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Sup guys
So, I've been using my GW brushes quite some time now, and they are staring to get too old and worn for proper usage, so I've decided that I should replace all of them with some other higher quality brushes from other brands, and I need help deciding on which.
First I was going to pick up some of them armypainter brushes, cause I've heard that they were good quailty for the price and the handles are triangle shaped which I find more comfortable than just plain round ones,
but while checking on differnet forums, most of the poster thought that real kolinsky sable brushes were of much higher quality, and a better value for the money.
Later on while on Wayland games, checking for stuff for a coming order I found theese, http://www.waylandgames.co.uk/hobby-products/kolinsky-paint-brushes/cat_974.html, and they cost pretty much the same as armypainter ones, so that got me wondering which would be the better.

So the real question is, what kind of brush should I get, and if I'm going for kolinsky brushes, which manufacturer wouild be the best. (Also, how does the measurement system for brushes work, like how big they actually are, all them numbers got me cofused^^)

Cheers and thanks for any help

Hi !

I used to paint with cheap brushes at my beginings. Once they started to get to old and damaged to be used, I asked to several painters I know what they used.

From this, I have decided to buy some Raphael brushes (range 8404 if I recall corectly). These brushes were the best hobby thing I bought. I like them because they have an important capacity (I don't need to pick paint every ten seconds) and a good point (I can paint quite small details with a standard brush because the extremity is small enough to do so).

My brushes are more than 2 y.o. and they are "as new".
I guess that other manufacturers produce good quality brushes, but I'm really happy with these ones.

I like my GW brushes, they have lasted me a long time. Though I did buy the Army Painter ones, and they've become my go to brush.

Rosemary and co, great value sable brushes from an excellent company

Sable is supposed to be the best, though many companies make sable brushes (even GW). I've heard good things about Raphael as well.

Getting nice brushes is a good investment, but if brushing are wearing out on your there is a good chance you may not be maintaining them correctly. Even cheap brushes will last 5-10 years if properly maintained. Are you using a good brush soap every time? Dish soap will ruin your brushes, and water wont clean them completely.

What I'm saying is, while the new brushes will be a great help, if your old brushes died, your new ones will too. It should take years and year for a brush to die, even a cheap one. Even if you are taking good care of them, if you aren't using a good brush soap they are going to flay out and lose their tip.

Winsor and Newton Series 7 Kolinksy sable. I get them from Dickblick.com for a huge discount.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/winsor-and-newton-series-7-kolinsky-sable-pointed-round/

UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote:Rosemary and co, great value sable brushes from an excellent company

This. You want series 33 sizes 1 and under. Half the price of W&N at the same quality.

I'm mostly happy with my Army Painter brushes, except for the Character brush. I've gone through two and even when I clean my brushes properly with Masters Brush Cleaner the bristles on the Character brush lose their snap and paint capacity.

I'll look at DickBlick for some better quality stuff.

Whatever suits your style and you are comfortorable with.