If you want to apply coating on a surface, you know that the brush plays the most vital role there. You should get the best brush for water based polyurethane if you want to get the most effectiveness out of the coat that you’re using.
A good brush helps you to get the most effective coating on the surface and do the whole thing with ease. However, there are a lot of brushes for that available in the market, which can make you overwhelmed.
To help you with that, let’s review some of the best brush for polyurethane that you can find on the market. We’ll also discuss a detailed buying guide to help you pick the right one, and a FAQ session to help you get clear on it even more.
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Best Brush for Water Based Polyurethane
If you go online, you’re going to find a lot of brushes that are good for applying water based polyurethane. To help you pick the best brush, let’s go over the reviews of the top 5 brushes in the market.
1. Minwax 2″ Polyurethane Blend Brush (427350008)
Minwax 427350008 Polyurethane 2' Trim-Black China Bristle Blend Brush/Roller/Applicator, 2 inch, WhiteHamilton’s synthetic brush options have been developed specifically for use with water-based paints, including water-based gloss, and offer distinct advantages to help decorators achieve the desired professional finish. Most importantly, the synthetic filaments do not swell in water, which allows the brush tips to stay fine, coupled with the unique finishing of the tips of the Perfection Synthetic. Nylon bristles are recommended for water-based paint, though most can also be used with oil-based paints. This type of paint brush is not recommended for applying shellac or lacquer. Nylon/polyester blend paint brushes Nylon/polyester brushes combine two synthetic fibers to. Find Water-Based Stains paint brushes at Lowe's today. Shop paint brushes and a variety of paint products online at Lowes.com.
- Designed with natural bristle for a smooth, glass like finish
- Natural bristle for increased absorption and hold of clear coatings
- Use with Minwax Polyurethane
- Excellent for all sheens
- Stainless steel ferrule
Minwax has some of the best brushes, rollers, and applicators in the whole marketplace. They produce very high-quality brushes at a very reasonable price, which is quite rare.
Features of the Product
The Minwax Polyurethane 2″ Brush is undoubtedly the best brush for water based polyurethane. Let’s discuss some of its wonderful features that makes it one of the best brushes for water based polyurethane.
Stainless Steel Ferrule: The ferrule used in this brush is made with top-class stainless steel. That gives the brush better durability, and you can go for greater pressure without worrying about damaging your brush too much.
Natural Bristle: The natural bristle is very softer on the surface and goes perfectly with the water based polyurethane as well. That’s because it’s almost softer than a foam, and that allows you to apply the coat without brush marks.
Great Speed: An amazing thing about this brush is that it fans out, which gives you better coverage in less motion. That saves your time and energy, and if you are working on longer projects, it’s perfect for that as well.
[joomdev-wpc-pros-cons disable_title=”yes” button_text=”Shop Now on Amazon” disable_button=”yes” button_link=”” button_link_target=”_BLANK” button_rel_attr=”nofollow”][joomdev-wpc-pros]- Best for faster application
- Gives a good range
- Very soft bristles
- Can be tricky to clean
2. Wooster Brush 3103-3 Wooster 3913 Chiseled
Wooster Brush 3103-3 Wooster 3913 Chiseled, Deluxe Quality Factory Sale Assortment, 1-Brush, Polyester Trim, Black/Gold, 3-Inch- High-quality made in USA brushes for all paints as well as varnishes and stains
- Thick polyurethane foam for the smoothest no-brush marks finish
- White plastic handle with built-in stiffener blade for consistent flex and neat results
Wooster produces some of the most affordable yet high-quality brushes that you can get for yourself. These are a solid option if you want to work for smaller projects.
Features of the Product
The Wooster Brush 3103-3 Wooster 3913 Chiseled is the best high-quality brush that you can get in its price range. It’s really a no brainer option if you are looking for a brush to use for water based polyurethane.
No Brush Mark Finish: The most amazing thing about this brush is that it leaves no brush mark on the surface. That allows you to get a smoother finish that you crave.
Comfortable Grip: This brush features a plastic handle, which is very easy to hold. The 3-inch length also gives a wider range of motion for easy application.
Inexpensive: The Wooster Brush 3103-3 Wooster 3913 Chiseled brush is pretty inexpensive, which is pretty amazing. You don’t always need to pay a lot of money to get a good brush to apply water based polyurethane. And this brush is the perfect example for that as it’s a pretty affordable option for everybody.
[joomdev-wpc-pros-cons disable_title=”yes” button_text=”Shop Now on Amazon” disable_button=”yes” button_link=”” button_link_target=”_BLANK” button_rel_attr=”nofollow”][joomdev-wpc-pros]- Holds more liquid on the brush
- Great for no brush mark finish
- Very affordable
- Might show a slight degradation after washing
3. Wooster Brush 5222-2 Silver Tip Paintbrush
Wooster Brush 5222-2 Silver Tip Paintbrush, 2-Inch- White & silver CT polyester with chisel trim
- Very soft formulation, feather stroke
- Stainless steel ferrule
- Hardwood handle
As you know by now, the Wooster has been producing high-quality brushes for a very affordable price in the whole marketplace. These are a great option for you if you are searching for a perfect brush for applying water based polyurethane.
Features of the Product
Oil Based Exterior Paint
Wooster Brush 5222-2 Silver Tip Paintbrush is a solid option if you want to get a great brush without breaking the bank for it. Let’s go over some of its features.
Amazing Grip: This brush features a solid hardwood handle, which gives you a very good grip on the handle. That’s great if you want some more control over the brush and a much smoother range of motion.
Great Durability: The Wooster Brush 5222-2 Silver Tip Paintbrush comes with a stainless steel ferrule that gives amazing longevity.
Very Soft Formulation: You know how vital it is for the brush to have a softer formulation to be effective for applying water based polyurethane.
[joomdev-wpc-pros-cons disable_title=”yes” button_text=”Shop Now on Amazon” disable_button=”yes” button_link=”” button_link_target=”_BLANK” button_rel_attr=”nofollow”][joomdev-wpc-pros]- Very soft bristles for easy application
- Amazing stainless steel ferrule
- Hardened wood handle
- Best value of your money
- The bristles tend to fall
4. Pro Grade Paint Brush Set – 5 Ea
Pro Grade - Paint Brushes - 5 Ea - Paint Brush Set- Paint Brush Set Includes 1 Ea of 1' Flat, 1-1/2' Angle, 2' Stubby Angle, 2' Flat & 2-1/2' Angle
- Paint Brushes For Interior Or Exterior Projects. Use Angle Sash Paint Brush For Cutting Crisp Lines.
- Professional Results On Walls, Trim, Cabinets, Doors, Fences, Decks, Touch Ups, Arts And Crafts.
- Premium Quality Paint Brushes At A Cheap Price! No Cardboard Covers Come With This Set.
- The SRT filament blend holds more paint to save time, less streaks & premium finish on walls & trim.
Pro Grade is a renowned manufacturer that produces some of the best brushes in the whole market. They have some great brushes that you can use to apply water based polyurethane with ease.
Features of the Product
If you want to get the best out of your money, there are no better options than Pro Grade – Paint Brushes – 5 Ea – Paint Brush Set for you. Let’s go over some of the astonishing features of this amazing brush set down below.
A Complete Set: The Paint Brush Set features a 1 Ea of 1″ Flat, 1-1/2″ Angle, 2″ Stubby Angle, 2″ Flat & 2-1/2″ angle brush, which is astonishing at this price range. All these are made out of pretty high-quality materials, which helps you give the best effects.
Sturdy Design: Pro Grade – Paint Brushes – 5 Ea – Paint Brush Set features stainless steel ferrule for increased durability. Also, it has a slim design, which is perfect for getting control of applying water based polyurethane.
Versatile Use: You can use this brush set to do so many different things. It’s all you’ll ever need from brushes, which is pretty impressive.
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- Premium quality brushes
- Best value of your money
- Might leave brush marks
5. Wooster Brush 3103-2 Foam King Paintbrush
Sale Wooster Brush 3103-2 Foam King Paintbrush, 2-Inch- High-quality made in USA brushes for all paints as well as varnishes and stains
- Thick polyurethane foam for the smoothest no-brush marks finish
- White plastic handle with built-in stiffener blade for consistent flex and neat results
The final product we are going to review is a fine brush by Wooster brushes, which is a solid option as well. It’s the perfect fit for you if you want a great quality brush without breaking the bank for you.
Features of the Product
The Wooster Brush 3103-2 Foam King Paintbrush is undoubtedly one of the best brushes you get for applying water based polyurethane without any trouble. Let’s go over some of the wonderful features of this brush down below.
No Brush Mark Finish: The soft foam brush allows for a no brush mark finish, which can be a very annoying issue from time to time. The Wooster Brush 3103-2 Foam King Paintbrush solves that issue for you.
Comfortable Grip: The plastic handle featured in this brush can give you a very comfortable grip. That lets you get the water based polyurethane in place without much trouble.
Very Affordable: This brush is pretty cheaper than most of the brushes that you can get from the market. Yet, it has pretty high-quality materials, and it’s perfect for applying water based polyurethane as well.
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- Very Durable
- Best value of your money
- Can be a bit tricky to clean after use
How To Choose Brush for Water Based Polyurethane?
Now you have a list of some of the top brushes that you can use for water based polyurethane. But if you don’t know what to look for in a brush before buying it, you won’t be able to pick the perfect fit for you. The following buying guide will help you identify the best brush that you can use to apply water based polyurethane.
Type of Bristle
When applying the coat, the bristles of the brush impacts the whole thing. Yet, there are two types of bristles that you can find on most brushes that you should know; natural bristles and synthetic bristles.
The natural bristles are made with animal hair, which is pretty soft. That’s why it tends to work very fine with oily type coats. But that’s not very effective for water based polyurethane.
On the other hand, the synthetic bristles are a bit harsh, and it works perfectly for water based finishes. So if you are looking for brushes to work with water based coatings, you should consider buying synthetic brushes for yourself.
Width and Style
The width and style also play a big role in the whole applying the coating process. If you want comfort in your work, you must get a brush that has a fitting length for you.
If you are working with smaller projects, you can use a narrow brush to do the job. 2-inch width is perfect for these criteria. But if the project is huge and you have to cover a lot of areas, consider buying a brush that has more width. For that, you can go for four-inch flat brushes, as it’s very efficient in that case.
And as for the style goes, you need to see what type of project you are going to be working on. And then, you can pick a style in the brush that feels comfortable to you.
Type of Handle
If you want to get the best brush to apply water based polyurethane, you need to pay close attention to the brush handle. That can have a big impact on its effectiveness and range of motion as well.
You should know that the handles come in different designs, and you need to be aware of it if you want to choose the right one for you.
The shorter handles are typically for shorter projects. You can gain speed with these, but it’s not going to give you a big spin. And on the other hand, a big and more dense handle can give you more range to work with. Just make sure that it’s comfortable in your hand and has a good balance as well.
Ferrule
Before you even think about buying a brush to apply polyurethane, you need to make sure that the ferrule of the brush is strong. It keeps the bristles in the metal band secure, and also firm for agility.
When you go to pick the brush for you, give its bristles a bit of tug, and see if the bristles are secured or not.
If you want to apply water based polyurethane, you need to make sure that the ferrule can hold the bristles in the place. Otherwise, you are going to lose your brush pretty fast, which is not ideal in any way.
Quality
Most of the people tend to go for the cheaper alternatives to save up some money. But when it comes to water based polyurethane, you should get the highest quality product and don’t compromise the quality for saving money.
But you have to keep in mind that spending more will not guarantee a good quality brush on itself. You need to do some research and see what other people think about the brush you are going for in the first place.
You can easily pick one of the brushes from the list of great quality brushes that we just reviewed. That way, you don’t have to worry about the quality of the product and the value of your money.
FAQ
Question 1: How can I use the water based polyurethane without leaving brush marks?
Answer: First, use sandpaper to sand down the surface that you want to apply the coat. Be very gentle with the sandpaper, and take your time with it. Then use a cloth to remove all the grit and sand from the brush. Now apply the water based polyurethane on the brush. Then apply it to the surface, and make sure that you are super gentle with it. If you still see brush marks, just re-sand the surface.
Question 2: How can I make my polyurethane finish smoother?
Answer: Apply one coating of water based polyurethane on to the surface. Then use 1,500-grit sandpaper to smooth out a surface, and a cotton cloth to wipe the sand off. Then you can apply polish to get the perfect polyurethane finish on your surface. Just repeat the step if you are not satisfied with the results, and make sure to use the right amount of polyurethane in the first place.
Question 3: How can I apply water based polyurethane without bubbles?
Answer: To avoid the tipping off effect, you can consider slowing the drying process. That way, the bubbles will have more time to pop out on their own, which is the best way to get rid of it. You should add a thinner, a retarder, or a flow additive to the finish that’s going to slow it down. As you are using water based polyurethane, you should use mineral spirits to get the best results.
Conclusion.
Now you have a list of a couple of the best brush for water based polyurethane that you can get for yourself. Also, you know how to get the perfect fit for yourself, thanks to the buying guide.
Just be sure to do proper maintenance of the brush after you are done using it.
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