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Hello,

I've recently gotten back into the hobby and had a quick question. I seem to go through brushes pretty easily. I am not sure if it is my own misconception or if there is something I am doing wrong. Years ago I found myself relegating many of the citadel brushes to 'dry brushing' brushes because the brush would become easily frayed. My good brushes would still form a point but would be hooked to one side. My most recent brush has formed sort of a blunt tip on the end. After I finish with a particular color I swish the brush in water and wipe the tip off on a paper towel, twisting it into a tip. If I can't form one I've tried using spit and tongue and that generally works. Everything I've been told about painting leads me to believe I must be doing something wrong. Any advice, tips, help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

1) Never dip brush in past the bristles. Paint will get inside the metal thing forcing the bristles to do all sorts of not-good stuff.

2) I'd recommend buying a good brush soap. Check out Masters Brush Cleaner and Restorer. A cake of it should last at least 18 months.

3) Never leave brushes standing on the bristles. They'll bend permanently and never go back to shape and always reshape the brush to a point.

4) Never wash the brush in HOT water. It will weaken the glue helping to hold the bristles in place. Use lukewarm or cold (you don't need sudsing action when washing the brush and Masters soap suds even in cold water).

5) Don't actually TWIST the bristles. Use your finger and reform the tips letting the hair fall naturally into place.

I have brushes that I've had for 2 years that still look new (minus lettering rubbed off handles) but bristles still look and perform well.

If its any consolation Shaladain, my brushes tend to do the same even though I NEVER let paint get onto the ferule, and I regularly use a brush soap to maintain them. (this is great stuff btw and extends the life of a brush for ages)

I have been told that the tip bending over may be due to paint drying on the tip while you are painting, but I don't know for sure.

Fateweaver wrote:5) Don't actually TWIST the bristles. Use your finger and reform the tips letting the hair fall naturally into place.

Finger?

Crazy as it may seem, I've always had the bad habbit of putting it in my mouth and forming a fresh tip with my lips. :/

That too.

It's only acrylic paint (though some paints taste worse than others).

Fateweaver wrote:1) Never dip brush in past the bristles. Paint will get inside the metal thing forcing the bristles to do all sorts of not-good stuff.

2) I'd recommend buying a good brush soap. Check out Masters Brush Cleaner and Restorer. A cake of it should last at least 18 months.

3) Never leave brushes standing on the bristles. They'll bend permanently and never go back to shape and always reshape the brush to a point.

4) Never wash the brush in HOT water. It will weaken the glue helping to hold the bristles in place. Use lukewarm or cold (you don't need sudsing action when washing the brush and Masters soap suds even in cold water).

5) Don't actually TWIST the bristles. Use your finger and reform the tips letting the hair fall naturally into place.

I have brushes that I've had for 2 years that still look new (minus lettering rubbed off handles) but bristles still look and perform well.

In general I do all of the above things except using the soap. I don't own brush soap but from what it sounds like it wouldn't help much. Extending the life of a blunt tip or crooked brush won't help me much.

Thanks for the feedback!

Breotan wrote:

Fateweaver wrote:5) Don't actually TWIST the bristles. Use your finger and reform the tips letting the hair fall naturally into place.

Finger?

Crazy as it may seem, I've always had the bad habbit of putting it in my mouth and forming a fresh tip with my lips. :/

I did the same until reading a Windsor and Newton pamphlet about their series 7 brushes. In the section on brush care they specifically state not to point the brush with your mouth prior to putting it away. They don't give a reason so I'm not sure why but since I read that I've been just running the brush through my curled palm to achieve the same result.

Tagged

Buy a new brush simple

-=Scar=- wrote:Buy a new brush simple

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