Best Brush for Shellac

[Harvey Pascoe]

Wondering what the best type of brush is, certainly not the TA brushes that I'm presently using. Looking to get a much more even application than I"m getting now, which is messy.

I have China bristle, badger and psuedo badger and foam brushes available. I'm partial to foam but very unsure how they'd perform with shellac and I'm reluctant to use a badger as I never seem to be able to get all the shellac out of a brush. What are you using and how's it work out?

[Scott Holmes]

I use a quality china bristle made by Omega. Why can't you get shellac out of a brush. Denatured alcohol (DNA) will dissolve it so clean up is with DNA simple to clean.
Note: I don't even clean my shellac brushes very thoroughly ... no need, they go back to good as new after a few minutes in DNA

[Jerome Hanby]

I use white china bristle brushes from Purdy. I clean them with household ammonia then a quick once over with dish washing soap and water.

[John TenEyck]

I, too, use china bristle brushes, and you do get what you pay for. I bought a 2" brush that cost over $40, but it lays on shellac very smoothly. Shellac makes foam brushes swell and go limp, so they aren't an option. If you really want to put on shellac smoothly, however, either learn to pad it on, or spray.

[Brian Hinther]

Gramercy Tools makes the best brush I know about: http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...e=GT-SHEBRU.XX

[glenn bradley]

+1 on padding it on whenever possible. I do use a small sable brush for detail areas if required but, usually it is not so, not much help here.

[Jerry Olexa]

Generally, I brush on the first coat then go to padding on later applications.I would not recommend using a foam brush, another benefit of the brush for shellac is the easy "later" cleanup. even if the brush hardens, some DA brings it back to life ready for use...
Shellac is VERY easy to work with but i would encourage you to pad later coats to get a very smooth, even finish...It is a wonderful topcoat over BLO on walnut, cherry, etc

[Harvey Pascoe]

Shortly after posting this topic, I tried the foam brush. Hah! No way, it doesn't hold the thin shellac and just runs right out and made a big mess.

Why don't my brushes clean very well? Partly because I've been using orange shellac and partly because I probably don't try very hard. I will ditch the orange, the color does not completely come out with DNA. When I used that same brush for super blonde, the color did then leach out.That was the basis of my statement. A few months ago a gallon of DNA hit $18/gal here and I was trying to conserve. Crazy since ethanol goes for $3.00+ wholesale, but the retail gallon price has since come down. I agree on the washing with soap/amonia, I do that with my badgers after varnish and two of my brushes are 25+ years old! Thanks for all the replies.