Mark

Using a $25 paint brush that is designed for the type of paint being used will also go a long way in getting a smooth finish.

Technique is also a factor, getting too much or too little paint on the brush and subsequently on the surface causes runs/drips/brush marks.

However, even the most accomplished brush paint job will not look as smooth as a sprayed on finish. The gotcha with sprayers is they take more expensive equipment/technique than brushing.

I have a friend who just had a new house built---and the builder had his sprayers do the woodwork. They spent a week and a half-----on just the door/base/crown molding. And did that before the walls were painted.

It is the best trim paint job I have ever seen----I hate to ask what the cost was----the house was around 500K.

A smooth finish with brush requires high quality self-leveling paint, a high quality brush, and the skill to apply it.

Don't blame the paint. 99% of the time it's the painter.

Michael

Purdy or Wooster brushes are my favorites.

Surface prep is key. Sand smooth, tack cloth to remove all dust.

Prime.

Light scuff sand by hand, just to knock off the nibs. Tack again.

First coat of paint, then very light scuff, tack.

Top coat.

The first time I bought it, they instructed me to brush the paint on, going in one direction and to work my way down the trim, back-brushing slightly into the wet edge I just left. They said the paint begins to set up quicker than standard latex paints, so going over it multiple times will leave brush strokes. If you lay it on with the brush and don't go back over it with more than a couple brush strokes, it lays down as smoothly as oil base. You know what? They were right! I love the stuff!