Origins of a paint brush

A paint brush is a hand-held tool used to apply paint or sealers to paintable surfaces.

The brush picks up paint with filament, includes a ferrule that is a metal band that holds the filament and handle together and gives the brush strength, a spacer plug within the ferrule which helps the filament sits tightly in the brush and creates a reservoir for paint, epoxy to lock the filament, and a handle which provides comfort and good balance.

The paint brush industry categorises their products based on the user of the product. Thus, there are consumer grade paint brushes made for the home owner who is painting small projects, professional grade paintbrushes for the professional house painter who needs a high-quality, long-lasting brush, and artistic grade paint brushes.

Paint brushes vary tremendously based on the quality of components used and are specifically constructed for the application of different paints and varnishes upon certain surfaces.

The filament may be either animal bristle or synthetic and the brush quality largely rests on the differences in these materials. Inexpensive animal hair brushes used in lower grade brushes are of unbleached hog bristle, however, the most expensive animal hair brushes are of sable and are used for delicate hand painting.

These synthetics vary greatly in quality and may be used for cheap brushes as well as better-quality brushes.

Handles are of wood or plastic; the rounder the brush the easier it is to manipulate the brush for intricate movement.

Most paint brushes are manufactured in a factory. However, the more expensive professional-quality brushes may still be produced in a factory but may be assembled, at least in part, by hand-assembly methods.

Those who need delicate brushes for fine oil or watercolour painting may make their own brushes or purchase them from a specialist who produces them to order. These hand-made brushes can be very expensive.

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