General Brush Use and Care

[Acebaur]

 

You always want longer bristles. They hold more paint and therefore keep the tip wet longer.  

 

Definitely buy some W&N, you will not regret it. 

 

Probably a silly question: what's the difference between the standard Series 7 and the Miniature ones? I'm assuming the former are just larger, and that I want the latter? I can't seem to see somewhere that explains the exact difference, and didn't want to buy the wrong ones.

 

From looking more thoroughly, it seems that they've generally got slightly shorter bristles, but am unsure if even with that they'd be better for painting generally in terms of detail. Size wise, if you've used both, which is more akin to the length of the GW handles, the Miniature?

 

 

I believe it is just the size of the handle. The miniature ones are significantly smaller. I prefer the longer handles myself, but the brushes themselves I think are the same or very close. 

 

 

 

You always want longer bristles. They hold more paint and therefore keep the tip wet longer.  

 

 

While generally true, I have to say that since I started using flow improver, I have very little trouble with the tip of my 000 drying up with paint still on the tip.  However, keeping the paint away from the bristles' base is a real challenge.

 

 

Another reason that longer bristles are better ;)  

[Aqui]

I bought some flow improver recently and whilst I haven't tried it yet, after reading Acebaur's posts, I think that it'll be worth getting a 1 to supplement the OO and OOO I have.

In any case, I'll be getting some Masters soap soon. I found a UK supplier that sells it for less than a tenner (including P+P)

[Chaeron]

I bought some flow improver recently and whilst I haven't tried it yet, after reading Acebaur's posts, I think that it'll be worth getting a 1 to supplement the OO and OOO I have.

In any case, I'll be getting some Masters soap soon. I found a UK supplier that sells it for less than a tenner (including P+P)

Pray tell! 75ml I assume?

I'm still unsure between standard and miniature, although leaning towards the former if I'm going to progress my more 'technical' skill.

[Aqui]

I bought some flow improver recently and whilst I haven't tried it yet, after reading Acebaur's posts, I think that it'll be worth getting a 1 to supplement the OO and OOO I have.

In any case, I'll be getting some Masters soap soon. I found a UK supplier that sells it for less than a tenner (including P+P)

Pray tell! 75ml I assume?

Here is the link, although it's the 30ml. I thought that was a good buy, until I read your post. I didn't know there was a bigger one.

I'm still unsure between standard and miniature, although leaning towards the former if I'm going to progress my more 'technical' skill.

I use the standard Series 7. I did consider getting the miniature ones (as I thought the "miniature" in the name signified suitable for mini painting, not the size), but as I have big hands it's easier for me to use the larger ones.

[Chaeron]

I bought some flow improver recently and whilst I haven't tried it yet, after reading Acebaur's posts, I think that it'll be worth getting a 1 to supplement the OO and OOO I have.

In any case, I'll be getting some Masters soap soon. I found a UK supplier that sells it for less than a tenner (including P+P)

Pray tell! 75ml I assume?

I'm still unsure between standard and miniature, although leaning towards the former if I'm going to progress my more 'technical' skill.

Here is the link, although it's the 30ml. I thought that was a good buy, until I read your post. I didn't know there was a bigger one.

You can get 75ml for al little over tenner from the same place after a quick look! I've paid about £6-7 before for the 30ml one, as I didn't know the larger pot existed either until now haha. I know what I'll buy next time!

[Aqui]

You can get 75ml for al little over tenner from the same place after a quick look! I've paid about £6-7 before for the 30ml one, as I didn't know the larger pot existed either until now haha. I know what I'll buy next time!

Found it! Thanks for the heads up!

[Father Mehman]

Shameless plug for a cool blog but look up The Sage Brush blog (I'm unable to post the link, at the moment). It's got a recipe for flow improver/water/retarder that I'm going to try in the near future (ETL anyone?).

[Firepower]

You always want longer bristles. They hold more paint and therefore keep the tip wet longer.

While generally true, I have to say that since I started using flow improver, I have very little trouble with the tip of my 000 drying up with paint still on the tip. However, keeping the paint away from the bristles' base is a real challenge.

Another reason that longer bristles are better

Actually, that would be replacing one reason with another, not adding a second. I pointed out that your first point was invalid ;)

Also, to put a point in the corner of the 000, compare the results of the eyes I paint to the eyes you paint. B)

Cockiness aside, the 1 and the 000 both have different jobs, but they both do them very well.

[Stoic Raptor]

Shameless plug for a cool blog but look up The Sage Brush blog (I'm unable to post the link, at the moment). It's got a recipe for flow improver/water/retarder that I'm going to try in the near future (ETL anyone?).

 

Thanks!  Here is the link.  I appreciate any feedback on how it works. I may tinker with increasing the proportion of flow improver and drying retarder to water, as I suspect the recommended proportions are specific to the volume of paint - and if you're aiming for a 1-to-1 ratio of water to paint, you might be able to use twice as much of each solution as my formula recommends.  

 

As for the Masters Soap, guys - don't worry about getting more than the 30ml cake.  I bought one two years ago and I still have most of it left.  A little bit goes a long way.

[Chaeron]

You always want longer bristles. They hold more paint and therefore keep the tip wet longer.

While generally true, I have to say that since I started using flow improver, I have very little trouble with the tip of my 000 drying up with paint still on the tip. However, keeping the paint away from the bristles' base is a real challenge.

Another reason that longer bristles are better

Actually, that would be replacing one reason with another, not adding a second. I pointed out that your first point was invalid

Also, to put a point in the corner of the 000, compare the results of the eyes I paint to the eyes you paint.

Cockiness aside, the 1 and the 000 both have different jobs, but they both do them very well.

Cheers for all your help! I've ordered a few, a couple of Miniature and a couple of the normal sized, just depending on potential job in future.

Have read more on brush care and mediums than I ever have before. Excited to get them and use them!

[Tyriks]

So, I can't really think of a better place for this, but we should compile thoughts on good brushes for stuff like 40k.  I have been playing for like 9 months now and up until this week I have consistently used bad brushes.  Part of this is because if I can choose between spending $6 on one or $8 on a set of 5, it's hard to believe that the set of 5 is the worse option.  Part of it also is because my parents and my in-laws know that I play 40k but are for some reason afraid to buy models for holidays so they buy brushes and get whatever bundle of crappy brushes are cheapest.  I tried getting a "nicer" brush once before and mistakenly bought a watercolor brush, not knowing there was a distinction, and ruined it really quickly because it wasn't meant for Citadel paints.

 

But a few days ago I picked up some Windsor & Newton Acrylic brushes and they are fantastic!  I had no idea a brush's quality would make such a difference.  For starters, they seem to hold up much better after using and cleaning them than the discount bundles.  Using discount brushes I always felt that I had to be super careful with them or they'd get bent into weird shapes I couldn't use, even often after only a few uses.  I also think they've been easier to clean, with little to no hardness to them after using them (a common problem with my cheap brushes).  

 

Obviously, I haven't had them long, but I am loving them so far!  Any other good brands out there you want to recommend?  

[Father Mehman]

Windsor & Newton Series 7 brushes - arguably the best brushes out there for what we do - are meant for watercolours so I'm not sure what you picked up before that was ruined by acrylic paint. That sounds like a bad deal. Anyway, putting a W&N brush in the same category as a discount bundle of dubious brushes is like comparing... I don't know. I can't really think of a comparison that could equate. It just shouldn't be done.

 

Also, I'm searching for a W&N Acrylic brush online and am having little luck. What are the bristles of yours made of, Tyriks?

 

To the topic at hand, if you're looking for a decent brush, Games Workshop brushes certainly aren't the worst. Most of them are great workhorse brushes and you get your money out of them before they die, usually. I say that because every once-in-a-while you'll come across one of their brushes that should have never passed inspection. Truth be told, I had a basecoating brush that was used for 6 years before it went dead. Then again, I've had one of their newer brushes that wouldn't hold much paint and one that hooked on me midway through basecoating a model.

[Firepower]

Another vote of confidence for the W&N Series 7.  Pricey, but if treated right they are long lived friends of any painter.  But while I do love hocking these brushes, you can find good brushes that aren't the 'top shelf' solution.  A good deal of the equation comes down to how you treat the brush.

 

The one category I struggle in is synthetic brushes.  For things like metallics and (much more so) Vallejo Liquid Gold, you don't want to use a natural hair brush because it does damage that will shorten the brush's lifespan.  However, I've yet to find a synthetic brush that keeps its point beyond the first 3 minutes of painting.  Most I find are in those same 5 brushes for $10 bundles as well mentioned earlier.

[Tyriks]

Windsor & Newton Series 7 brushes - arguably the best brushes out there for what we do - are meant for watercolours so I'm not sure what you picked up before that was ruined by acrylic paint. That sounds like a bad deal. Anyway, putting a W&N brush in the same category as a discount bundle of dubious brushes is like comparing... I don't know. I can't really think of a comparison that could equate. It just shouldn't be done.

 

Also, I'm searching for a W&N Acrylic brush online and am having little luck. What are the bristles of yours made of, Tyriks?

 

To the topic at hand, if you're looking for a decent brush, Games Workshop brushes certainly aren't the worst. Most of them are great workhorse brushes and you get your money out of them before they die, usually. I say that because every once-in-a-while you'll come across one of their brushes that should have never passed inspection. Truth be told, I had a basecoating brush that was used for 6 years before it went dead. Then again, I've had one of their newer brushes that wouldn't hold much paint and one that hooked on me midway through basecoating a model.

Hm, the watercolor brush I used was a W&N, but I don't remember anything past that.  It was a fine brush I wanted to use for words and other tiny details, lasted me about 30 seconds before half the bristles were curving to one side.  Maybe it was just defective and I should give them another shot...

 

The acrylic brushes I'm using now are "Galeria" brushes, though I've just noticed one of the three is actually a Royal and Langnickel brush that must have been put in the wrong display (but so far has worked).  According to their website, the bristles are "a mix of synthetic filaments."  

[Father Mehman]

Thanks for the info. I was looking at all sorts of brushes and never would have guessed those !

When those wear out or you're looking for something new, grab yourself a Kolinsky sable hair brush. It'll take all you can give it as long as you take care of it. I recommend W&N Series 7, as already mentioned. Look around online at art supply stores and you can find them heavily discounted. It would be a good investment to get sizes 0-3 which some retailers happen to sell as a four or five pack (with the inclusion of a size 4).

The most important thing is to find a brush you like. If you like synthetics, excellent. Maybe you want only Kolinsky sable. Hell, use a brush of your own devising. When you find the brush type and manufacturer you prefer, buy a variety of sizes.

Anyway, keep up the good work !