In this final interview of the series, we speak to Andy Cummins, Purdy’s Senior Product Manager about the longevity of tools, what to look for and how Purdy addresses the issue when it comes to its own product development.
How important is longevity when choosing the right tools?
In previous articles we have talked about other crucial factors such as comfort and productivity, but decorators also want to know that if they invest in the right tools, they will perform as expected for the long-term. An important reason why product longevity should be considered is cost. The expression: buy cheap, buy twice is true, high-quality tools are less likely to require frequent replacement.
What should decorators look for when selecting products?
It all comes down to quality in the manufacturing process. One of the principal reasons decorators look to replace old brushes is because of filament loss. At Purdy, we utilise bolstered epoxy resin to lock our brush filaments into place to avoid this, hence a no filament loss guarantee. Plus, look out for brushes that are ‘self-flagging’. ‘Flagged’ filaments, filaments with split ends, help to pick up and lay off paint more effectively. With ‘self-flagging’ brushes, the flagging is renewed as the brush filaments wear down over time, ensuring that the performance of the brush is maintained throughout its lifespan.
With roller sleeves, not only can low quality materials affect productivity, but they can also easily fall apart. To avoid this, look for roller sleeves made from durable materials such as solvent resistant polyamide cores, with high quality fabrics that are thermally bonded.
Fabrics that are woven or knitted and won’t shed lint are ideal. Purdy knitted sleeves go through a proprietary cleaning process during manufacture to ensure this is the case.
It is also worthwhile investing in a cleaning tool to help extend the life of brushes and sleeves, with the added benefit of making the clean up a quicker. The Purdy Brush and Roller Cleaner features a comb that can be used to clean leftover paint from between filaments, proven to help maintain shape and texture.
Finally, when it comes to other tools such as scrapers, it’s worthwhile investing in high quality options that will be able to cope long-term with heavy-duty tasks. Our Flex Joint and Stiff Putty Knives have been designed with this in mind, with full-length 420 stainless steel blades, providing both strength and rust resistance.
How does Purdy approach longevity with its own product range?
At Purdy, quality and durability are addressed early on within the development and manufacturing process, to ensure all of our products perform and last a long time. We carry out a number of testing methods to ensure our products will meet and exceed customers’ expectations, including a polymer characterisation process, which helps to optimise filament and fabric performance in our brushes. Ultimately, high quality products will produce better results – improving productivity, comfort and finally, lasting for many years to come.
