Purdy®

Purdy® Brushes and Rollers at MTN Shop UK

Purdy® is the American premium decorator brush brand that has set the reference standard for professional painting tools since 1925. The Purdy® workshop in Portland, Oregon hand-forms every brush head to a precise profile, blends the filament types to suit the paint chemistry, and tips and flags the synthetic bristle ends to give the cleaner cutting line and smoother laying off that professional decorators charge a premium for. The brand is now part of the Sherwin-Williams family but the manufacturing and specification standards have been maintained, and the brushes remain the trade choice on high specification decorating contracts across both the US and UK markets.

Why Purdy® costs more and why decorators pay for it

A cheap synthetic brush from a discount tool brand will hold paint, apply it to the wall and give a serviceable finish on a single job. A Purdy® brush, used by a skilled decorator, gives a cleaner cutting in line at the wall and ceiling junction, less brush mark texture in the laid off finish, less drag and shed bristles in the wet paint, and lasts five to ten times as long if cleaned properly between coats. On a single domestic job the price difference looks expensive; on a year of trade work, the Purdy® system is the cheaper option per brush hour. The British decorator standard, particularly for water based gloss and satinwood that show every imperfection, has shifted heavily toward Purdy® synthetic over the last fifteen years.

The Purdy® synthetic filament technology

Modern water based gloss, satinwood, eggshell and emulsion paints do not work well with traditional natural China bristle: water based chemistry causes natural bristle to swell, lose shape and shed fibres into the wet finish. Purdy® synthetic filament brushes solve this with engineered nylon and polyester blends:

• Tipped and flagged filaments: the bristle tips are mechanically split into multiple finer points (flagging), which holds more paint and releases it in a smoother film than a blunt cut filament. The bristle ends are tapered (tipping) for cleaner edge release on the cut in.
• Blended filament profiles: different filament diameters are mixed in the brush head, with stiffer fibres in the core for control and finer fibres at the surface for finish quality.
• Solid round trim: the brush profile is hand-formed and trimmed to give the precise edge shape (chisel for cutting in, angled sash for window frames, flat for general work).

The Purdy® range explained

XL Series (synthetic, water based work)

The flagship range for water based paint application:

• XL Glide: the long-handled brush for cutting in around walls and ceilings, designed for sustained overhead work without wrist fatigue. The standard reference for the decorator's daily emulsion brush.
• XL Elasco: the standard handled XL with extra stiff filament for heavy bodied modern paints and primers.
• XL Cub: the short-handled compact brush for tight spaces, behind radiators, in cupboards and detail work.
• XL Sprig: the small angled brush for windows, glazing bars and trim cutting in.
• XL Dale: the flat angled brush for general trim and skirting work.

Pro-Extra Series (synthetic, heavy duty)

The trade heavy duty range with thicker filament packs for high volume work, ideal for trade decorators doing repetitive large area work where brush life and consistent paint release matter most. Pro-Extra Elite, Glide, Monarch, Sprig and Cub follow the same shape system as the XL range but with heavier construction.

Monarch Elite (natural China bristle)

The traditional natural bristle range for oil based gloss, satinwood and undercoat work. Natural China bristle holds and releases oil based paint with a finer film than synthetic, and is the traditional specification for high specification gloss work where the finish must be perfect. With the move to water based gloss in the UK market since the EU VOC restrictions, Monarch Elite has become a specialist range rather than the daily driver it once was, but remains essential for restoration work, period property gloss work and any specification that calls for oil based finishes.

Purdy® roller system

The Purdy® roller frame and sleeve system delivers the same finish quality for large area work that the brushes deliver on cut in and trim. The roller sleeves are available in microfibre, polyester and mohair blends for different paint types and substrates, and the cage frames are precision machined for vibration-free smooth rolling.

Choosing the right Purdy® brush for the job

• Cutting in emulsion at wall/ceiling junction: XL Glide or XL Cub, 38mm to 50mm.
• Cutting in around glazed windows and frames: XL Sprig 38mm angled.
• Laying off water based gloss on skirting and architrave: XL Dale or XL Elasco, 38mm.
• Laying off water based gloss on panelled doors: XL Elasco 63mm or 75mm.
• Oil based gloss work (period property restoration, high specification undercoat and gloss): Monarch Elite natural China bristle, 38mm or 50mm.
• Heavy duty trade work, large area or repeat contracts: Pro-Extra series in equivalent shape.
• Large area emulsion on walls and ceilings: Purdy® roller frame plus microfibre or polyester sleeve, 9 inch or 12 inch.

How to keep Purdy® brushes performing

A Purdy® brush is a long term tool, not a single job consumable, but only if cleaned correctly:

• Between coats on the same job: wrap the brush head tightly in cling film or a plastic bag to keep it wet, store flat for short breaks. For overnight, fully wash out the wet paint, spin dry, and reshape the bristle.
• End of job: for water based paint, wash in warm soapy water (a small amount of washing up liquid is enough) until water runs clear, spin or shake dry, reshape the bristle to the original profile, hang to dry by the handle.
• Oil based paint: work white spirit or brush cleaner through the bristle, then wash with warm soapy water to remove the solvent residue, dry and store as above.
• Storage: always store with the keeper card or hang by the handle, never bristle-down in solvent or water (which deforms the brush shape permanently).
• The reusable Purdy® keeper card holds the bristle shape between jobs: a well-treated Purdy® XL Glide will give five years of regular trade use.

Build your decorating setup

The Purdy® brand page works alongside the rest of our paint and decorating range. Browse our paint brushes category (which includes the wider trade brush range from Faithfull, Hamilton and other brands for non-Purdy® applications), our paints range, our primers and sealers, our spray paints and aerosols, our wood care and treatments, our fillers and prep range, plus the wider paint and decorating category. For brush cleaning and surface prep, see our decorating sundries.

For trade orders of the Purdy® range, full decorator kit specifications or larger quantities for contract work, request a quote and our team will come back with availability.