Why Is the Paint Peeling off My Paintbrush Handles?īut I know from experience that it’s easy to get caught up in the moment when painting and forget about a brush sitting in the water bucket. The water level in this bucket is below than the wood handle. Soft haired brushes are more susceptible to this kind of damage than brushes with stiff bristles. Given enough time the bristles can start to bend under the weight. When you leave a brush sitting in water, the entire weight of the brush is on the bristles. That’s okay, but you don’t want leave your brushes sitting in water for hours as you paint. You may need a rigger for painting fine lines and a flat for blocking in the larger shapes. There are also different brush shapes that are useful in different parts of the painting. Maybe you want to have a brush for each color so you don’t have to wash them as often. It’s a common practice to use more than one paintbrush at once. Don’t Leave Your Brushes Standing in Water Sometimes it’s possible to glue it back on and get more use out of it. I’ve had this happen to a few of my brushes. If that’s loose then the brush may come apart at the handle. The ferrule is the metal part above the bristles. If you buy it and the bristles start falling out on the first use, then return it.Īnother thing to lookout for is a loose ferrule. Check the return policy before purchasing them. If that’s the case you may not be able to test them for loose bristles. Some manufacturers apply a sizing to the bristles of the brush to protect them in the store. Generally speaking, if the bristles are coming out in your hand in the store, it’s not going to get any better in the future. There’s nothing worse than picking the loose bristles out of your painting. Gently pull on the bristles a little to see if any of them come loose. When you’re shopping for paintbrushes take the time to examine them in the store. Synthetic bristles are cheaper than the natural animal hair that’s used in the more expensive brushes. The low cost may be a reflection of the type of materials it uses. Inexpensive brushes can be well made too. This doesn’t mean that you have to buy expensive brushes. If you buy poorly made brushes, there’s not much you can do to make them last longer. Wet the Bristles Before You Begin Painting Be Picky About the Brushes You Buy.Use Your Brushes for the Medium They’re Designed For.Use Old or Inexpensive Brushes to Paint on Coarse Surfaces.Mix Colors with a Palette Knife Instead of the Brush.Store Paintbrushes in a Brush Case When Traveling.Don’t Use Harsh Solvents to Remove Dried Paint.Clean Your Brushes Properly After Every Use.Don’t Leave Your Brushes Standing in Water.