Product Test – SupaDec Decorator No Bristle Loss Brush Set

Here at DIY Independent we have introduced a new feature designed to help the independent retailer decipher what products really are worth stocking, by each month setting up a rigorous testing regime for the product undergoing our aptly named ‘Product Test’.

 

This month the SupaDec Decorator No Bristle Loss Brush Set has undergone the treatment, where we set out to find out whether it really does meet the claim that it can match the leading brand in terms of quality.

At a fraction of the price of leading brand brushes and more then competitive with the sheds own-brand products, the SupaDec Decorator NBL Brush was put to the test to see if value for money was reinforced by product quality.

The SupaDec Decorator NBL brushes are claimed to be the answer for the Independent Retailer to compete with the likes of the leading brand brushes and high-end DIY shed own-brand offerings. With a buying price of £1.50 and a RRP of £2.82, they offer the retailer a good mark up whilst maintaining value for money for the consumer.

Packaging…
Simple packaging that can be reused if necessary to house the brushes when not in use. The packaging is easy to open and the brushes are clearly visible through the transparent packaging.

Brush first impressions…
Three brushes in the pack to suit a variety of decorating tasks –
1 x 25mm, 1 x 38mm and 1 x 50mm.
One brush lost a couple of bristles upon removing the product from the packaging, but after a flex of the bristles no further bristle loss occurred.

The brush has a comfortable ergonomic handle, and the bristles are quite fine which should result in a smooth finish.

Brush in use with…
Vinyl Silk Emulsion – Water-based paint, used on the topcoat of a skimmed bathroom wall. Performed very well. The brushes were quite stiff initially, which meant that when it was used to cut in round covings, it occasionally flicked a small splatter of paint at the end of the stroke. After more prolonged use the brush became more supple and was much easier to use, especially when cutting in. The bristles applied a good amount of paint onto the wall and the finish was good which meant that it didn’t stand out next to the rollered paintwork. It was very easy to wash out and all the excess paint was removed with no problems. There was some slight separation of the bristles following the cleaning, but nothing that would present a problem when it’s used again.

Non Drip Gloss – Oil based paint, used on primed new wood. Performed better with gloss due to the nature of the paint, which meant that brush strokes were less visible being an oil-based paint. Interestingly it took longer for the bristles to soften up than with emulsion. The brush was cleaned with turpentine solvent very easily and again there was some slight bristle separation.

In summary...
These brushes worked well and if looked after and cleaned properly they would have a lengthy lifecycle. The brushes were easy to use in that they applied the paint effectively, and from the test it was evident that they were of a similar quality standard to the leading brand brushes. For the independent retailer the SupaDec NBL brush represents a good quality product that is excellent value for money. This gives retailers an ideal product for the DIY enthusiast or trade decorator alike.