance. To improve hiding power, the tips of the artificial bristles are often split, as in the case of hollow cylindrical bristles, or made into a conical shape, but then it is necessary to have a high packing density.
Mixed bristle is a mixture of different proportions of bristles of natural and synthetic origin. By selecting different percentages of natural and synthetic bristles, you can achieve high paint exchange rates, as well as elasticity and wear resistance of the paint brush.
Paint brushes UNIVERSE
branded paint brushes UNIVERSE divided into series: Slim, StandardExpert, Profi.
Series brushes Slim are the most inexpensive brushes in the line UNIVERSE. They combine acceptable quality at an economical price. In brush series Slim natural bristles and a varnished wooden handle are used.
Series brushes standard- these brushes are the most optimal in terms of price and quality of painting the treated surface. This series of branded paint brushes UNIVERSE It has a lacquered wooden handle. Bristle of painting flat brushes of the standard series is made:
- Made of natural hog bristles (the tip of the brush is dyed red), these brushes evenly apply paint material to the surface to be treated. They have good paint-exchange properties. They can be used with all types of paints and varnishes, but are most effectively used with paints and varnishes that dissolve with organic solvents.
- From an optimally selected combination of synthetic fibers (hollow split at the tip) and natural hog bristles (brush tip dyed green). The natural bristle in this combination increases the paint-exchange properties of the paint brush, while the synthetic component provides wear resistance, as well as a thin coating structure.
- Synthetic bristles (brush tip dyed blue). These brushes use synthetic bristles with a conical shape and a high density of padding. Thanks to this, the most acceptable paint exchange characteristics are achieved, as well as stable hiding power.
Series brushes Expert and Profi made with wooden handles of an ergonomic shape. The heads of these brushes have high-density natural bristles. These series of brushes can be classified as semi-professional and professional painting tools with a long service life.