Bristle or foam for varnish?

[NickNap]

I feel I should know this but... what are the advantages/disadvantages of foam brushes over bristle for using standard varnish (such as Blakes Classic)?

 

[oldfatgit]

Done the practical, got the tee shirt.

Use the foam brushes to remove bubbles in the varnish after having applied it. Use a small foam roller to apply to flat/large/gently curving surfaces and a suitable brush for small detail, then very lightly run over with a foam brush to remove bubbles and smooth off. Don't do all in one go, as foam brush will stick if area starts to go off, but work in reasonable areas depending on temperature etc. Result, after a number of coats, is an almost glass smooth surface.

Clean all in white spirit, but between coats, a roller can be kept “wet” by wrapping in a plastic bag.

 

[samwise]

Sounds a bit like the paint pad technique for paint -- apply with the brush and lay off with the pad ( a two person job ideally) Re foam or brush, I have used foam on small areas with success. I find it needs to be thinned a bit more than if applying by brush. Re cleaning, I thought the big advantage of foam brushes was that you junked them after use.

 

[Poignard]

Rply to oldfatgit

I have recently started using foam brushes and quite like them but I've never had much luck cleaning them.

The cheapest source of foam brushes and rollers, as far as I know, is Flints theatrical chandlers;

http://www.flints.co.uk/catalogue.html

 

[Seanick]

Foam brushes apply varnish to thin, and thats the last thing you need with a trad varnish. Treat yourself to a decent 2" brush, love it, look after it, and it will repay you with a finish better than a box full of foam pads.

PS International Original varnish out performs Blakes by miles!

 

[planteater]

I'm a convert to foam brushes and have achieved good results with Epiphanes and Le Tonkinois. I buy them cheap off Ebay and bin them after use. It requires a bit a planning or you can get through them quickly.

 

[Poignard]

I find with foam brushes it's not so easy to "work" the varnish into the grain or any fidddly bits like inside corners and mouldings. Also "cutting in" to an edge is more difficult but I need to gain more experience with them before I could definitely say whether they are better than bristle brushes.

It is certainly handy to have some foam brushes in the on-board varnishing kit. They can be thrown away after use. Cleaning bristle brushes in solvent would is a messy businesss and there's the problem of storing and disposing of the dirty solvent in a small boat.

 

[sjclewes]

had a look at some varnish work today absolutly brilliant it was like glass it was 50/50 epifanes put on with cotton wool buds wrapped up in lint free cloth he recomends old nicker

 

[Ardenfour]

I found there were at least two qualities of foam brushes. The better was a grey, denser foam with a stiffener inside, and a more accurately cut wedge shape. The cheaper version is a looser black foam, and gave worse results than a cheapo paintbrush. I got a bag of 50 on ebay and they're ****

 

[VicS]

Treat yourself to a decent 2" brush, love it, look after it, and it will repay you with a finish better than a box full of foam pads.

I must admit that i have never felt tempted to try any foam pads or brushes and it is reassuring to hear what I have always felt would be the case from a professional boat builder.

Thanks Nick I'll stick with brushes.