BRUSHES:
Brushes should bristles made of synthetic material such as nylon, polyester, or a nylon/polyester blend. Contractors report that Nylon will retain its shape best with long painting sessions with latex paint. A top quality brush will generally have a bare wood handle, and the metal ferrule will be nailed to the handle, rather than crimped or "staked".
When using solventborne paints such as oil-based alkyds, brushes made with natural materials such as natural bristle or China bristle are used. However, these natural bristles will absorb water and swell, which will negatively affect the application of waterborne paints.

ROLLER COVERS:
As with brushes, use roller covers made of synthetic material when applying waterborne coatings. Natural materials such as lamb’s wool covers will absorb water and swell, and should only be used with solventborne paints.

SPRAY EQUIPMENT:
Metal components of spray equipment that come in contact with waterborne paint should be made of stainless steel. Equipment made of galvanized, copper, brass and mild steel should not be used, as corrosion might occur, especially if all water is not flushed from the system during clean-up. Dedicating spray equipment for waterborne coatings is the best way to avoid problems during clean-up or changeover from solventborne coatings, but is not necessary if the proper care is taken during these operations. See Cleaning Up for more info on the best methods.
Waterborne acrylic coatings can be applied by all manners of spray equipment, including airless, air-assisted airless, HVLP and conventional spray units. Consult the paint manufacturer’s recommendations for guidelines.

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