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Q I’m painting my house with an oil-based primer and a latex paint. Is there one brush that can handle both tasks?
A If you’re using one brush for both tasks, buy a synthetic one. Natural-bristle brushes, commonly called China brushes, are made from animal hair, usually hog. Since natural bristles are hollow or have split ends, they hold lots of paint, finish or stain—then release it evenly. The best ones have bristles of varying lengths so they release the paint evenly and smoothly, not all at once. But latex paint eventually causes natural bristles to swell, leaving you with a floppy, fluffy, harder-to-control brush.
Synthetic-bristle brushes, usually made from nylon, polyester or both, arguably don’t hold as much paint or primer, but won’t become distorted in water- or oil-based finishes. Buy good ones with flagged or split ends; they’ll hold more paint than the cheaper, blunt-end brushes.
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