RichardA Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I've used a foam brush exactly once! It sucked! No doubt it was a very cheap one, though I don't remember where I got it, it just showed up one day in my Misc. stuff! My question is this: Are there quality foam brushes? And who sells them? And how do you tell a good brush from a bad brush, by looking at them? Thank's for any responses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Quality varies all over the place. I try them and then stock up on the ones that behave. Sample boards, touch ups and very small projects are where I use them, otherwise I prefer to spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I used to get the crappy ones with the red handles at the hobby store. Now I buy ones from amazon with a wooden handle. They last much longer and don't seem to break apart while applying finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Some foam brushes will disintegrate in the presence of petroleum solvents. That makes a mess I tell ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Rick, I've found that the ones Walmart sell are as good or better than others. The wood handle has a small plastic tab that supports the foam. The ones from Walmart have a longer tab that goes out closer to the end of the brush, therefore preventing the foam brush from folding over as you apply the finish. They are also less expensive than HD's and Rockler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurricane Dry Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Yes. Jen brand foam brushes are available at Amazon and jamesdistributors. The cheap imports tend to flop around due to lousy foam, lousy stiffners and they can often pop out of the handle due to lousy attachment. The Jen brand foam brushes are American made, still cheap, have better foam, have a better internal stiffner, have better attachment to the stick. All these things make a huge difference for painting products such as general finishes high performance and milk paints. Wooster brand foam brushes are sold at Amazon, Home Depot and Lowes. They are also excellent due to good foam, good stiffener, and good attachment but the price is much higher than the Jen brushes. You do get a nicer handle which I think is unnecessary for the cost increase. Jen Brushes are also available in multiple widths which can be useful. I have not used the foam brushes on any non-waterborne products so certain solvents may affect them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I agree with Hurricane. Jen brushes are great and won't break the bank. These were highly recommended by my GF dealer. Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 14 minutes ago, Hurricane Dry said: Yes. Jen brand foam brushes are available at Amazon and jamesdistributors. The cheap imports tend to flop around due to lousy foam, lousy stiffners and they can often pop out of the handle due to lousy attachment. The Jen brand foam brushes are American made, still cheap, have better foam, have a better internal stiffner, have better attachment to the stick. All these things make a huge difference for painting products such as general finishes high performance and milk paints. Wooster brand foam brushes are sold at Amazon, Home Depot and Lowes. They are also excellent due to good foam, good stiffener, and good attachment but the price is much higher than the Jen brushes. You do get a nicer handle which I think is unnecessary for the cost increase. Jen Brushes are also available in multiple widths which can be useful. I have not used the foam brushes on any non-waterborne products so certain solvents may affect them. Aren't you just a fountain of foam brush knowledge. That's good to know & thanks for the info. Just checked on Amazon.ca & the Jen 2" foam brushes are $13.43 CDN for a 48 pack. That would be cheaper than free to you Americans. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurricane Dry Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I usually use a high quality Corona brush for hand painting Benjamin Moore Advance or PPG Breakthrough as well as the primers for each. Sometimes I roll and back brush. The Jen foam brushes are perfect for putting down General Finishes High Performance. You can get a very smooth finish because it puts down the right amount and absorbs the extra for a stroke free finish. I've used them on already assembled drawers and was pleased with the results. One day, I'll get a sprayer. But for now, and also for small jobs, or touch ups, the Jen brand foam comes in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Recently, I started using foam brushes on the first few coats of waterlox, and wiping on the final layer. I like the foam brushes for an even heavier-than-wiping coat of finish. Does anyone reuse brushes, or just pitch them? Thanks for the heads up on brushes from amazon. I need someone to explain to me why 48 2" brushes are $18 american for me and $10 american for the Canadians. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Aren't you just a fountain of foam brush knowledge. That's good to know & thanks for the info. Just checked on Amazon.ca & the Jen 2" foam brushes are $13.43 CDN for a 48 pack. That would be cheaper than free to you Americans. Wow I got screwed. I think i paid 2.50$ each. Oh well. I only bought a couple. Spraying is where its at ! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk I need someone to explain to me why 48 2" brushes are $18 american for me and $10 american for the Canadians. For once you guys are getting screwed ! I love it !! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurricane Dry Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 3 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Wow I got screwed. I think i paid 2.50$ each. Oh well. I only bought a couple. Spraying is where its at ! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk For once you guys are getting screwed ! I love it !! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Maybe, the Canadians are only getting 50 mm paint brushes and we are getting genuine 2" brushes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Maybe, the Canadians are only getting 50 mm paint brushes and we are getting genuine 2" brushes? Haha! This is quite possible ! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I worked at a box store for a summer in college and i was always baffled about how many blokes from Winnipeg came down and bought materials made in Canada just to drive them back across the boarder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurricane Dry Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 52 minutes ago, shaneymack said: Haha! This is quite possibly ! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk It also may be due to Gluten free requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h3nry Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I've never understood why people use foam brushes, I guess I've never used a good one - they always seem worse than awful, I much prefer bristle brushes. Are they supposed to work better than bristle brushes by applying finish smoother? I guess a combination of oil-based finishes and cheap brushes has made me steer clear of them. Should I try again with better quality foam brushes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conundrum Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I never used to use them but I found they are perfect when making routed signs. I paint the lower (routed) portions with a brush and then use a foam brush to finish and paint the high parts. I make sure to get most of the paint off the brush so there is no dripping liquid and then use it to skim over the top areas. It takes several coats but is easy to use and saves a lot of work compared to other methods. Bristle brushes want to get down in the cuts and just don't work for that. I've never been able to get any decent results using foam brushes on anything else but for this purpose they are perfect. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 when i have had a good foam brush i liked them. i didn't realize there was such variety in quality. i bought some cheap ones out of the ace hardware cheap bin once and they fell apart. went back to using rags. now i gotsta go on amazon and order some jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeslayer Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 Hurricane and Shane are right on, i don't have a sprayer and use foam all the time. the good ones are dense to the touch and a grey color with plastic in the middle for strength. i get mine at Menards,i put them in a plastic zip loc bag between coats then in the freezer between coats, works about twice then toss them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted June 23, 2016 Report Share Posted June 23, 2016 I tried some foam brushes but found that for oil based clears i was way better with bristles.Maybe foam is better idk the ones i had said some nasty things about my mother so they got the boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I like it for Waterlox. I hate it for ARS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 I like it for ARS. I first started using them at the suggestion of llama and immediately thought he or I one were idiots. I soon found it to be me as I was loading it up and ended up applying too much, especially where I touched the piece with it and where I removed the brush. Now I will remove quiet a bit around the underside of the lip of the can, before applying. It's like wooing a lady, success is with the finesse! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 Apparently these aren't so cheap in Canada after all... the 48 pack was over $33 in shipping! Changed my mind on that impulse buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 14 minutes ago, SawDustB said: Apparently these aren't so cheap in Canada after all... the 48 pack was over $33 in shipping! Changed my mind on that impulse buy. Ahhh, all is right with the world once again. next project I have, I will probably buy the 36 count of 3" brushes. I like the wide ones the most for consistent application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted June 24, 2016 Report Share Posted June 24, 2016 34 minutes ago, SawDustB said: Apparently these aren't so cheap in Canada after all... the 48 pack was over $33 in shipping! Changed my mind on that impulse buy. Yeah, shipping would have been $68 to Calgary. I didn't mention shipping cause I just wanted to have a moment of Canadian glory, even if it was false. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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