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So i've been using the GW brushes and now they are fraying after 6 months and just not holding well at all. It's frustrating me and I paid good money for these. They were offered in a bundle pack.
I'm still a bit new to this hobby and still learning a lot (Like thinning your paints). I was wondering If anyone had a suggestion for some good brushes and sizes as well. I want to have a good base coverage one, a small one for eyes and such, a good detail one so I can get the plates in tau models (like one strip on the leg and so forth) and just an overall universal one. I need some for both the small models (Fire Warriors and pathfinders and Suits like the riptide, y'vahra, supremacy and vehicles like the hammerhead) Please help this painting noob. Thank you

Army painter most wanted set is pretty good value and will get you a basecoating brush, detail brush and a drybrush. I have just bought a new regiment brush to replace the one from the set I have been using for about 2 years, the insane detail brush didn't last quite as long though.

It's all down to how you use them too.

But GW brushes aren't that great either, if you're on a budget make sure to check ebay for sets of brushes. ABCBrushes in the UK often have good deals.

Rik

Yeah you need to accept that brushes will die. Windsor and Newton make good brushes. I also like pro arte. I'm guilty of not taking care of my brushes, certainly more so than my sign writing brushes which I oil and store meticulously after use. You can get brush products, or using baby oil will keep them soft, then try and keep the little plastic tubes to protect the bristles.

https://www.brokentoadstore.co.uk/index.php?id_product=1055&controller=product

Don't bother with GW. Go for these, and some brush soap. You won't be sorry.

Brushes will always be a "consumable item" in this hobby, how long they last is down to quality and usage but no brush lasts for ever.

I have 2 "sets" of brushes, I have cheap brushes that I chuck away as soon as they start to splay, I buy these in "bulk" from ebay, so 10x Size 1 Sable brushes with misprinted handles cost me less than £10. They're decent enough but not W&N or Raphael quality, probably better than GW though. I then have a set of Broken Toad brushes for Characters and similar that I keep in a box and use brush soap for.

One BIG tip, never use your good brushes to get paint from the pot or to mix the paint. NEVER! It kills them in no time. Retire old brushes to use for this.

Rik

Rosemary and co have great brushes on all price scales I use them all the time they are great.

My general methodology is spend $4-7 per brush and if it dies in 5-6 months...big deal. That's a tiny amount of money for the amount of minis I turn out in that time frame normally.

Don't spend $15-20 per brush and you won't have to fret about it so much.

I generally use Windsor & Newton Series 7 brushes, and to be honest I'd be pleased with six month's service from one of them! I think I probably don't look after them particularly well. If you ask me, your brush is your most important tool if you want to paint miniatures, so get a few good ones of various sizes. Games Workshop brushes are not the best on the market, despite their high price.

They've been mentioned already in the thread by Marxist Artist, but probably the brushes that give you the best quality for the price are Rosemary & Co. Their Series 33 sable brushes are fantastic, and most of the sizes we use will cost you less than a fiver each. You probably want a 2, 1, 0, and maybe a 10/0 or 3/0. You don't need to go any bigger than a size 2.

https://www.rosemaryandco.com/watercolour-brushes/pure-kolinsky-sable/pure-kolinsky-pointed

Get the short-handled version though. Don't make the mistake I made first time I bought some of them and end up with an 18-inch-long device for poking oneself in the ear.

How are T-Rexes supposed to paint? Think of them Felt....think of the T-Rexes...

I needa give those rosemary ones a shot eventually

just bought another two wn7s with those ebay coopins.

Personally love my 00, 0 and 1

000 is too small and with wn7s they have a fine enough tip to do eyes. even with a 1.

Poasting so I can find this thread later. Keep the advice coming, gents.