Why pro painters still trust the tools that listen.
The evolution of painting tools has always been a quieter kind of progress—measured in bristle blends, handle ergonomics and painter feedback. But make no mistake: change has been constant. And deliberate.
This quiet evolution of painting tools has been led, in large part, by Purdy® Professional Painting Tools. What began as a humble operation quickly grew into one of the most trusted names in professional painting. A century later, the company still runs on the same fuel: craftsmanship, innovation and a deep respect for the people holding the brush.
From the chemistry of paints to the tools that pros use, the painting world looks very different today than it did decades ago. And through it all, Purdy has consistently set the pace by listening to its customers, studying how they work and delivering smarter solutions that answer real challenges.
A Foundation of Craftsmanship
Purdy was founded in 1925 by S. Desmond Purdy in Portland, Oregon, with a simple but powerful mission: to build the finest painting tools by hand, one brush at a time. In an era when quality was often sacrificed for mass production, Desmond committed himself to individual excellence, personally training his team to maintain the highest standards. Using carefully selected materials and hand-assembled components, Purdy’s early brushes quickly gained a reputation among professional painters for their durability, smooth application and superior finish.
You don’t have to look far to see what sets Purdy apart. It’s right there on the brush. Each one is still made by hand and signed by its maker, carrying on a tradition that began a century ago. This isn’t just a nice touch, it’s a built-in quality standard that’s lasted 100 years—and it’s how Purdy went from one good brush to the No. 1 Brand Preferred by Pros.* Because professional painters don’t form brand loyalties lightly.
Over time, this level of care has fostered a following of people who don’t just use Purdy brushes but actively look for specific signatures on the shelves. The idea that a painter might remember a brushmaker’s name and seek out their work again speaks volumes about the trust the brand has earned. For pros, it’s proof that someone stood behind their work.
Shifting From Bristle to Synthetic
Among the many milestones in Purdy’s history, one of the most transformative was the industrywide transition from natural bristle brushes to synthetic filaments that began gaining serious momentum in the late 1970s and accelerated through the 1980s.
As paint technology moved forward, the tools had to follow, and synthetic brushes gave Purdy a chance to rethink everything. The company applied decades of insight into bristle behavior to engineer synthetic filaments that replicated and often exceeded the performance of natural hair—filaments that could handle latex, enamels and everything in between with unmatched control, durability and consistency.
From this innovation came a standout product: the Purdy XL® Series brush. With a feel that painters described as “just right,” it blended responsiveness and control in a way that set a new standard. With its well-tuned balance—not too stiff, not too soft—and broad usability, it became more than a best seller. It became the brush professionals rely on most, and it still holds that spot today.
Among the many milestones in Purdy’s history, one of the most transformative was the industrywide transition from natural bristle brushes to synthetic filaments that began gaining serious momentum in the late 1970s and accelerated through the 1980s.
As paint technology moved forward, the tools had to follow, and synthetic brushes gave Purdy a chance to rethink everything. The company applied decades of insight into bristle behavior to engineer synthetic filaments that replicated and often exceeded the performance of natural hair—filaments that could handle latex, enamels and everything in between with unmatched control, durability and consistency.
From this innovation came a standout product: the Purdy XL® Series brush. With a feel that painters described as “just right,” it blended responsiveness and control in a way that set a new standard. With its well-tuned balance—not too stiff, not too soft—and broad usability, it became more than a best seller. It became the brush professionals rely on most, and it still holds that spot today.
New Horizons
In 2004, Purdy was acquired by Sherwin-Williams to mark a new chapter in the company’s story. Instead of changing what made Purdy successful, the acquisition allowed the brand to expand its scope.
With the backing of one of the world’s largest paint companies, Purdy broadened its focus beyond brushes, bringing the same craftsmanship and performance standards to a wider range of tools. The company didn’t just fill gaps—it answered a bigger need by moving into frames, poles, putty knives and even surface prep solutions with one mission in mind: helping pros work faster, finish better and turn more jobs in less time.
And pros responded. A century of earned trust helped the new products move quickly from the shelves into daily use, landing right in the hands of those who know that the right gear makes all the difference between a good job and a great one.
From Chemistry to Cutting In
One of Purdy’s biggest advantages today is a direct line to the paint lab. As part of the Sherwin-Williams family, Purdy isn’t guessing how its tools will perform with evolving paint chemistry. Instead, the company is building alongside the people who are writing those formulas.
This integration is more important than ever. As environmental regulations tighten and raw material availability fluctuates, paint formulations are constantly changing. Lower-VOC paints, for example, dry faster and behave differently than older formulas—creating new challenges for even seasoned pros.
Thanks to its in-house connections, Purdy stays ahead of evolving coatings by testing and refining applicators in real time to ensure performance keeps pace. Tools are designed with specific substrates and finish goals in mind, resulting in solutions that feel intuitive in the hand and stay one step ahead of what the job demands.
But product development doesn’t happen solely in the lab. Purdy’s team spends extensive time on jobsites, observing painters at work, collecting feedback and analyzing how tools are actually being used. Field visits often begin with a simple question: What’s the worst part of your job?
The answers to that question often lead to new product ideas, design tweaks or even category expansion. In many cases, the team looks at how painters are “hacking” their tools—cutting, modifying or repurposing items to get the job done. To Purdy, these workarounds are evidence that something’s missing. The goal is to eliminate the need for hacks altogether by designing tools that solve those problems out of the box.
And that’s exactly how Purdy® Cub Brushes came to life. Pros were sawing off their brush handles just to squeeze into corners, cut in tighter or get a steadier grip in tricky spots. In a classic “there’s got to be a better way” moment, Purdy made the decision to make the brush they were trying to create in the first place. Enter the Cub Series—short-handled brushes built specifically for better precision, more control and easier maneuvering in tight spaces.
Listening, Learning, Launching
The Purdy® Pro-Extra® High-Capacity brush was born from exactly this kind of input. Pros asked for a brush that could hold more paint and reduce trips to the bucket—so Purdy delivered. Designed with high-capacity performance and stiff filaments for added control, it’s built to tackle today’s thicker coatings without sacrificing precision.
Other recent product launches are further examples of this process in action, including the new Purdy® POLE+ Extension Pole that came directly from years of field feedback demanding more durable, higher-functioning poles that could stand up to jobsite abuse. Rather than rushing to market, Purdy took its time, refining prototypes until the product met the standard professionals expected.
The new Purdy® Altitude™ roller covers followed a similar path. It’s a product that delivers both productivity and a smooth finish—two qualities that don’t often go hand in hand in roller fabric. To achieve that balance, the team explored new materials, tested different blends and fine-tuned the fabric until they landed on something that felt truly unique in the market.
Ideas for Purdy innovations like the Pro-Extra High-Capacity brush, POLE+ Extension Pole and Altitude roller covers come straight from the jobsite, not from a drawing board.
Designed for Change
What also sets Purdy apart isn’t just what’s in the brush, but how it’s made. Sustainability touches everything: forest-certified handles, recycled metal components and manufacturing systems that send zero waste to landfills.
But for Purdy, the ultimate form of sustainability is durability. A brush that holds up for decades doesn’t just reduce waste, it saves time, money and frustration. Purdy builds tools meant to stick around, which is why many professionals still reach for brushes that have been with them since day one or handed down from someone who taught them the trade.
And that’s why Purdy has never forgotten who’s holding the brush. Rather than rely on assumptions, the team taps into real-world jobsite feedback to guide the design and evolution of every tool to fine-tune details like handle shape and comfort to meet the needs of today’s pros.
At the same time, the company continues to search for new filament technologies—often from adjacent industries like aerospace or textiles—that can be adapted for painting. These efforts are focused on solving timeless painter frustrations, like brushes that are easier to clean or materials that better resist paint drying in the filament.
And as the skilled trades labor pool continues to shrink, there’s growing demand for tools that are not only high performing but easy to use, even for painters with less experience. That means continuing to prioritize accessibility alongside professional-grade results.
These are small details, but they speak to a larger philosophy: listen first, then build.
Craft. Elevated.
If there’s a common thread throughout Purdy’s history, it’s that the company never stands still. Whether refining a classic product or breaking into a new category, Purdy approaches tool design with humility, curiosity and a deep respect for the people who use its products every day.
Painting may be an ancient craft, but the tools of the trade are far from static. And thanks to brands like Purdy—driven by thoughtful R&D, field immersion and a century of earned trust—the evolution of painting tools is still very much in progress.
*2024 inPAINT Magazine Brand Preference Survey, Brush and Roller Categories. May/June Issue.
