Best brush for laying off gloss white

[RichD1]

I've got 5 large and 5 small wardrobe doors to paint. I've made them from standard ply flat panel doors but with the traditional 4 recessed moulded paneling on the fronts.

I've started to prime and undercoat using a small sponge roller and then laying off with a fairly cheap synthetic brush but the brush marks are still quite visible.

I looked at the Purdy Monarchs but it states best for emulsions as the strands are quite thick. So what better brush should I invest in to get a good finish when eventually I apply the gloss.

Richard

 

[opps]

I'd go for the Wooster Ultra Pro or the Purdy Sprig Elite.

Corona also make good brushes by all accounts.

You don't say if you are using water or oil based paints.

Oil based paints are easy to lay off.

If waterbased add some Floetrol.

If oilbased add some Owatrol.

Both of the above help paints flow without simply thinning them. Neither is cheap but they go a long way.

For many years I specialised in hand painting MDF cabinets. I used to use the 170mm Anza paint pads (not the ones with the foam backing). They were much faster than rolling and brushing.

 

[RichD1]

Currently prepping with water based Dulux primer/undercoat but will finish with Dulux oil based gloss.

Never considered pads before. Are they good for oil based gloss?

Richard

 

[RichD1]

We've got a Brewers just around the corner so I've just popped in and they have discounts on the new Hamilton Expression synthetic brushes. Felt lovely and soft and fine so picked up a 2" one for £12 to try out.

Asked about Owatrol but it was over £30 for a litre which was the smallest size they had.

Richard

 

[opps]

The old Anza pads were excellent. Bear in mind that I would often be painting the insides of wardrobes as well as the exteriors. I used to be able to paint a 3 bay wardrobe in 4 or 5 days.

Any pad that has a foam backing under the mohair finish will soak up too much paint and then deposit too much paint when you push down on the pad. the (harder to source) Anza pad are "mohair" on a metal backing.

(thinking aloud_ I am considering importing the better quality pads...)

Owatrol is expensive. I was lucky enough to buy 5L from the Amazon warehouse for £90 last Christmas. The tin had a dent but it will last me for 4 to 5 years. It is however the must have product if you want to obtain a high quality finish. To save money, you can use white spirit- but that just thins the paint and then results in you needing to apply more coats of paint