How to avoid brushmarks in oil paint

You are always told to lay off along the grain. That is only part of the story for a really nice oil paint finish.

Firstly, add some Owatrol or Penetrol to your paint to ease the flow and extend the working time.

Secondly, use a high quality brush. Wooster FTP is excellent, the flat Wooster Alpha is pretty good. Slighty better than the popular Purdy Monarch Elite.

Thirdly, lay off like traditional coach painters did back in the day

First lay off against the grain, then as light as you can, tip off the marks in long finishing strokes with the grain. If you do it the “normal way” each subsequent coat just makes the brush marks increasingly more prominent. This way, especially on the horizontal rails watch those ridges diminish so that all that is left is a subtle tell-tale sign that a brush was at work.

That’s it, my best “secret” is now out!