I can't think of anything more frustrating than to look at a wall and notice the poor paint job. Want to know the biggest giveaway? Whether it has straight lines or not. Want to know how you achieve those straight lines? With a cutting in paintbrush. It’s as simple as that!
Related: How to choose the best paint for your walls at home
Many beginners and DIY enthusiasts realise very early on the need for one. They are not only great for in-between walls, ceilings, and mouldings of different surfaces but also corners and cutting into those smaller areas. This is because of their sash angle, allowing you to fan the angled tips of the brush out to achieve an even line of paint and makes corners easily accessible.
These are a few handy tips when using cutting in paint brushes:
1. Ease up on the amount of paint you use every stoke
2. Don’t be afraid to wiggle the brush a bit when faced with tight areas (corners)
3. Ensure you have plenty of light in your workplace (so there are no excuses to achieve a straight line)
4. Always paint up to a line and take advantage of extending the bristles so you use the tip of the brush
5. Everyone makes a few rookie errors. Make sure you have a damp cloth ready (which some people like to put around a putty knife) to clean up where you might have gotten over excited
Best cutting in paint brushes
1 of 8Dulux Perfect Edges 1 inch Triangle Brush
This Dulux Perfect Edges 1-inch Triangle Brush is a great one for cutting in. Coming in a range of sizes (1-inch to 3-inches) and a set of three, the blue brush weighs next to nothing. Its unique shaped brush head is designed for precision edging and the brush ensures no loss of bristles.
£9.06
- Rrp: £9.30
2 of 8Purdy Clearcut Series Glide Angular Trim Paint Brush, 2-1/2 Inch, 2.5
Another Purdy favourite is this Clearcut Series Glide Angular Trim 2.5-inches Paint Brush. With hundreds of high ratings and recommended by many professional painters, this cutting in brush ensures you get a neat joint at the ceiling, around doors and skirting boards. With long bristles and a beautiful wooden handle, it's certainly worth the investment and is suitable for all paints.
£22.45
3 of 8Hamilton Performance 2" Cutting in Brush for Precise Cutting in All Types of Paint
The best cutting in paintbrush for precision is Hamilton's Performance 2-inch product. Suitable for all types of paint, the synthetic filament allows for a high-quality application, finish, and durability. Especially, for water-based paints. The medium series size also seems to hold more paint than thinner models. Its wooden handle may be short but is super comfortable.
£4.00
- Rrp: £4.24
4 of 8Purdy Elite Dale Sash Paint Brush, 1.5 Inch
Another great cutting in sash brash is Purdy's Elite Dale 1.5-inch product. With thousands of reviews, it has been designed for a greater paint lift and smoother application. The hand is chiselled for precision cutting in and you're guaranteed no loss of filaments. Ideal for water and solvent-based coatings, it allows for the perfect painting of edges.
£13.95
5 of 8Wooster Brush Q3211-2 Shortcut Angle Sash Paintbrush, 2-Inch, White, 2 inch
Wooster Brush has created the shortcut angle sash paintbrush which is extremely popular. With over 6000 five-star reviews, it has a flexible purple Shergrip handle (2-inches), giving it great manoeuvrability in tight spaces. It's white and ideal for all acrylic paints.
£8.99
6 of 8Harris 102011005 2" Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Angled Paint Brush
Harris's Seriously Good Walls and Ceilings Angled Paint Brush is one of the best for cutting in – and it says it all in the name! The 2-inch brush has been designed to give you a controlled paint application along edges and into corners. Especially with emulsion paint, you will see some excellent results. It's got a no-loss technology meaning the bristles will very much stay in place.
£2.40
- Rrp: £3.00
7 of 8Hamilton Prestige Synthetic Sash Brush 3 Pack
One of the best cutting in brush sets is the Hamilton Prestige Sash Three Pack. Being Amazon's choice for sash brushes, it's made from synthetic hair, wood, and metal. Not only is the waxed wooden handle a dream to use, but the pointed head shape is also even more impressive for cutting in. It also has a rust resistant stainless-steel ferrule.
£11.67
- Rrp: £14.38
8 of 8Axus Décor AXU/BRS4 red Series Super Smooth Paint Brush Set, 1.5", 2 x 2, 3", Set of 4 Pieces
AXUS Décor's Grey Series Pointed Paint Brush Sets also ranks highly on our list. The set of four includes a 1.5-inch brush, two 2-inch brushes and two 3-inch brushes. It's ideal for sash windows, architraves, and mouldings. The super-fine, tapered, and synthetic filaments are designed to achieve a smooth finish with minimal brush marks.
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