When it comes to durability, The Purdy XL Elite is top-notch. Unlike others I’ve used in the past (Hamilton Perfection, for instance), the Purdy XL Elite manages to hold its shape and integrity even after extensive use and washing. After that, on subsequent outings, moisten the bristles with thinner, and remove any excess. This will prime the brush for the paint to come. While a 2in brush may work well on smaller walls, when it comes to coating larger areas in fresh emulsion, you may want to consider breaking out a big gun, like the 3in Bizwizz Professional Paint Brush.

The bristles on the Ice Fusion brushes could be a tad longer for my liking. They’re excellent for covering large areas, but when it comes to painting small edges or skirting, they don’t hold as much paint as I would prefer. Despite this, they are superb for cutting intricate lines, thanks to their fine tips. In terms of price, the Ice Fusion brushes are half the cost of some of their competitors, like Purdy, and they deliver just as superior a performance. They work well with all kinds of paint and are particularly effective in delivering smooth finishes with oils.Key specs – Brush sizes: 1 x 1in, 2 x 1.5in, 2 x 2in; Bristle type: Synthetic; Handle material: Synthetic; Handle style: Beaver tail; Ferrule material: Metal In terms of comfort, the Purdy XL Elite scores highly. Its ergonomic design ensures extended use doesn’t result in aching hands. The Wooster Gold Edge 2 has been a recent favourite of mine, especially when precision is needed. It’s a superb choice for cutting in ceilings and navigating around wallpaper where any mistake is difficult to rectify. One area where the Prodec Ice Fusion brushes excel is in cutting in bold colors. They are, by far, the best brushes I’ve used for this purpose.

Durability – Durability is, of course, an important consideration before buying a cutting-in brush. You’ll want something that keeps its shape after multiple washes and doesn’t lose bristles over time.Presuming you plan to use it again in the future, remove any residual paint and wash thoroughly with a thinner, such as white spirit for solvent-based paints, or water for water-based paints. Artist Painting Cookie Cutters | Paint Brush, Paint Tube, Paint Palette, Cookie Cutter Set, Artist Paint Brush, Artist Paint Palette I’ve used it a few times with emulsion and it’s done a sound job every time. It holds a good bit of paint, cuts in neat, and leaves no brush marks to complain about. The bristles have a nice stiffness to them, so if you don’t get along with cutting in brushes that are too soft, this one could be right up your street. It is worth mentioning that I have noticed a slight drop in quality over the years. The brush sometimes loses a few bristles during washing, presumably due to changes in their manufacturing process about 15 years ago. Nevertheless, the issue is minor and doesn’t detract from the brush’s overall performance.