Purdy vs. Wooster?

[jd_1138]

I'm kinda hard headed sometimes. I refurb'd a disabled friend's shed (replaced a lot of wood/trim wood) and then I painted it. I used those el cheapo brushes (50 cent ones at HD). They don't hold paint, they drip, can't get a nice even stroke, the bristles are easily bent and thus get paint on the wrong surfaces, etc.. They're ***** matter.

Ugh. I finally broke down and bought the $19 value pack of Purdy brushes to do the touch up on the trim. What a difference. My pro carpenter cousin had Purdy brushes when I hired him to help me on my mom's old house a couple of years ago. He jokingly yelled at me when we first started because he told me were his brushes were, and I went to get one and I ripped the cardboard cover off -- not knowing it was a re-usable cover. I didn't know Purdys were the best, sorta pricey but worth it.

I was just going to buy the trim brush for $8, but I did the math and figured I'd save a lot by getting the value pack.

 

[Hiball]

Neither one of them fit my hand very well, I prefer the checkbook brand.

 

[beamrider]

Purdy Titians are the best. Sadly, I found out today they just quit making them.

Thanks Sherwin Williams! .........jackasses.......grrrrrrrrr

 

[dutchgray]

I use Purdys for any thing that doesn't destroy brushes. Though 3 for $19 would be nice, they are about double that here in real terms.

 

[CGT80]

Wooster brushes are great. I used to use the purdy xl glide in 3 and 3.5 inch, and the same size in wooster, and also ICI. Prices can run $16-20 for a single brush but they are well worth it and last a very long time, even when you use them every day. A painter's comb and block style wire brush are great for cleaning and I used a cheap kitchen sink sprayer in my utility sink to force water in the brush and flush out the paint, then shake water out, brush the bristles straight, and hang 12+ hours to dry.

Both nylon and nylon/poly blends work well. The only time to use cheap brushes is when you don't care about the quality of the paint job, or when using oil based paint where most of the work is done with a roller. Thinner is expensive and brushes are a pain to clean with thinner. Water clean up paints make cleaning brushes, rollers, airless sprayers, and conventional sprayers much faster, easier, and cheaper.

 

[seagravedriver]

They are both great, and I am a paint brush nazi. You don't get to use my brushes. Ever. I prefer Wooster for my needs. Just me though. I like they way the load paint. And get a brush comb as mentioned above.

 

[1969]

Neither one of them fit my hand very well, I prefer the checkbook brand.

LOL, I like that!

 

[jd_1138]

They are both great, and I am a paint brush nazi. You don't get to use my brushes. Ever. I prefer Wooster for my needs. Just me though. I like they way the load paint. And get a brush comb as mentioned above.

My pro carpenter cousin is the same way. He was protective of his Purdy brushes. This was a couple of years ago before I started to care about quality tools. He had a dripless caulk gun. What?!?! I had never even heard of that before. I'd only get the el cheapo $3 caulk guns.

Working with him made me appreciate quality tools. He had DeWalt power tools mostly and a Skilsaw Mag worm drive circular saw.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Purdy White Dove for rollers.

I have used both Purdy and Wooster brushes. IMHO, they are both excellent. That 3 pack for $19 looks like a good deal.

 

[beamrider]

Black Nylon(Nylox), or forget it. BORG Purdy is usually **** purdy. The BORG Wooster brushes aren't horrible, tho. One sash, can't remember the name, but it's a yellow and purple brush cover, white chinex bristles I think. Damn fine brush.

 

[Finky198]

Yup I like mine purdy as well...

My fav brushes for all coatings and paint. I painted up some 1/2" plywood side for a tool box 2 coats of black rustoleum from a gallon. I've had them along time. I like your story... If you clean them well they will last a very long time...

JD ^^^ The dewalt stuff is nice I have there worm drive saw, a dws780, and 1/4 sheet sander Ive been happy with all of them. My coworker has the skil mag 77 also a great saw...

There's nothing better then working quality tools it make life a little smoother in the shop...

 

[mike7]

I always thought that paint brushes were just disposable...

(No wonder I hate painting so much. I've been using the wrong brushes.)

 

[DMAR]

I've had great experience with both Purdy and Wooster, good brushes! I tend to have more Purdy. I'm a big believer in quality brushes, life is to short to use cheap *** paint brushes!!

 

[CGT80]

For 9" roller covers, I use lamb's wool in 1/2" and 3/4". They do not splatter as much, are very fine, and they hold a lot of paint and clean up very well. The price was about $10 each, last time I bought them. Rinse them and spin them with a roller spinner so they fluff out. They make purdy covers look like junk. Most people don't put enough paint on the roller or brush. Using enough paint and the right technique to lay the paint out, makes the finish much nicer and it is easier and faster to do. I like to use a new roller for primer or non critical areas, the first time, and then wash them. That gets any stray hairs out of them and sort of breaks them in. They seem to work a bit better on the second job.

 

[jd_1138]

And FYI, the Wally World of the 'net (Amazon) wants $27 for the 3 pack of Purdy brushes that are only $19 at Home Depot. I didn't even find the Wooster 3 pack on Amazon.

The Wooster 3 pack at HD is only $17.

 

[PassnThru]

I haven't tried Purdy but I have a lot of Wooster brushes - and I can't remember the last time I bought one. Some of them have been used repeatedly for clear Poly too.
Good brushes make a difference - having said that though - I have a good supply of HF chip brushes also for trash work.

 

[Rileysan]

I am partial to Purdy because they sponsored my little league team when I was growing up. Purdy Brushes were manufactured only a couple miles from where I grew up in Portland.

 

[jd_1138]

I am partial to Purdy because they sponsored my little league team when I was growing up. Purdy Brushes were manufactured only a couple miles from where I grew up in Portland.

I noticed a little sticker on each of the brushes that is signed by the worker who made it. Nice touch. Made in the USA.

 

[CutterFarms]

I prefer Wooster myself because they hold more paint if your doing it everyday. My dad mostly uses the Purdy sash. Purdy clean up easier and alot faster. A paint brush is just like buying a quality tool. You definitely get what you pay for. Imo

 

[jd_1138]

I still have the original 3 pack of Purdy's, and they never stop amazing me. I'm using one of them to rehab a friend's shed (painting some new doors that I built and some trim).

Yesterday, the Purdy brush fell into the gallon of paint and was submerged almost all of the way in. I pulled it out and laid it on a piece of scrap wood. I didn't have time to clean it right then and there. I thought "well now it's going to be covered in paint forever."

2 hours later, I went and washed it out at the water hose, and the paint that was on the wood handle and the metal part just sort of washed off easily. Like 95% of it. I did use a fingernail to remove what little was left. I washed out the bristles and laid it in the sun. I beat the **** out of these brushes and they come back for more. They do a great job and hold the paint well and paint a nice edge -- with no drips.

 

[dnschmidt]

Out here in the West we have a paint company called Dunn-Edwards. Supposedly they make their own paint brushes in LA. They are outstanding. Both Purdy and Wooster are fine Brestt-Liebco are good as well.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

And just a reminder to all...oil based paints; stick your brush in the freezer, then reuse all the time. I do a lot of Rust-Oleum oil gloss white and gloss black, so I throw the brushes in an open zip lock bag, place in freezer, and thaw them for 5 minutes before use.

I buy Purdy, Wooster, and any other good brush when I see them brand new at the swap meet or yard sales. I have a big old bucket of them just waiting to be used.

 

[rk_tek]

I usually go with Purdy. Mine are off limits from my wife. She has her own that's in bad shape after 1 yr. I have 3 that I used when I worked as a carpenter and 2 are still like new. The other was used to prime cut ends and often stayed out all day while we worked.
My grandfather was a painter and had a parts washer at home that all the brushes used for oil paint got washed in then hung to dry for work the next day. My mom still has some of his 30yr old brushes.

 

[Lyptix]

I am partial to the wooster brushes myself. Never had any complaint.

 

[KnurledNut]

The Purdy XL Cub gets my vote.

 

[TOOLS4WORK]

Purdy for sure , i use oxhair for oil base paint finer the china bristle
for roller covers hansteck pure merino wool hand sewn all the way
if you can find a black diamond that is a painters brush , not small artists brush they are good also

 

[PelicanPines]

I have a solid variety of Purdy. Including an unopened package like that.

 

[Norcal]

A good brush is necessary for a good paint job. Purdy makes good ones.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I learned long ago to buy good brushes ! I use old fashioned Lestoil for cleaning.

Over time you will get dried up paint build up near the metal ferrule. Buy a some brush cleaner and rig up away to suspend the brush in an old can so that the tips of the brush do not rest on the bottom. You can buy a paint brush "comb" to remove the hardened paint off the bristle after they loosened.

Purdy White Dove roller cover for me !

 

[anndel]

Both are excellent and lasts a longtime when you clean them good. My last brush was a Wooster as that was the only quality brush brand the hardware store closest to my home carried.

 

[Wamsutta]

The professional painters don't buy Purdy no more; not since Sherwin Williams bought the company. It's either Wooster or Corona for the pros now.

 

[artbuc]

The professional painters don't buy Purdy no more; not since Sherwin Williams bought the company. It's either Wooster or Corona for the pros now.

I do a lot of interior and exterior painting. Wooster and Corona are my favorite brushes. Have tried a number of Purdy's over the years and found them far inferior. If you buy the very best brushes, rollers and paint, panting is actually quite enjoyable. But the all important prep work still *****, lol.

 

[Finky198]

I like my purdy have a set maybe 5 brushes covers everything, I used to do a lot more painting of houses and rentals many a 5gal pail, at least 20, but I'm still on my orig purdy brushes and the same goes here no one touches my good brushes.

How well they last has a direct correlation to how clean of a painter you can be. Theirs no need to rush and make a mess take your time and speed up as you get comfortable. Clean them after each use and you will be good for a long while.........

I buy boxes of HF chip brushes in 2-3 size for shop use it keeps people from getting any ideas...

 

[rlitman]

I learned long ago to buy good brushes ! I use old fashioned Lestoil for cleaning.

Over time you will get dried up paint build up near the metal ferrule. Buy a some brush cleaner and rig up away to suspend the brush in an old can so that the tips of the brush do not rest on the bottom. You can buy a paint brush "comb" to remove the hardened paint off the bristle after they loosened.

Purdy White Dove roller cover for me !

Lestoil? I guess I need to try that now. I wash my synthetic brushes (applying latex paint) in warm water with Dawn and a brush comb. My natural brushes (for oil based paint) get washed in mineral spirits, or a non-flammable paint thinner (it's worthless as a thinner, but ok as a wash).

As for paint near the ferrule, I find that moistening the brush before you first dip it helps keep the paint from wicking up where you don't want it.

Yes, Purdy White Dove roller covers FTW.

The professional painters don't buy Purdy no more; not since Sherwin Williams bought the company. It's either Wooster or Corona for the pros now.

Interesting. I have not bought brushes in around 10 years. At that time, the Wooster options were pretty much all inferior to the Purdy ones that I have, though I did fine some premium ones that were ok.

 

[Jon_E]

Although not a pro, I have a decent selection of Purdy, Wooster and Linzer brushes. Also all the proper tools to clean them, including brush comb, spinner, etc. No point in paying big bucks for a brush if you're gonna chuck it. Surprised nobody's mentioned Linzer - they're not too bad in my opinion.

I am looking for a high quality brush for shellac. Any ideas?

 

[Finky198]

Rlitman Same here I got mine purdys about 8-9 years ago. So I am not in the loop with the current stuff.