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I've been using some ones from the Range recently, but they seem to fray incredibly fast, despite me cleaning them all the time during and after use, reshaping the tips, and always making sure they aren't resting on anything that can fray them, although they never seem to last more than about 2 months.

Can anyone recommend some brushes that are relatively cheap, but it's not a massive thing if not, that will last a comparatively longer time?

Rosemary & co series 33 are the best budget brushes you can get. They are almost as good as the really top quility brushes the pros use (series 7s and Raphael to name 2)

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/index.php?cPath=275_365

You should get some brush soap too, it will length the life of the brush significantly and pay for itself very quickly.

http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-fine-pointed-round-series-8404/

These are some of the best brushes I have ever used. I am brutal to my brushes and these guys last me 2 months at a time painting 50+ figures a month.

I go with the 0/0 or the size 1.

There is another one with 8408 as well
http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-extra-pointed-round-series-8408/

This one is great too and it's brush is a bit shorter. They hold their points extremely well and at 11-12 dollars a piece they are worth it.

 GoatboyBBMA wrote:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-fine-pointed-round-series-8404/

These are some of the best brushes I have ever used. I am brutal to my brushes and these guys last me 2 months at a time painting 50+ figures a month.

I go with the 0/0 or the size 1.

There is another one with 8408 as well
http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-extra-pointed-round-series-8408/

This one is great too and it's brush is a bit shorter. They hold their points extremely well and at 11-12 dollars a piece they are worth it.

QFT.
Seriously, I cannot recommend Raphael brushes enough. $15 may seem like a lot for a wooden stick with some hair attached to it, but you will thank yourself for buying one. Even a phenomonially talented painter can only do so much with a junk brush; quality brushes mater.
I have used my size 0 Raphael 8408 almost daily for almost six months, and with regular cleaning with Master's Brush Soap, it has a point as nice as the day I bought it. If you keep a nice point on a quality brush, you can almost anything with it. I use a size 0 to do everything from large areas to pupils and purity seal writing.

 GoatboyBBMA wrote:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-fine-pointed-round-series-8404/

These are some of the best brushes I have ever used. I am brutal to my brushes and these guys last me 2 months at a time painting 50+ figures a month.

I go with the 0/0 or the size 1.

There is another one with 8408 as well
http://www.dickblick.com/products/raphael-kolinsky-red-sable-extra-pointed-round-series-8408/

This one is great too and it's brush is a bit shorter. They hold their points extremely well and at 11-12 dollars a piece they are worth it.

Expect he's from the UK and its really hard to get Raphael brushes here.

 Skippy wrote:
Rosemary & co series 33 are the best budget brushes you can get. They are almost as good as the really top quility brushes the pros use (series 7s and Raphael to name 2)

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/index.php?cPath=275_365

You should get some brush soap too, it will length the life of the brush significantly and pay for itself very quickly.

I use those brushes and they are every bit as top quality as Raphael or W&N. A major reason for their low price is that they only really sell direct. They aren't a huge company with tons of overhead to pay for. Worth every penny. I have a few that are about 3 years old and they are good as new provided you take proper care of them.

I recently picked up some W&N Series 7 brushes, and can say they are definitely the best brushes I have ever used. I've been in the hobby for quite awhile and thought I could just get by with the cheaper nylon brushes but these have changed my mind. I was able to get 3 detail brushes (2, 0, and 000) for about $30 online

 Skippy wrote:
Expect he's from the UK and its really hard to get Raphael brushes here.

Not at all. Get your 8404-fix here: http://www.jacksonsart.com/Art_Departments-A-Z_All_Departments-Artist_Brushes-Watercolour_Brushes-Raphael_Paris_Series_8404_Kolinsky_Red_Sable/c2129_2128_1083_1218_29757/index.html