Choosing the Best
Acrylic Paint Brush

Have you ever purchased a new acrylic paint brush and found, after only a few strokes, loose bristles coming off and spoiling your job? You having to pick the loose, paint coated bristles, with your fingers? Consequently having to dine with paint under your fingernails because it does not clean off?

   Never skimp when it comes to the quality of an acrylic paint brush, especially for your perfect finish coat.

The use of quality paint brushes is the most important factor in getting personal satisfaction and a good paint job.

Top quality acrylic paint brushes will not only help deliver a long-lasting, better-looking paint job, but will save application time as well.

Quality paints and quality applicators are the least expensive part of your paint job. The labor involved in proper preparation and application is the most expensive component of your paint job.

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There are two general types of acrylic paint brushes – those made of natural hair bristles and those made with synthetic, man made materials.

For acrylic latex paint always choose a synthetic bristle brush. Natural bristle brushes tend to absorb water from the latex paint, which causes the bristles to swell.

So how do You Choose a Good Quality Acrylic Paint Brush?
-- In choosing a quality acrylic paint brush or and art paint brush, watch for these characteristics:

1.-- The bristles should have split ends “flags” that provide a finer, more even finish.

2.-- The bristles should have a definite flex at their tips and easily spring back to shape.

3.-- The bristles should be shorter on the outside and longer in the centre, creating a tapered appearance. This type of “chiselled” brush gives you, the painter, more control over where the paint should flow.

4.-- The bristles should be at least half again as long as the with of the acrylic paint brush. For example, the bristles on a 2” wide brush should be 3” long.

5.-- Tug on the bristles, if bristles can be pulled out, the paint brush is poorly constructed. A quality brush will shed only one or two bristles, at most.

For your cow shaped step stool or similar wood decorating job, you will need 2 nylon brushes.
A 38mm (1"1/2) quality flat General Purpose and a ¾” Flat Glaze artists brush which we call the cow face painting brush. A #6 Round Shader art paint brush can also be useful.

Paint Rollers

-- Paint rollers are not suitable and should not be used over new wood because they do not allow paint to work into the wood grain. This is important because the primer and subsequent paint coatings must be applied in the correct way to get the best protection and longest coating life.

Spray Painting Outfits

-- Spray-painting outfits, air or airless, should not be used. Most of them require you to dilute the acrylic paint considerably thus reducing the paint’s protective characteristics. A spray-painting outfit should not be used over new wood because they do not allow paint to work into the wood grain. This is important because the primer and subsequent paint coatings must be applied in the correct way to get the longest paint life from your effort.

Spray painting, unlike acrylic paint brush painting, require careful preparations. Here an 'old cow' serves as a table whilst the artist prepares the spray painting outfit for action. This is done by diluting the acrylic paint to a specific consitency and measuring it's flow through a calibrated funnel The orange colored device) whilst timing it with a stop-watch. This will give you an accurate and repeatable paint density. Remember to mix the paint well each time before applying the next coat, as the thinner used might separate while resting.


If you have to use a spray painting outfit, do the primer coats by brush first, then do the topcoat with the spray-painting outfit. Dilute the paint by measuring the flow with a stop watch as required. Apply several thin coats allowing ample time for each coat to dry. To finish, you can do the decorating using an airbrush. Whilst not recommended, spray painting can save time when you have a "herd of cows" to paint.

Paint Pads

-- Like brushes, pads have the advantage of working the paint into the wood grain, provided of course that you always brush in the direction of the wood grain. They are useful when you painting several cows at once and should be used in conjunction with your brushes, ideally with a painting team mate.

When using paint pads:

1. -- Apply the paint with long, straight strokes.

2. -- Never pull the pad back over the paint.

3. -- Be aware that lap marks are more prone to occur with paint pads since the paint edges are difficult to feather with this tool.

4. -- Use a roller tray when applying paint with a paint pad.

5. -- Be prepared to finish off with an acrylic paint brush before the paint is dry.

Cleaning Paint Brushes and Pads

Brushes and pads should be cleaned immediately after you are finished painting. By cleaning the brushes and pads immediately, they will clean easily and last a long time.

Here is a set of procedures Henry uses to clean his still good, now 5-year-old acrylic paint brushes:
1.-- Remove excess paint by pulling the bristles across the inside edge of the paint can several times, turning the brush after each pull.

2.-- Run warm water over the bristles, using your fingers to help work out the paint.

3.-- Rub bristles with a liquid dish washing detergent. Work the detergent into the bristles with your fingers.

4.-- Rinse the acrylic paint brush in warm water until absolutely no more paint can be seen dissolving into the water.

5.-- Wrap the paint brushes loosely in a paper towel and let dry whilst resting on flat surface.

6.-- Store the brushes flat on a shelf, still wrapped up. Never store brushes standing on the bristles as they will curl and spoil, and do not leave your brushes dipped in water as the metal ferrule holding the bristles will rust or corrode and the bristles will deteriorate.

If you follow the above simple rules, your acrylic paint brush will reward you with years of enjoyable, relaxing and rewarding painting.