It is important to keep paintbrushes protected, and you can use the plastic protectors that come with each brush (sometimes) or you can use foil as both will do the same thing. But, which is better, those plastic protectors or foil?
The jury is still out on this because every artist has their own methods of storing and protecting their brushes. Personally, I don’t use foil or brush protectors very often. I always keep my brushes lying flat or hanging so the bristles are pointing downwards and maintaining their original integrity.
Today we are going to take a look at both foil and plastic brush protectors to see which is best for protecting your paintbrushes while you are not using them. Let’s get started.
Plastic Protectors and Foil Comparison
| Factors | Plastic Protectors | Aluminum Foil |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Less than $6 for a package of 10, or free with new brushes (but you only get one and you will want it for the new brush) | Less than $2 at a dollar store for a full roll |
| Ease of use | Difficult to slide over brush hairs without bending or breaking the hairs. Must be sliced to wrap around instead of being pushed over the hairs | Easy to wrap around the brush hairs, but must be wrapped tightly so it doesn’t fall off |
| Protection | Flexible plastic, but not so flexible that it will bend easily | Will bend easily and could fall off |
| Easy to obtain | You will have to order brush protectors or use the ones that come with new brushes | You can get aluminum foil at any dollar store, department store, or grocery store |
Why Use Foil?
When you are not using your paintbrushes, it is important to keep them protected so they are ready to be used at any given time. They must be stored properly, and it is important to make sure that the bristles or hairs aren’t going to get bent or even break.
After brushes are dry, they should be stored so they are lying flat. I like to use a fabric brush holder that has spaces for each brush. Some of these protectors are made from canvas, so the brushes can stand while you are using them, and then the holder can be rolled up for quick and easy storage.
But, if you do not have one of these brush holders, aluminum foil is another option. It is inexpensive, and it will protect the hairs from becoming bent while they are being stored until the next time you use them.
All you need is a very small piece of foil. Simply wrap it around the bristles, and fold over the end so no dust or dirt can get on the bristles.
The Downsides of Foil
The biggest drawback to using foil is that it can slip off the brushes. You will need to make sure that the foil is tightly pressed into the brush handle so it stays in place.
On the other hand, if you happen to lose the piece of foil, you can always make a new brush protector. If you lose a plastic brush protector, you either have to find a company that sells them, or wait until you have new brushes to get new protectors (which you will use with those brushes anyway so you still won’t have them for your other brushes).
Another drawback of foil is the fact that it is very flexible. If your brushes are all placed in a drawer and get knocked around, the foil could bend, which will cause the hairs to bend.
What is a Brush Protector?
When you buy new paintbrushes, quite often the bristles are protected with a clear, plastic tube. You pull off the tubes, and the brushes are ready to use.
These tubes are usually made from flexible plastic, and they tend to most often be used for finer brushes, such as liner brushes. They will protect the hairs from becoming damaged while the brushes are not in use.
These plastic protectors are also available for sale in sets of five or 10. I have never purchased these, but from the looks of things on the websites I have visited, these protectors are a bit longer and larger than those that come with the brushes in the first place.
The Downside of Brush Protectors
The thing I don’t like about the plastic brush protectors is that they are not easy to get back onto the brushes. When you remove these protectors, they slide right past the bristles.
But, when you try to put them back on, they push the bristles, and you could end up with a lot of the hairs becoming bent or being out of place. This is going to greatly affect your painting.
There is one way to get around this. I have often used an X-acto knife to slice open the plastic brush protectors.
That way, I can wrap them around the brush without having to push the hairs around. Sometimes I even put a bit of tape around the plastic protector so it doesn’t come off since it has been sliced open.
Just be sure that you don’t end up getting the tape on the wooden brush handle. The handle could end up becoming quite sticky, and you will end up having to waste time cleaning your brushes before you can use them. After all, you want the handles to feel smooth and comfortable, not sticky.
Conclusion
Proper storage of paintbrushes is important. These brushes are not inexpensive, and you want to make sure that they are going to last for many years to come.
Whether you use plastic tubes or aluminum foil, you are taking steps to make sure that the bristles are protected while the brushes are being stored. That is the most important thing.
Just throwing your brushes into a drawer could end up causing a lot of damage to the hairs, and then you will have to replace your brushes. If worse comes to worse, you can even wrap the bristles in tissue paper until you can get something that is a bit more durable.
Sari Green is a semi-professional artist and professional writer. She has been hosting paint & sip parties for the past couple of years, and truly enjoys helping other people to create their very own masterpieces. She loves to create, and you never know what she’s going to come up with next!