Best Paint Brush Types for Cabinet Painting

Transforming worn-out cabinets with a fresh coat of paint breathes new life into any kitchen or bathroom. But achieving an immaculate, professional-quality paint job hinges on using the right paintbrushes. When armed with quality brushes designed for the intricacies of cabinetry, you can easily turn lackluster cabinets into an elegant showpiece.

Not all paintbrushes are created equal, however. The best cleaners for cabinet painting have a tapered tip bristles engineered to access hard-to-reach nooks as you apply smooth brushstrokes onto corners, shelves, doors and drawers. Choosing the wrong roller or brush can leave unsightly texture, uneven paint coverage and frustrating brush marks that ruin the finished product.

Choose the Right Brush for Painting Cabinets

Angled sash paintbrushes stand out as the top performers for flawless finishes on kitchen and bathroom cabinets. The angled shape and tapered tip help painters maneuver the brush in tight spots and apply an even coat inside cabinet corners. Sash brushes also enable excellent control along cabinet edges to minimize messy drips.

Discuss Brush Types Like Angled, Flat and Trim

An angled sash brush takes the top spot for cabinet painting, but flat, trim and specialty brushes also have roles to play. Flat brushes excel for broad surfaces like cabinet doors and sides. For detail painting, a trim brush has a tiny tip to finesse paint application in grooves, carved accents and ornate trim. Oval or round paintbrushes also come handy for adding a decorative touch.

Compare Natural and Synthetic Bristles

Bristle material affects a brush's performance and durability. Traditionally, professionals used natural bristle brushes crafted from hog hair or Chinese ox hair. But today's synthetic brushes prove equally useful for contractors and DIYers. Nylon and polyester filaments create a softer, more flexible brush with smoother paint application. The choice comes down to the type of paint you'll use.

Consider Brush Sizes for Cabinets

Cabinet paintbrushes come in widths ranging from one to four inches. Wider brushes carry more paint, speeding up application on broad surfaces. But the narrow construction of cabinet interiors calls for smaller brush sizes. Optimal control comes from using a one- to two-inch sash brush for cabinet corners and a two- or three-inch brush for larger expanses.

Brush Quality for Smooth Finishes

Cheap brushes might save a few dollars, but the results speak for themselves. Quality paintbrushes better hold their shape and deliver paint evenly without stray bristles marring the finish. Investing in quality means smoother results. Brands like Wooster and Purdy enjoy favor among seasoned painters for their proven durability.

Prep Paint Brushes for Best Results

Prepping and caring meticulously for paintbrushes makes your job much easier while also extending useful life. But skipping important preparatory steps usually leads to disappointment when brushes underperform by creating uneven, blotchy coverage.

Condition Bristles Before First Use

"Conditioning" readies stiff new brush bristles by allowing them to become fully saturated and flexible. Start by submerging the entire brush overnight in the appropriate solvent like water for latex paint or mineral spirits for oil-based coatings. Come morning, the bristles soften for better paint absorption.

Break In New Brushes Properly

Before painting, "break in" a new brush by gently pressing it onto a wire mesh screen, pegboard or scrub pad. This separates any bristles still stuck together from the manufacturing process. Avoid rough surfaces that could damage bristles.

Clean Brushes Thoroughly Before Painting

Even brand-new brushes collect dust that can transfer into fresh paint, creating unwanted texture. Remove loose debris by washing brushes before you start painting. Use the appropriate solvent, then reshape Bristles before allowing them to fully dry.

Store Upright to Maintain Shape

Letting brushes dry out upside down risks bending and misshaping bristles. Stand brushes handle-down in a sturdy container until the painting job wraps up. This keeps the shape of the brush intact for a smoother finish.

Prep the Cabinets Before Painting

Achieving flawless, long-lasting results from a cabinet paint job starts with diligent prep work before ever cracking open a paint can. Rushing into brushing or spraying paint onto surfaces that aren't properly cleaned, sanded and primed sets the stage for peeling, chipping and other premature failures down the road.

Clean Surfaces Thoroughly

Eliminate all dirt, oils, wax and grease that cause loss of paint adhesion by washing cabinets with a deglossing solution. TSP substitute removes gloss, soap scum and grime. Rinse thoroughly, let dry completely and address any damaged areas before priming.

Sand Cabinets for Proper Adhesion

While not always essential, lightly sanding smooths existing surfaces to "tooth" them for optimal adhesion. Use fine 150- to 220-grit paper for a smooth scuff. Vacuum dust before wiping all surfaces with a tack cloth.

Fill Holes and Imperfections

Fixing dents, gouges and scratches prevents them from telegraphing through a new painted finish. Use spackling paste or wood putty for minor flaws, then sand smooth when dry. Cover large holes by cutting and gluing wood plugs.

Remove Doors and Hardware

Detaching doors allows easier access for painting cabinet frames and boxes. Number doors to ensure correct reinstallation. Scrape old caulk and pry off hinges and hardware using a putty knife. Set aside screws in labeled bags.

Control Paint Application

Applying paint may seem straightforward. But developing proper brush techniques takes practice--especially for intricate cabinetry loaded with coves, edges and carved details hungry for drips. Mastering control starts with fully loading the brush before starting a stroke.

Load the Paint Evenly on the Brush

First dip only halfway into paint, then patter bristles against the side of the can. Push brush flat against the bottom to force paint into the base of bristles. Reload paint halfway up bristles for complete coverage.

Distribute Pressure for Even Coats

Once loaded, feather out paint by distributing pressure across brush hairs rather than forcing paint out of the bristle tips. This prevents uneven coats. Angle the brush to fan paint toward edges without running.

Adapt Technique to Brush Type

Filament thickness and shape differ on trim, angled or specialty brushes. Allow bristles to flex naturally rather than overly bending them to reach intricate areas. Use the brush size and shape suited for each section rather than forcing one type for all surfaces.

Adjust to Paint Type Like Latex or Oil

Brush gently using the paint-loaded belly of the brush when applying water-based latex enamels. Oil-based paint calls for firmer pressure to spread viscosity, but go easy on vertical strokes to prevent runs. Tipping off strokes also blends transitions.

Achieve Professional Results

DIYers can mimic an expert paint job by applying fundamentals used by professional painters. Careful planning ensures you achieve the desired smooth, consistent and enduring finish on your next cabinet painting project.

Allow Proper Dry Time Between Coats

Latex paint cures via water evaporation, so follow manufacturer directions for recoat time. Oil-based enamels dry by oxidation, requiring up to 24 hours between coats. Insufficient dry times can undermine adhesion.

De-glossing between coats utilizes fine sandpaper to dull shiny spots for improved mechanical adhesion. Wipe away all dust before adding the next finish layer. Always wear proper respiratory protection.