A $120 paintbrush? Must be pretty good, eh?

[4xdog]

This one has had me shaking my head for a while.
https://www.lucasprostore.com/pages/product-brush

(And it may be that I've spent too many years around vintage Triumph TRs, but a paintbrush with a name and a logo that reminds one *very* much of our old electrical systems seems like a strange analogy...)

 

[measuredtwice]

Not in the market for a $120 paint brush but I Googled it and the video is entertaining.... more entertaining than most of the stuff on TV.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_d9zIz8pyoQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Rabid Badger]

Countdown to the tool polishers telling us plebs how we just don't know enough to appreciate a brush of this caliber.

 

[OMMP]

Dang... Then it could easily make you van Gogh, Rembrandt or da Vinci

 

[ChrisLS8]

Wooster uses the same bristles for like 13 bucks

 

[Rabid Badger]

Wooster uses the same bristles for like 13 bucks

Dude. Did you see the seamless ferrule? Did you see the bumps on the back?

DID YOU SEE THE BUMPS?

 

[jd_1138]

Countdown to the tool polishers telling us plebs how we just don't know enough to appreciate a brush of this caliber.

True, but then again we aren't pro painters. To a pro painter, a $120 brush might be what they want. Heck, some painters charge thousands to paint a house, so $120 is relative chump change (and a tax writeoff). And if it results in beautiful high end results for their high end clients who are paying a lot, who are we to laugh at it.

I never paid attention to brushes, until I hired my pro carpenter cousin to help me repair my mom's house for resale. He had Purdy brushes, and he told me to grab them out of his truck, and I ripped the cardboard cover off (not realizing it had velcro on it to resuse it). Those brushes were nice to use, and then we carefully cleaned and laid them out to dry.

I can't use cheap brushes anymore. I have a set of Purdys which were like $30 I think.

 

[LOW1]

Life is too short to clean paintbrushes

 

[jd_1138]

Life is too short to clean paintbrushes

Problem is cheap brushes are a time waster. Wastes more time (and adds frustration) than just buying decent brushes and then cleaning them. Not to mention the time it costs you to go to the hardware store if you're out of cheap brushes and need more.

Once you are accustomed to nice brushes, you can't go back.

 

[LXCam]

Life is too short to clean paintbrushes

Bud purdy brushes are it hands down. A pro painter turned me on to these a couple decades ago and there’s just no going back. However I’ll be the first one to admit if what I gotta coat doesn’t need to be perfect, I’m all in with cheap brushes and tossing them when I’m finished.

 

[rlitman]

Life is too short to clean paintbrushes

Life is too short to use crappy disposable paintbrushes.

I love my Purdy brushes. For a comparable hand packed brush, I'd be spending $20-30 for a Purdy. Figure an extra $5 for the plastic upgraded case, $10 for the MUCH nicer handle (that's where I feel that Purdy falls flat; I prefer a finished handle like the Wooster Pro, but I don't like Wooster's packing), $5 for the nicer ferrule, and $5 for the not so great brush comb (Wooster USED to make a much better one that was like $6). So, at best, I'm seeing $55 in value here. Everything else is a luxury tax in my eyes.

Problem is cheap brushes are a time waster. Wastes more time (and adds frustration) than just buying decent brushes and then cleaning them. Not to mention the time it costs you to go to the hardware store if you're out of cheap brushes and need more.

Once you are accustomed to nice brushes, you can't go back.

Yup.

Bud purdy brushes are it hands down. A pro painter turned me on to these a couple decades ago and there’s just no going back. However I’ll be the first one to admit if what I gotta coat doesn’t need to be perfect, I’m all in with cheap brushes and tossing them when I’m finished.

I own my share of disposable china bristle and foam brushes. I use them for applying acid washes, strippers and the foam is good for certain painting tasks. But none of these are a substitute for a good brush.

I own a dozen or so Zibra brushes. They're a middle-of-the-line product that looks better than it really is, but I use them for undercoating and such (especially if I plan to sand the coat later anyway). Still only reach for the Purdy for finishing coats.

 

[LOW1]

$10 or $15 will buy a decent brush. Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in the fridge if it's a multiday project. Then throw it away. I agree that the $3 to $5 brushes are ****.

 

[jd_1138]

$10 or $15 will buy a decent brush. Wrap it in a plastic bag and put it in the fridge if it's a multiday project. Then throw it away. I agree that the $3 to $5 brushes are ****.

You toss away a $15 brush? Just rinse it out and let it dry -- takes just a few minutes of easy work. Besides saving the value of the brush, that's less brushes you need to go buy at the store later.

 

[exmaxima1]

Proform Picasso is better than any Purdy I've used. Cost less than $15

 

[Bighead38]

I agree good brushes are nice to use. Cheap brushes do have their place though. Just recently painted an f150 with por15. No way I was using a good brush. Over the time it took me to paint I used 3 cheap brushes. When I was done for the day I just put the brush in a cup of gas. Next day I dried it off and used it, after a few days it was junk and I moved to the next brush.

 

[zendriver]

It paints 10x better than a $12 model and 100X better than one that costs $1.20

 

[yrly]

I got some pretty decent paint brushes at the $.99 store that were well made and certainly not disposable grade.

 

[lardy1]

$20.00 will buy a decent ratchet. But you won't get a Snap-On for that price. Paint brushes have multiple levels of quality, also.

 

[KnurledNut]

Proform Picasso is better than any Purdy I've used. Cost less than $15

I feel ya.

 

[danski0224]

Looks like a lot of handwork in the manufacturing process.

Probably not made in China, Taiwan or some other low wage country. Pretty safe to assume it is made in the UK or at least in Europe. If it is made there, there is a good chance that the workers receive decent wages and benefits, and the manufacturer complies with environmental regulations on par with the USA.

Pretty fancy presentation box.

The price seems in line for what it is.

And it may actually be a really good paint brush.

 

[L5wolvesf]

(And it may be that I've spent too many years around vintage Triumph TRs, but a paintbrush with a name and a logo that reminds one *very* much of our old electrical systems seems like a strange analogy...)

Lucas paint brushes only paint dark colors in unlit places per "Lucas The Prince of Darkness.

 

[Skin]

Looks like a lot of handwork in the manufacturing process.

Probably not made in China, Taiwan or some other low wage country. Pretty safe to assume it is made in the UK or at least in Europe. If it is made there, there is a good chance that the workers receive decent wages and benefits, and the manufacturer complies with environmental regulations on par with the USA.

Pretty fancy presentation box.

The price seems in line for what it is.

And it may actually be a really good paint brush.

Purdy are US made, high quality, and run mostly between $10-$20. 6-12x the cost seems like they just don't want to sell them.

 

[seber]

I like Purdy brushes but I have to hide them from my wife sho never saw a paint brush that was worth cleaning.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I was in Japan about 5 years ago. In Kyoto I saw plenty of paintbrushes that cost more than that. Similar round style .
Really blew my mind.

 

[dnschmidt]

Out here in the West we have a paint store called Dunn-Edwards which is where most of the pros get their paint and supplies. Now I don't know who makes their paint brushes, or if in fact they make them themselves, but Dunn-Edwards branded paint brushes I have found to be very good.

 

[IdahoMan]

LOL.

You're just not a real tradesman unless you spend $120 for paintbrush, $200 for a handsaw, or $90 on a divider.

 

[four.cycle]

Looks from the video like they're well made, although I have to wonder how you're supposed to use that type of a brush for cutting in edges and corners.
Certainly they must offer other models?

I usually use a Purdy 3-inch chisel for most cut work, which works fine.

I am not the least bit surprised by that price, considering that the first pro brushes I bought in 1970 (Commercial Sign Supply, Seattle) ranged anywhere from $15.00 - $40.00 each. Unfortunately you can no longer purchase those old "Artsign" Russian sable truck lettering brushes. The big fat fitches were usually considerably more - I can't recall what type of hair they used in them.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I've even heard of people buying Snap-On !! If you varnish something and your paint brush levels brush marks, you have to sand them out and do it again, because your work looks like ****.

 

[Stuart in MN]

This is just like the Snap-On posts that come up here almost every day...sure, it's expensive but if a pro painter can amortize its use over ten years (or whatever), the cost isn't that big a deal.

 

[bczygan]

Worth it for the video alone!

Bill

 

[ChrisLS8]

Looks like a lot of handwork in the manufacturing process.

Probably not made in China, Taiwan or some other low wage country. Pretty safe to assume it is made in the UK or at least in Europe. If it is made there, there is a good chance that the workers receive decent wages and benefits, and the manufacturer complies with environmental regulations on par with the USA.

Pretty fancy presentation box.

The price seems in line for what it is.

And it may actually be a really good paint brush.

Maybe if their manufacturing process hasn't been updated since the dark ages and they overpay on materials

 

[Spareparts]

They made the higher end paint brushes for the Government at the Federal Prison in Leavenworth in the mid 70's, don't know if that dept is still there. Them brushes were some of the best brushes ever made, but they were expensive then, all came with Federal Stock Numbers on them, the bristles for them came from Russia and was told they were pig hair from Siberia. The inmates would use one and throw it in the trash, at the time I was working in the Industries Building and asked the Lieutant if I could have them, he gave me an outslip for about 6 of them, cleaned them up and couldn't believe how well they painted, and they lasted for at least 15 yrs.

 

[ZRX61]

Looks from the video like they're well made, although I have to wonder how you're supposed to use that type of a brush for cutting in edges and corners.
Certainly they must offer other models?

Friend in the UK had been painting homes in Holland for a few years. When he came back to the UK he bought his kit with him. The brushes were round.

 

[Legion Prime]

Looks from the video like they're well made, although I have to wonder how you're supposed to use that type of a brush for cutting in edges and corners.
Certainly they must offer other models?

I usually use a Purdy 3-inch chisel for most cut work, which works fine.

I am not the least bit surprised by that price, considering that the first pro brushes I bought in 1970 (Commercial Sign Supply, Seattle) ranged anywhere from $15.00 - $40.00 each. Unfortunately you can no longer purchase those old "Artsign" Russian sable truck lettering brushes. The big fat fitches were usually considerably more - I can't recall what type of hair they used in them.

Sable? Typically from the tail of the Siberian weasel.

They made the higher end paint brushes for the Government at the Federal Prison in Leavenworth in the mid 70's, don't know if that dept is still there. Them brushes were some of the best brushes ever made, but they were expensive then, all came with Federal Stock Numbers on them, the bristles for them came from Russia and was told they were pig hair from Siberia. The inmates would use one and throw it in the trash, at the time I was working in the Industries Building and asked the Lieutant if I could have them, he gave me an outslip for about 6 of them, cleaned them up and couldn't believe how well they painted, and they lasted for at least 15 yrs.

Boar bristle is nice stuff, really nice stuff! I prefer my boar bristle shaving brushes to my badger ones. The bristles have more rigidity and with use before long they're softer than even silvertip badger. Omega brushes are classics but my Portugese Semogue brush is my absolute favorite.

 

[danski0224]

Purdy are US made, high quality, and run mostly between $10-$20. 6-12x the cost seems like they just don't want to sell them.

So?

Purdy must make tens of millions of paint brushes. They are in all 3 box stores in my area- at all locations I've been in.

The Purdy brushes are also in places like Ace.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are also in Wal Mart and Meijer.

I have a few and think that they are ok.

Maybe there are other choices in an actual paint store...

The Purdy brushes come in a card stock sleeve.

The presentation box for the Lucas brush shown is probably at least 1/4 of the price.

For someone that does high end finish work all the time, that Lucas brush may be a bargain. It certainly wouldn't be useful to someone that thinks that a $15 Purdy is expensive.

Not much different than Snap-On vs Pittsburgh...

And I'm sure that the price mentioned includes VAT, which is about 20%.

 

[lardy1]

Not much different than Snap-On vs Pittsburgh...

Same ****, different day. Makes me glad that I'm not the one charged with judging how others spend their own money.

 

[jonshonda]

Quality cut in brushes are worth a small investment in $$ and time cleaning imho. Don't buy one that is too wide either, 2" or less is much easier to cut in then something wider.

 

[MikeF2316]

Good brushes not only make for a better finish, they hold more paint, so you have to dip it less often. Then the paint goes on more evenly.

 

[ChrisLS8]

So?

Purdy must make tens of millions of paint brushes. They are in all 3 box stores in my area- at all locations I've been in.

The Purdy brushes are also in places like Ace.

I wouldn't be surprised if they are also in Wal Mart and Meijer.

I have a few and think that they are ok.

Maybe there are other choices in an actual paint store...

The Purdy brushes come in a card stock sleeve.

The presentation box for the Lucas brush shown is probably at least 1/4 of the price.

For someone that does high end finish work all the time, that Lucas brush may be a bargain. It certainly wouldn't be useful to someone that thinks that a $15 Purdy is expensive.

Not much different than Snap-On vs Pittsburgh...

And I'm sure that the price mentioned includes VAT, which is about 20%.

why are you trying to justify this price so much. They introduce a ton of unneeded costs such as a stupid presentation box to the end user.

The bristles are what makes the brush and if there is a US made brush at 1/10th the price using the same materials what exactly is the appeal of the far far more expensive one that won't perform any better? The fancy box?

 

[IdahoMan]

Same ****, different day. Makes me glad that I'm not the one charged with judging how others spend their own money.

I'm having a hard time believing this thread even exists. A $120 paintbrush and people are talking like it's worth it.

The world is screwed. No wonder you can't find anything (tools, shoes, paintbrushes) anymore. It's either garbage from commiecrapland, or $20/ea number2 pencils.

People are.. no words. I'm at a loss for words. Monty Python would be stumped at trying to write a sketch for this.