Paint Brushes 101
Kirt's Cogitations™ #103

RF Cafe University"Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

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Paint Brushes 101

Paint Brushes 101. The most predominant source of natural brush fibers is hog bristle or ox hair (from inside the ox's ear). Tampico fibers and badger hair are used to a lesser extent. Synthetic fibers, called filaments, are composed of nylon and polyester. China is the leading exporter hog bristle, or "China brushes," hence the name. Natural fiber brushes are best suited for achieving extremely smooth, glass-like finishes. Use synthetic filaments brushes for oil- and water-based paints. Excluding the myriad of artists brushes, there is an extensive selection of brush types at your local hardware store, including coarse and fine stucco brushes, ultra firm synthetic for hot and humid weather, angled trim brushes, long reach for ceilings, angled radiator brushes, sash, square-end, double-taper, and even auto enamel brushes (who does that?). Class dismissed.