11 Best Paint Brushes for Smooth Finish

Published on: April 3, 2022
Written by David Rowan / Fact-checked by David Rowan

It is true that adopting a painting task with a paintbrush for a smooth finish to your interior and outdoors means to upcycle your mood. As well as, it is aiming for indicating some purposes. Such as seasonal changes, celebrating motherhood, and so on. It not only upcycles all yourself but also improves interior spaces by painting furniture too.

best paint brushes for smooth finish

Transforming walls, garden area, and kitchen cabinets are all parts of it. However, users, especially, newbies most grab tools for such tedious painting jobs. From professional to fresh, painters should acknowledge before deciding to buy one without knowing the selection factors.

Things to Consider for Accurate Paint Brushes

Sort the Handle

The design and function of the handle is a critical variable that is usually not light or neglected when buying a paintbrush. A smooth composition handles each type of equipment intended for a specific task.

So, a small and thick brush handle is great for drawing small enterprises. Assuming your venture is more extensive, we recommend purchasing a very shaped handle with a stiff hold for a compliant application experience.

Width and Styles

A wider width, in the case of most common 4” flat paint brushes, suits for smooth finishing. As well as for massive projects. Whether an angled 2” brushes with a narrow width is better for trim services to type small jobs, neither for the bigger ones.

Read more: How to Select Perfect Sander for Removing Paint

Concluded style, either traditional or classy, with handles, matters a lot. Short and thick handles help small tasks by fitting in your hand whether bigger ones work as bigger alternatives.

Deciding on each paint brushes width and style, prefers the solo project handling, and increases performances. But the whole painting, both interior and outdoor, depends mostly on your hand and technique as well.

Bristle Types

The nature of paintbrush hairs plays a very vital role in detailed kinds of works. So, we consider this counterpart as the second crucial factor in the case of a paintbrush for a smooth finish.

We found 3 types of material made in this class-

Natural: 

Being attached to the animal’s natural hair. Such stiff bristles work-well with oil-based paint mediums. Even a good helper for large jobs.

Synthetic: 

Man-made, for instance, nylon, plastic, or polyester combined or single filament made. We found these more than 5X versatile accepted compatibility than natural ones. Also, an economical alternative.

Sable:

Purdy 144080515 XL series paintbrush is the best example in this class. These are almost natural classifications. Softer, glazy, and less defined marks ability than a synthetic brush. But needs proper care for better durability.

Ferrule Quality

The last opt-out factor for selecting a paint brush for smooth finishing. This counterpart’s quality ensures brush longevity and creates gripping power for bristles in a firm way. Before shopping for a perfect paint brush, tug the bristles and confirm that the whole thing is holding the base or not. 

If you have done that, that is great. But do not forget to do the tug-test further.  

Read more: Cutting Saws – Top 10 Options

Painting Tips

A natural bristle paint brush is formed from animal hair and is exceptionally soft and porous. For oil-based paints, most professionals choose a natural China-bristle (hog hair) paintbrush.

If you’re painting a smooth surface with oil-based paint, a natural White Bristle paint brush is your most suitable option because it’s soft and supple. When painting a textured surface, a natural Black Bristle paint brush will work better because it’s stiffer and has superior abrasion wear. Once you require an ultra-fine finish, a brush blended with ox hair is the most suitable option.

Synthetic Filament 

When your choice in coatings is water-based (frequently mentioned as latex), you must select an artificial filament paintbrush. The Purdy synthetic filament range includes:

  • 100% black nylon;
  • 100% dyed nylon;
  • Nylon/polyester blend;
  • 100% Chinex filament;
  • Chinex/nylon blend;
  • Chinex/polyester blend;
  • Chinex/nylon/polyester blend.

Brushes that include a polyester mix, like our XL Elite series and PRO-EXTRA series, maintain their bend and recovery (or flex) better than brushes made from one hundred pc nylon. This characteristic enables an XL Elite or PRO-EXTRA professional paintbrush to perform consistently well in warm, humid weather.

When painting exclusively indoors under a controlled climate, a one hundred pc nylon paint brush may be a great choice because stiffness retention isn’t as critical an element. Furthermore, one hundred pc nylon filament allows the paint to release from the comb easier and flow more smoothly onto the working surface.

View Our Selected Paint Brushes, Below

Painting is a fun task for general painters, but a mistaken paintbrush, which is not as per your need, can spoil your fun time. By researching and experiencing many materials constructed by paintbrushes, we are here to share the information with you. Go through the article to know about such well-researched 11 paintbrushes for smooth finish all-time.

1. Pro Grade 5 Ea Smooth Finishing Paint Brush Set

  • Weight: 8 ounces;
  • Brush size: 1”-2.5”;
  • Ferrule: stainless steel;
  • Handle: hardwood;
  • Filament material: SRT Chinax.

The Pro-Grade sounds more than for pros come with definite 5 paint brushes for smooth finishing. Including soft brushes, 1 of 1″ flat, 1.5″ Angle, 2″ Stubby Angle, 2″ Flat & 2-1/2″ Angle is available for narrowing down your spaces, even at a reasonable price. 

The SRT filament accelerates brush paint holding capacity. The component helps to take down your painting time in half than the previous models you might have used. Even with few streaks, one of its sash styles enabled us to cut crisp lines. As a result, you will get better services for trimming, walls, decks, fences, and furniture.

Its thinner tip offers durability, combining the steel ferrule for better control. It may not be much satisfying in terms of good looking, yet it provides a premium finish with all types of paints.


2. Purdy 144080515 XL Dale Sash Paint Brush

  • Weight: 1.6 ounces;
  • Brush size: 1.5”;
  • Ferrule: stainless steel;
  • Handle: hardwood;
  • Filament material: blend of Orel polyester and SRT Chinex.

The well-established Purdy holds its position 3rd in our listing of paint brushes for a smooth finish. It is an elite class sale angular trim brush. Its head shape determines the amount of bristle amount, which will lead to surface coverage. 

You may find traditional brushes with flat heads. A complete flat head is unable to cover large walls or trim painting at the fastest time. However, it absorbs as much paint as possible at a single stroke.  

A square angled head, like this one, offers more control with natural bristles. You can change the brush movement according to the width.

This sash paint brush uses round tapered filaments, combining the Dupont™ Chinex and Orel Polyester. This stiffness guides the bristles to cooperate with Purdy’s built-in state returning mechanism. Also, extends its use over Low-VOC, oil-based paints, Latex, primers, and stains, or whatever the weather condition is during outdoor painting.


3. Pro Grade Paint Brush for Smooth Finish

  • Weight: 4.8 ounces;
  • Brush size: 3”, 2.5”;
  • Ferrule: stainless steel;
  • Handle: hardwood;
  • Filament material: synthetic filament.

Another Pro-Grade brush set, which will be worth your money. The professional 2 Pk of a 3” flat and a 2.5” sash angle style. In particular, known as home brush kits, but also applicable for outdoor premium finishing projects. 

About the quality, we should have to consider its thinner tip first. Because much better recommendations not only provide moving power for smooth finishing with fewer streak lines. Whether its huge paint is holding capacity to save your money, if you love to paint with latex or whatever, you may go ahead. For such benefits, you can thank the attached synthetic filaments.

The leading hardwood handle with steel ferrule may create no-soon-rust trouble. But the durability may bore you to use the same design again and again in long term tedious jobs.


4. Infiniti Elementz 5P Wax Paint Brush

  • Weight: 13.6 ounces;
  • Package dimension: 9.5 x 3.5 x 2.7 inches;
  • Ferrule: steel;
  • Handle: hardwood.

Searching for something superior to the so-called synthetic bristles? In that case, Infiniti Elementz’s 5pc set of round edge paint brush is a smart choice for smooth finishing. No matter how the surface, you can clean your furniture too with such brushes. 

If you are fond of doing regular paint jobs, the perfect place to start with such a set of brush kits. Unlike several brush sets, this wax and chalk paint set can cover common painting tasks based on different coating types, especially acrylics. 

Including 2 big sized brushes in the packet can solve your wall painting anxiety. Instead of smaller rollers or spray cans for similar tasks. 

Despite the versatile brush kits, all the 5 have the same built-in quality for detailed work. Such as, 100% natural animal hair made bristles, hardwood yet lightweight handles. Each brush tip with SRT filament has a better controlling ability, yet no drag and drop. 

However, by giving more leverage, its handle reduces straining your wrists and back for longer chalk painting projects.


5. US Art Supply 25Pk Sponge Paint Brush for Smooth Finish

  • Weight: 3.98 ounces;
  • Brush size: 25 of 1”;
  • Handle: wood;

The most unique one in our listing, even the actual no paint dripping lovers would like it much. The entire package comes with each of 1” foam or sponge paint brushes for smooth finishing. The bevel foam features total absorption of paints and reduces drips until you apply it on the surface, whether large or small.

Despite having foam cells and a hardwood handle, it is as much as possible ergonomic and lightweight. Also, it is durable and enables the proper distribution of paints on every stroke with less streak line. Easy to grip handle enables you to narrow down spaces for detailed, issued jobs. 

However, we did not apply it with varnishes, polyurethanes, and chalks, except for all basic paints. But according to the manual, you can apply thoroughly with the mentioned mediums. Sounds good bucks for good quality, doesn’t it?


6. Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Sash Paint Brush for Smooth Finish

  • Weight: 0.01 ounces;
  • Brush size: 2”;
  • Ferrule: brass-plated steel;
  • Handle: rubber;
  • Filament material: nylon and polyester blend.

A multipurpose, good paint brush for a smooth finish is not too small, not too big. Means to remain versatile. For several painting projects, we used this 2-inches width. Perfect mid-sized sash angled brush from Wooster Brush Q3211-2. With less panel work to cover.

Like us, you can cover up, as usual, mid to large-sized surfaces, for instance, walls within the shortest time, leaving any streak type line. The overall size is typical, but its long and synthetic bristles comfort with a flexible purple suregrip handle, while painting focuses on the brush tip. As well, this function increases the paint holding power in between brush dipping time into cans or while you relax.

The blend of white nylon and gold polyester, is a perfect paint brush hair creation, unlike others. Means to use for both acrylic and oil-based paints. Whether the comfy designed rubber handle can save you from slippery painting, except for creating grip sweating. And, it’s messy you know but fits into hard corners! 


7. Wooster Brush Q3108-2 Smooth Finishing Paint Brush

  • Weight: 2.24 ounces;
  • Brush size: 2”;
  • Ferrule: brass-plated steel;
  • Handle: plastic;
  • Filament material: blend of gold polyester and white nylon.

The most common paint brush for smooth finishing is available in 2-inches, isn’t it? However, a wide range of branded ones you may find in this class. But many of these are not weight-to-price ratio types. Since our experience tends to list the Wooster Brush Q3108-2 in this category, with soft brush tips. 

Good enough brush heads are indeed stiff to increase paint brushes’ lifespan, without compromising the quality. The extra hardness may lead from small, like eye level imperfections to the shortcut smooth finishing of trim and baseboards. Sometimes, outdoor projects too. Whether soft brush tips do not offer stiffness but flexibility to create the same as a hard brush head does, even with less effort.

Its filaments, a combination of nylon and gold polyester, tend to complete painting with fewer paints. Even the painting category follows oil-based or latex, or acrylics. Also, reduce drag or drip when you move along the trim surface. A steel brass-plated ferrule, similar to the Q3211-2, reinforces the brush head. So it stays in your grip while painting.


8. Purdy 144400340 XL Series Swan Wall Paint Brush

  • Weight: 9 ounces;
  • Brush size: 4”;
  • Ferrule: brushed copper;
  • Handle: hardwood;
  • Filament material: Tynex Nylon and Orel polyester.

After determining to paint walls or baseboards, professionals to newbies choose roller or sprays to cover a large surface and speed up such tedious jobs. If they decide on Purdy 144400340 XL Swan Wall Paint Brush, bet neither to be even deceived. This large 4” paintbrush is an optimum solution for pros. However, it enabled me to cut the painting time, unlike with other brush models, in half.

Its handle is a breeze, as it has taken with natural bevertailed wooden finishing. Means to add extra glaze and provide anti-slip benefit, in oil-based painting cases most. Being large, instead of creating that odd feeling, the handle offers the best foundation. 

Featuring an extra-large head with a square edge will increase your maneuverability power through large surfaces. Whether it’s tips are damn awesome, a combination of fab nylon and polyester, in particular, increases paint holding capacity to work even outdoors in humid weather—even work-well with a variety of stains.


9. Bosobo 10 Pcs Paint Brushes for Smooth Finish

  • Brush size: 10 PCs (6.9 to 7.7 inches);
  • Ferrule: aluminum; 
  • Handle: wood;
  • Filament material: synthetic nylon;

Paintbrushes with different sizes at a single purchase are good enough for mid-level and small painting and trimming jobs. Though such paintbrushes are unique for common acrylic painting, people love the hand-brushed finish. For intricate details, these 10 Pcs separate art brushes of 6.9 to 7.7 inches with synthetic nylon bristles from Bososbo lead to huge creative possibilities.

For any fine detail, including acrylic, enamel, oil, watercolor, gouache, and cel-vinyl paints, use this brush set. Nothing matters like creating unique arts on walls, furniture, and more. A variety of shapes, such as pointed round, angular, liner/rigger, filbert, and flat are available for your touch-up projects. For example, war hammer 40K and D & D miniatures. Also, the set is compatible with skin arts with its durable anti-shedding bristles. 

However, it matches the bristles where larger brushes may not get matched. Each brush includes a nickel-plated aluminum ferrule to reduce hand fatigue at ease.


10. eHomeA2Z 10 Pack Foam Paint Brushes

  • Weight: 3.2 ounces;
  • Brush size: 1”-4”;
  • Handle: wood;

The last paintbrush set that we have included from eHomeA2Z, are top quality foam sponges. Available in a large pack of 10 pieces. Including each of 7” length and 1inch wide 5 pcs,2inch wide 3 pcs,3inch wide 1 pc,4inch wide 1 pc. However, for a fraction, you need to spend a little buck in big box stores. On top of that, you should purchase the foam kit set for smooth finishing, for instance, small to large trim work. 

Users sometimes get confused about sponges durability during rough applications, like on baseboards. Because the absorption power lets itself absorb paints, about 40% more. So, you can grab this one compared to other similar models for regular DIY projects around your house. Even for better and quick touch-ups, buy this. Remember to use all basics, except for shellac or lacquer paint mediums. 


11. Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle 3Pk Sash Paint Brush

  • Weight: 2.72 ounces;
  • Brush size: 2.25”;
  • Ferrule: brass-plated steel;
  • Handle: plastic;
  • Filament material: synthetic nylon and polyester.

Heading first with the paintbrush for smooth finishing is Wooster Brush Q3211-2. This shortcut angle series brush set in sash style is a total breeze. However, known as a specialist for pros while offering a flexible suregrip handle. With much comfort, it allows maneuver abilities.

As well, the grip measures 2.25-inches. With such mid-sized brushes, you can reach your interior and outdoor stuff in tight spaces, where other models may reach ease. A combination of superior gold shaded polyester and full white nylon filaments allow for the perfect use for all basic paints, whether chalk, wax or oil-based paints. Worth from its title, the shortcut angle uses narrow spaces as well as the shortcut cleansing system.

The steel and brass-plated ferrule will everlast its 100% durability. Better not to think much. Grab and move in many possible positions for fast painting projects.


FAQs

Put My Paint Brush Under Water Overnight for Smooth Finish?

Of course not. In particular, this is strictly prohibited. In particular, we can say the damage quality can take place, even worse in this way.  

Instead, you can rinse with clean water. Or, keep under running water after every painting session. Even it is now worth checking for included cardboard or card paper, to get separate brushes from each other.

Suitable Paint Brush for Enamel Paint?

Enamel paints or oil-based paints, different from acrylics or latex categories. In that case, to get perfect and smooth finishing, select a natural bristle attached paint brush. Even useful for further varnish, alkyd enamels, shellac, and stains. 

Because such natural bristles construction is especially for such paint mediums. Also, traditional painters and pros love this, as well it suits for finishing work.

Can Foam Paint Brush Give Smooth Finishing?

The overall design maintains itself with less care. It also absorbs each type of stains, paints, and urethanes. Yes, we are talking about foam paint brushes with such special top-qualities beyond the newbie crafts man’s imagination. It involves intricate work, for instance, molding, painting for large surfaces.

At a reasonable price, you can shop and use each one for once, even after smooth finishing. But throwing away after jobs means less worthy of money.

Wrap Up

Paintbrush for the smooth finish is not only a DIY project or professional. It is more than giving a fresh feeling with new paint on your interior and exterior surface. But spending bucks only after branded brushes is not a solution. The solution is to follow some essential opt-out facts. Like, width, angle, style, ferrule, bristles, and filaments for painting performance.

We have included each fact in our buyer’s guide. Take time and follow the mentioned ones while shopping for a paint brush.

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About This Writer

david rowan author

Hello, I am David Rowan. I am a professional contractor with 10 years of experience in home building, different tools used, construction, home remodeling, and other home improvement work. I have already built many custom homes and continued to do several woodworking projects along with how to deal with all categories of tools.

Hello, I am David Rowan. I am a professional contractor with 10 years of experience in home building, different tools used, construction, home remodeling, and other home improvement work. I have already built many custom homes and continued to do several woodworking projects along with how to deal with all categories of tools.

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