Which tool holds the most paint?

• A. China Bristle Brush
• B. Foam Brush
• C. Nylon Brush
• D. Synthetic Bristle Brush

Answer: (A)

The main idea is how much paint a tool’s material can absorb and keep in place. China bristle brushes, made from hog hair, are highly porous and have a dense cluster of stiff bristles that trap and hold a large amount of paint within the bristles as you load the brush. This capillary action and porosity let them retain more paint than the other options. Foam brushes hold paint in their open-cell structure, but they saturate quickly and don’t retain as much overall. Nylon and other synthetic bristles are less porous, so they don’t hold as much paint either. So, for the greatest paint pickup, the china bristle brush is the best choice.