Wooster Brush Review

Bristle Quality

Handle

Price & Value

User rating

Pros: Very nicely made, has a great grip on the wooden handle. Applies finishes and stencils very evenly and smooth. Cleanup is incredibly easy. Large round base makes coverage fast.

Cons: As with all bristle brushes, this brush did have some loose bristles come out during the project, but with some initial prep work you can avoid much of this and over time is gets less and less.

If you’ve been looking for a good thick brush with strong bristles, the Wooster Brush could be a great choice for you. I came across the Wooster brush while looking for a cheaper alternative to the more expensive waxing brushes. I picked it up on Amazon for about $14 and this little baby is very handy for your furniture painting projects. So, let’s get onto the review shall we?

The Wooster Company recommends their brush for stenciling projects but because it is such a sturdy and densely packed brush it’s ideal for a wide range of furniture painting and refinishing projects. My original use of this brush was to apply some clear wax to a chalk painted nightstand I recently refinished.

I was really surprised at how well it held up during the process. I had a few bristles come out, but honestly, I’ve read the same thing can happen even with the more expensive waxing brushes. I did wash mine before use to get out any already loose bristles and dry rubbed the clean brush back and forth on my jeans a few times (ya seriously I did) to get off any remaining bristles. Still, as much as I like the brush I have to be honest and say, until it’s used a few times, bristles will come off.

The application of the wax went on very smoothly. I used small circular motions and it gave me a smooth and even application. Even with the very few bristles that came out during the process (which lessened the more I used it), when I buffed it with my clean rag the bristles all came off the finish without having to pick them out. My only complaint is that some did stay in my can of wax…in hindsight I should have scooped the wax out with a spoon and put it on a plate to use my brush on…next time!

I really loved the way the brush felt while I was holding it. It’s a wooden handle and is easy to hold due to it’s size. The metal ferule is well attached so that it’s not going to loosen as you work.

What about stenciling? With the same nightstand I mentioned above, I applied a cute stencil to the side of the drawers using the wooster brush and it was fantastic. Because of it’s large flat circular shape, I didn’t waste much paint at all. I just slightly dipped the tip into my bowl of paint and rubbed it around before applying it onto my stencil. I was using the #10 brush which is really large and made stenciling so much easier than using a tiny brush.

In an effort to be practical and smart with my money, I wanted to see what other uses I could get out of this brush, so I also used it on another project with black glaze. Normally, I apply my glaze with a sponge brush. The problem with this is that sometimes I can’t quite get my brush into the tiny crevices in an even manner. The Wooster brush was awesome at this. I just applied a little bit of the black glaze to the end of the brush, just like I did when I stenciled and then just pushed it onto the surface and into the crevices. It worked perfectly.

Cleanup

Cleanup with the Wooster brush is no different than cleaning up any other type of paint brush. Typically warm soapy water will do the trick, but if you’ve let it try for any length of time, you may want to use some mineral spirits as well. Personally, I use mineral spirits diluted just a bit, after every paint job or application that requires use of my brushes. Brushes are expensive, take care of them!

Wooster Brush Specs

• The bristles of the size 10 brush are 1.5 inches long and the entire brush is a bit less than 6 inches long.
• It’s made of high quality gray China bristles and finished with a nickel-plated ferrule.
• Long lasting when washed immediately with warm or light soapy water (I also like to use mineral spirits).

Conclusion

I thought for sure after I was done using this brush I would come on here and tell you to spend more money and get a nicer expensive brush but the truth is, I loved this brush. It’s inexpensive and did a fantastic job on stenciling, waxing and glazing! It’s totally versatile in use and for the price, you just can’t beat it. I do still intend to buy one of the more expensive waxing brushes so I can give you guys a good comparative review, but if you are on the fence about this brush, I would say go for it. You won’t regret it.