Installation Guide

Painting Tips & Techniques

Purdy® has spent many years with both professional painters and serious DIY painters,

observing them and answering many questions. We have compiled the following painting

tips and techniques to help meet your needs. However, please feel free to contact us

directly with your individual question.

Which paint brush do I use for various types of paints?

A natural bristle paint brush is made from animal hair, and is very soft and porous. For oil-

based paints, most professionals choose a natural China-bristle (hog hair) paint brush.

If you are painting a smooth surface with oil-based paint, a natural White Bristle paint brush

is your best choice because it is soft and supple. When painting a textured surface, a

natural Black Bristle paint brush will work better, because it is stiffer and has superior abrasion

wear. When you require an ultra-fine finish, a brush blended with ox hair is the best choice.

Synthetic filament - When your choice in coatings is water-based (frequently referred to as

latex), it is absolutely essential that you select a synthetic filament paint brush. The Purdy

synthetic filament range includes:

 100% black nylon

 100% dyed nylon

 Nylon/polyester blend

 100% Chinex® filament

 Chinex/nylon blend

 Chinex/polyester blend

 Chinex/nylon/polyester blend

Brushes that include a blend of polyester, such as our XL™ Elite™ series and PRO-EXTRA®

series maintain their bend and recovery (or flex) better than brushes made of 100 percent

nylon. This characteristic enables an XL Elite or PRO-EXTRA professional paint brush to

perform consistently well in warm, humid weather conditions.

When painting exclusively indoors under controlled climatic conditions, a 100 percent nylon

paint brush is a great choice, because stiffness retention is not as critical a factor.

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Painting Tips & Techniques Purdy® has spent many years with both professional painters and serious DIY painters, observing them and answering many questions. We have compiled the following painting tips and techniques to help meet your needs. However, please feel free to contact us directly with your individual question. Which paint brush do I use for various types of paints? A natural bristle paint brush is made from animal hair, and is very soft and porous.
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Furthermore, 100 percent nylon filament allows the paint to release from the brush easier and flow more smoothly onto the working surface. It is worth mentioning that Purdy synthetic filament paint brushes also perform exceedingly well in oil-based paints. This is due to the various processing and finishing steps in our manufacturing operation that soften the synthetic material and eliminate drag when used with oil-based paints.
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How do I create special effects with my painting (faux finishing)? Since 1949, Symphony by Purdy has established itself as a leading manufacturer of special effect tools. Faux finishing painting techniques are used to create unique finishes including stippling, stenciling, sponging, dragging, color washing, veining, softening and spattering. If you have questions about desired faux finishes, painting techniques or faux finishing tools, please contact us.