Brush Preferences

[Chastity]

Hello from a newb.

 

I've been painting for a few years, and I'm just looking at my brushes.

 

My favorite is a really ratty old brush that my father gave me when I first started ... it's supposed to be a 1, but there are only a few bristles left, and it's perfect for doing fine work.

 

But I'm looking at my newer brushes, and they're in quite a state.

The bristles at the tip of the 4/0 Royal I got for Christmas are already bent over - and I was super careful with using, cleaning and storing it.

 

So I was wondering which brands of brushes you guys prefer, or would recommend.

[pae]

Welcome to the forums, Chastity.

 

The hooked-tip syndrome you speak of is actually pretty common with synthetic brushes. A number of us here prefer sable brushes, preferably Kolinsky sables. There are a number of brands that produce these. Personally, my brush collection consists of the following:

 

Winsor & Newton Series 7 Miniature brushes ( size 1, 00, and 000 )

Vallejo Kolinsky sable brushes ( sizes 2, 0, and 4/0 )

Reaper Kolinsky sable brush ( size 2 )

 

I'd say that I use the W&N size 1 brush about 90% of the time, and it's held up really well so far.

[Brumbor]

First off welcome to the boards!!!!

 

My brushs of choice are red sable I use two 03 brushs for doing large areas of the fig, and two 10 for fine work. I have two of each one for metalic paint and one for normal paint. I also keep my old brushs around for dry brushing. Dry Brushing really messes up your brushs so becarefull. If you want your brushs to have a shap point, I recomend buying a product called Master's cleaner/conditioner. Clean your brushs with it then work a good lather up and coat the tips of your brushs and let it dry, rinse it off when you want to paint again. You can find it at most craft stores.

 

Hope this helps. I'm sure some of other folks around here will have some advice for you as well.

 

Darn flynn beat me at being first.

[Chastity]

thanks guys!

 

I figured sable was the way to go.

I'll have to go on a hunt at the hobby shops around here, as the shop I buy my minis at only seems to carry the Royal brushes.

 

And I like the tip on keeping separate brushes for regular and metallics. I hadn't thought of that.

[Painfully]

W&N series 7 brushes are on the expensive side. You shouldn't expect to find them in a hobby store. You'll find them in a good art store, or may have to go online. If you visit an art store be sure to ask a sales clerk for them, as even at my large, big city art store the W&N brushes are kept in a locked cabinet, and away from the other brushes! Apparently the other brushes are not worthy of touching the great W&N series 7 brushes.

 

Reaper and Vallejo brushes might be more available at good hobby stores that sell a lot of paints and figures.

 

With the exception of Reaper and Vallejo, I would avoid hobby store brushes in general.

[Archaon]

I use GW, but only because of the ease of getting them.

[Cerridwyn1st]

Brushes I actually use:

 

W&N Series 7 - 000, 00, 0, & 1

W&N Series 7, miniature - 000 & 00 (the 000 is probably the most used brush in my set)

Vallejo - 2

Lowe Cornell Series GG 6/0 - amazing brush for the money - less than $4. Another well-loved and well-used brush. Doubles as loaner for Painting Clinic

Reaper Master Series Kolinsky Sables - 5/0 & 1 - just got these Friday, in love already

Various Cat's Toungs (Filberts). Two are from Renaissance Ink. I highly recommend the size four, excellent for basecoating, though like any synthetic it will get the bendies. They have some of these in sables, just haven't got round to ordering any. I have a couple sable cat's tounges from other manufacturers that I really like.

 

Some cheap synthetic flats that I use for sealing and painting basis.

 

Royal Langnicel Big Kid's Choice Value Pack - 12 natural bristle brushes for $1. Excellent for Painting Clinic, and sometimes I use them myself.

 

If your local games shop doesn't carry high-end brushes but does carry Reaper products, have them oder a couple Master Series for you. It will save you the hassle and/or expense of tracking down W&N 7. With the Series 7, you can either pay $15 and up from your local art store, or get them cheaper online but have the savings wiped out by shipping charges.

[claymoore]

If you find that you have to order online these two retailers have given me good service and stated that they will replace any brush that is found to be defective

 

Kalish?

Kalish sells brushes made in the same factory as Reaper Master series. Price savings will more than offset shipping if you buy two or more brushes.

 

and ASW -Art Supply Warehouse

ASW

Great prices on WN 7 and 7Mini (shorter tip) averaging US$7 or less but $11 shipping.

 

And, welcome to the boards!

[Erion]

Robert Simmons Hobby Brushes. They have a thicker handle than most for fine control (and my big hands) and they last a long if you take care of them, with the sole exception of the flat shaders which I use for blending and highlighting so they take a bit more abuse.

 

They run around $4-5 / brush, but Once I found them I never even considered going back to another brand. I'm on my fourth set in two years.

[Froggy the Great]

I hate to say this (really, I do), but my Citidel Fine Detail Brush that I've had for a year or more is the only one that I can consistently keep a point on. Then again, I've had wildly varying results with those.

[Errex]

Hey, Frosch. There is nothing wrong with using GW brushes. I have a set I've been using for the past few years, and they are pretty decent.

 

I also have two W&N S7 brushes, that I don't use that often, although they are also pretty good, some synthetic ones (I use them mostly for inkwork, since the slightly hooked tip lends itself well for minute scribbling), and some other, assorted local brands of sable brushes.

[Dragon Snack]

I love my W&N S7's, but I've had good luck with Plaid's (really). I beat up my brushes pretty bad though, so the cheap stuff never bothers me when I kill them.

 

I had a nice W&N Gold Sceptre that was VERY nice and not too expensive (made me upgrade to the S7), but it got used at a paint and take and...

 

I liked the Reaper's I got with the LTPK1. They are synthetic, so they eventually lost their point. I haven't used the Master Series yet.

[Cerridwyn1st]

Aren't there some sable brushes in the GW line? You'd think those would last a while. Testors also has some sables, $5 at a model shop. Haven't tried them.

 

You should see the handles of my WN7's. They are obviously "well loved" But the bristles are still pristine. I fastidiously clean my brushes after every use and keep them capped. But if a brush can take the beating I dish out and still look great, then it's worth whatever you pay for it.

[Rodnik]

My brush collections consists of:

W&N series 7

1 size 2

2 size 1

2 size 0

2 size 000

 

Vallejo

2 size 2

2 size 1

2 size 0

2 size 00

2 size 000

2 size 0000

 

I tend to use the W&Ns most of the time. The hair in the Vallejo seems "stiffer" to me. I like 'em both about equally. I have two of a bunch of brushes specifically because I've been working on some techniques where it's helpful to have two brushes workin' at once---that and apparently I have more money than I have sense...

 

The remainder of my brush collection consists of "crap" brushes that I use for utility stuff...

 

I've never used the mini line of series 7, but I'm considering it in the near future.

 

Kev

[Chastity]

wow!

Thanks for all the welcomes, and all the recommendations.

 

I honestly don't know of any art stores in my area, so it looks like I'll probably have to go the online route, or get my shop to order in some of the reaper brushes.

 

*dances happy*