I was sent quite an unusual looking paintbrush to review. The Stinger Pro is a sleek and stylish looking brush with a long handle, seamless metal ferrule and a streamline design.
There are two different types of bristle on the head which are both synthetic. The main stock is made up of soft and springy blue fibres, while the last eighth is a very stiff red bristle.
My Thoughts on Stinger Pro Brushes
I think I understand why it’s called a “stinger”. A stinger rig is used in sea fishing and comprises of a big bait on a hefty hook, followed by a smaller trailing bait on a smaller hook. It is often the smaller bait that catches you the fish. I think this brush is designed in the same way. The softer bristles deposit the paint, but it’s the stiff ones which push it into place.
The brush is angled and extremely comfortable. I’ve seen a lot of pictures of the Stinger Pro from decorators on Facebook and always thought it was going to be poor quality. The actual look and feel of the brush are far from it! The build quality is impeccable.
The Stinger Pro should be a good paintbrush, but it isn’t!! I’m sure the manufacturer is more than capable of producing something special. However, they’ve used the bristles off a yard brush and coloured them red. They’re horrible!! They just scrape through your paint deposits and leave marks all over the place.
The manufacturers of this paintbrush have deliberately designed a gimmick to be sold to the DIY sector. This particular stinger is designed to catch the angler, rather than the fish. It’s very eye catching and looks great, but in reality, it’s crap.
Review Summary
Stinger Pro Paintbrush Review - Decorator's forum UK
Pros
- Good build quality.
- They look fantastic.
- Stainless steel ferrule.
- Long handle, comfortable to hold.
Cons
- Expensive.
- It’s a gimmick.
- You get softer bristles on a yard brush.
So, What Paintbrushes Should You be Using?
I really wanted to give the Singer Pro a glowing review. I don’t like slagging off products, but I feel I’ve been honest. I wanted to add a little section on the brushes I do recommend for different situations.
Let’s start with emulsion. The brush I’d recommend is the Ice Fusion from ProDec. This paintbrush really is sleek, with its futuristic design and tapered synthetic bristles. I wouldn’t recommend using it for contract matt as the soft bristles are not ideal for paints that tend to drag, but for everyday use, there’s nothing I’d rather paint with.
For oil-based gloss; I like Hamilton Pure Bristle, which is an oil-school choice. These get better with age and won’t clog up like their synthetic counterparts.
For stain and varnish; it’s the Kana Tank! What a brush this is, with its unique blend of both natural and synthetic bristles, allowing you to work viscous materials easily.
I’m glad you have done the review Mike. I keep looking at that brush and wondering if it really lives up to it’s own hype. So it is as much a gimmic as it seems then.