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My girlfriend is getting into 40k now for real, and we *just* bought a brush from the GW store...that is apparently terrible. Personally I've had pretty bad luck with this sort of thing in the past as well, and I'm ready to seek your wisdom, oh great dakka dakka forums, on this matter!

So - who has the most cohesive, solid, not-prone-to-fraying fine detail brushes out there? I'm willing to buy from pretty much anywhere with a good reputation online. Are there any sites or brands that do the best for this sort of thing? Or types of hairs for the brush? Brands? ...anything to look for?

Windosr and Newton or Raphael normally get plugged as the best brands.

Generally you want a brush made of natural fibres like Sable.

And finally for the love of god, get a brush cleaner/soap and preserver and use the things.

I understand...I upgraded my brushes a while ago.

A few things;

1 - You need to take care of them, as mentioned get some brush cleaner, and keep them clean (and don't get paint in the metal part).
2 - a bad brush can make for a bad paint job, but a good brush will not make a good one. Take a look at various videos/articles on brush use, etc. to get the most out of your good quality brush.

After much research I went with some "kolinsky" brushes...its a type of hair, and very expensive (about 5-10$ a brush) but worth every penny...it you take care of them.

Many companies make them, just do a search.

Get a Raphael 8404 size 0 brush and some brush soap/cleaner and you'll be good to go. That size 0 brush has an awesome point on it but you need to use the brush soap on it to keep it in good shape.

Also make sure your using the right brush for the type of paint your using. Sable for Acrylics, I think synthetics for oils (I don't use them but that's whats been said over and over again).

Cleaners are a MUST.

Also want to make sure your not jabbing your models with your fine brushes to "get into" those deep recesses and the like.

I bought some raphaels last christmas and I'm still using them. They are almost ready to be replaced but they are the best brush I've used. The quality of raphael as compared to places like utrecht and michaels natural sable is no competition. Raphael are way better. I've never tried winsor and newton but if you want a good brush I can recommend raphael 8404.

Go for the Windsor & Newton 7 Series, they cost a little (i bought a 00 and a 000 for 9 euros each) but they are THE best brushes you will ever buy.
They also come with a custom plastic custody.

My experience tells me: dont go for the cheap ones, as they turn useless in very little time.

order your brushes from www.dickblick.com They have the Windsor Series 7 Brushes for rather cheap..

I think the main issue is brush care. If you use a good brush for drybrushing, I'll be a bad brush by the end of the model. Some tips for keeping a brush healthy:

1. Use "bigger" brushes for general coloring and smaller for detail. Frayed bristles are much less of a problem if you can just cover up mistakes during touch-up/detail painting.
2. Rinse your brush regularly during use. If you start to notice the paint of the brush drying, rinse it out. If the paint dries, the brush will lose it's tip as bristles will stick together .
3. Don't dunk your brush to the hilt in paint. Only wet the tip. This helps prevent paint drying on the brush. You'll save both paint and brushes.
4. Don't stab your model/water pot with your brush. Only make lateral strokes with it. Stabbing with a brush will quickly crease or bend the bristles fraying it.
5. Thoroughly rinse brushes after you are finished painting.
6. Every now and then (every few sessions), wash your brushes with hair conditioner. This will lengthen the brushs' lifespan. Be sure to very thoroughly wash the conditioner out.
7. Don't use glue with new brushes. It will ruin them. instead use older brushes for this.
8. Don't use new brushes for drybrushing. Few things will ruin a brush faster.

I have tried a few different brands and models in those brands. All of them I bought from dickblick.com. That site is about the best prices you are going to find. What GW charges for their brushes is criminal when for the same or less money you can get Kolinsky sable hair brushes from Dick Blick.

1) I tried the short handled round kolinsky brushes from brands such as DaVinci, Winsor&Newton, Dick Blick house brand and they have all been excellent! So far my favorites are the DaVinci brushes, both the Reservo and Optimo, but for different reasons.
2) The hints you have been getting of cleaning and care of the brushes are spot on. Whether they be Kolinsky brushes or synthetics, how you take care of them matters, but it is even more important with the sable hair kolinsky brushes. If you do not take care of them you might as well have bought the crap brushes. Others have stated this better, so I will not keep going.

I'll Thirds, or fourths? the Windsor & Newton ones. Wish I could afford to spend more on them, but at least one 00, 0 or even 1 is good for an all purpose.

Get some "master's brush cleaner" it comes in a little tub and has instructions. Use it when your done every few times (technically all the time but hey, we're only human) and the brushes will last much longer.

Simple guid to cleaning paint

Just a quick ty @ you all for all the awesome tips - I think I will never be short of good advice for all things paintbrush again! Lol. I may post again here in the future if I get another more specific question on this, but for now I think I'm good

I've used the Series 7 listed above, they work really well. I've also used the Citadel fine detail, and it's worked out pretty well. Honestly, I use the CItadel more often simply because they're more readily accessible, and I've only gone through about 3 of them in the last 2-3 years, which isn't bad compared with the cheapo brushes I was using previously. Taking care of them REALLY goes a long ways towards extending their lifespan.

Fine detail brushes are only supposed to be used on fine detail. I see way too many people using the fine detail brush for their whole model and then wondering why their brush isn't holding up. Fine detail brushes are not ment to take a beating.

 ruff wrote:
order your brushes from www.dickblick.com They have the Windsor Series 7 Brushes for rather cheap..

FYI to others on Dick Blick. I just tried to place an order for some new Windsor & Newton Series 7 miniature brushes (I have only the 1 of the Series 7 normal and saw the Minitature ones so had to try them!).

Unfortunately I got an email back saying that "Due to regulations from Department of Fisheries blah blah" they are unable to ship them internationally.

I know it isn't Dick Blicks fault, but this strikes me as Bueracracy gone mad. The brushes are made from fur from "Siberian Kolinksy - Mustela sibirica sibirica" in Siberia. They are handmade in England then shipped to USA.

Then the USA goes "I'm sorry, these are animal products so can't be shipped outside the USA".

WTF?

Ebay.

Its your friend. its also the way to ship things between the cracks...

I don't know about the best brush, but I've made my brushes last longer by a simple trick I learned from an old vet at my GW: after you wash your brush put it in your mouth and do a quick pucker and pull it out. I think it may have doubled the life of my brushes, but I guess it may not be for everyone.

 yeri wrote:
I don't know about the best brush, but I've made my brushes last longer by a simple trick I learned from an old vet at my GW: after you wash your brush put it in your mouth and do a quick pucker and pull it out. I think it may have doubled the life of my brushes, but I guess it may not be for everyone.

I do this and twist with round brushes as I pull the brush out of my mouth to sharpen the tip on the brush. Be mindful of what you've been using the brush on, though. It's a good technique for non-toxic paints; it's a horrible technique for radium.

yep I'm familiar with the radium girls, and I only use non toxic acrylics.