How are stencil brushes different?
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A stenciling brush is designed for the particular job of stenciling. It has a head of stiff packed bristles to reduce the risk of paint getting under the cut out areas of the stencil, which lead to blotchy edges. You could get away with using a standard paintbrush which has firm bristles but you would have to be A LOT more careful and conscious of your painting to ensure that you didn’t make a mess of it. If your doing one small project this may be okay but It is definitely worth investing in a proper stenciling brush if you are planning on doing more stenciling in the future.
I do stenciling for some of my projects and because my projects are always different I dont buy all the fancy materials for each project. I use a kitchen sponge which cut into small circles. Or just cut strips of sponge and fold it in half and glue a popsicle stick between the two. And make up brushes work great. You can get a full set from china for a few dollars.
you get what you pay for ... but if this is a hobby for you, start mid range and grow from there. A good stencil brush is stiff, so 'dabbing' uses very little paint and little risk of bleed under
While you don't have to buy the most expensive brushes out there, using brushes made especially for stenciling makes a big difference. You'll get a much cleaner result than you get from using brushes with softer bristles - no feathering or leaking under your stencil.
Here's a peek at the set I use most:
http://www.toworkwithmyhands.com/2017/02/a-kitchen-window-herb-garden-upcycled-tea-cups.html
I stencil with a triangular shaped make up sponge. Works great for all those sign letters!