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Made in gb
Ambitious Space Wolves Initiate





Nottingham

Hey everyone, I wrote this after collating over 1000 votes on brushes and I was wondering what everyone here's thoughts are?

https://fauxhammer.com/top-10/top-10-best-brushes-for-painting-miniatures-2019/

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2019/10/08 23:09:45


Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

For more of my work, please see my blog http://fauxhammer.com/ 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut






Michigan

Nice article, was a good read. I definitely didn’t know broken toad were discontinuing their brushes? Crazy.

I usually don’t get too wrapped up in what’s better and all that, but this definitely gives me a point of reference to consider when maybe taking the plunge on some “expensive” brushes.

BLAH BLAH....blah. 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Virginia

I need to get better at cleaning my brushes before I invest in any of these but I always wondered what a comparison like this would be like.

Thank you.
   
Made in pl
Beast of Nurgle





Europe

Nice article & good info - few days ago I wrote something also about brushes

http://www.wishwargaming.com/2018/12/27/wish-painting-tips-the-brush/

Blog mostly about fast painting miniatures for WH40k and AOS

www.wishwargaming.com

Instagram: Wish Wargaming
YouTube Channel: Wish Wargaming
 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





Virginia

It's amazing how much extra paint Masters brush soap gets out of a brush, I sit there for several minutes getting more and more paint out just when I think it's clean. I'm probably overloading them...
   
Made in pl
Regular Dakkanaut





Strange that no one mentioned Vallejo brushes. They have at least one brush that is really good for it's price - red sable kolinsky. Bristle are long enough, really sharp, and quite cheap compared to other producers. I've got also some more "pro" brushes, but using them very often since I bought this Vallejo red kolinsky. One "con" behind them is they are less durable, the bristle getting little shorter and less sharp after time, but then you can use them for more dirty techniques, or for base color covering. So I have always at least two of them, one older and used for covering and one freshy and sharp for details.
   
Made in us
Blood Angel Captain Wracked with Visions






Thank you for the list of brushes. Out of curiosity is there any sort of data on the life span of each of these brushes that we could compare against the cost of them?

 
   
Made in au
Veteran Wolf Guard Squad Leader





 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Thank you for the list of brushes. Out of curiosity is there any sort of data on the life span of each of these brushes that we could compare against the cost of them?

If you look after a good natural fiber brush (like the W&N S7s), they will last years.

 
   
Made in pl
Regular Dakkanaut





It all depends how you will care for brush, how often you paint, for what techniques it will be used. You can destroy expensive brush in one day, you can use cheapest through several months. As I mentioned before, my favourite is Vallejo red kolinsky, they are not expensive and can serve well thought a long time.
   
Made in ca
Speed Drybrushing





t.dot

 Dreadclaw69 wrote:
Thank you for the list of brushes. Out of curiosity is there any sort of data on the life span of each of these brushes that we could compare against the cost of them?


Yea, technique, usage, and maintenance really impacts the lifespan.

I have a W&N 7 Series 00 Brush that I use exclusively for detail/freehand work that has lasted me at least 5 years, and still going strong.

I use a W&N 7 Series 2 Brush as my workhorse and I replace it about every 6 months (I probably average about 1500 hours a year of painting). I paint quick, rough, and dirty, and I'm very picky about the brush keeping a sharp point, so the moment it starts to lose it, I replace it.


I've used the Raphael 8404 before (for years, when they were more readily accessible), and they're equivalent to the W&N in durability and quality. At least locally, and given the choice, I'd prefer the 8404's actually because of the price point, but they're nowhere to be found locally, so I go with the 7's for convenience.

I have a set of the Opus 7's, only got them a month or so ago, so I can't rule on their life span. They look like quality brushes, but the bristles are far too long and "weak" for my style of painting. These will probably be relegated to edging and moderate detail work, taking some weight off my 7's 00.

   
Made in no
Grisly Ghost Ark Driver





A YouTuber said something that resonated with me. A good brush has to maintain the tip. It doesn't have to particularly thin. A medium thin/thick brush can complete almost there entire model.

In his experience brush brands are seldom consistent. Expensive brushes can go bad the same day and sometimes a dollar store brush maintain it's tip for ages.

Which I kinda felt too. It's easy to blame yourself of an expensive brush goes bad ton soon, but it just doesn't feel right. Me I pick-up sets of brushes in hobby stores if I see something I haven't tried before. Who knows, they might be good.
   
Made in nz
Longtime Dakkanaut





Near Jupiter.

Don't do what i did and not look at labels properly, i accidently bought a brush that was made out of hog hair... was like each bristle was a wooden stick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lPQb7aVdvw
This is how aliens communicate in space.
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Great Music - https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/760437.page 
   
Made in us
Grumpy Longbeard






My opinion as a professional artist.
The manufacturer or retailer doesn't really matter.
Kolinsky brushes are kolinsky brushes... doesn't matter who made them.

I have basic wooden handle, none-brand, kolinsky brushes I got 13 years ago in Moscow that still hold the tip.


 
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut





Jacksonville, FL.

The "best" brush is largely subjective. If you do not take care of your tools, the tools won't take care of you.

Nothing more irritating then buying an expensive brush that's the latest and greatest and see it ruined by lousy care.

Shiny! 
   
Made in us
Contagious Dreadnought of Nurgle






I agree with the general sentiment here. I have many brushes, from $0.30 Walmart synthetic brushes to Raphaels and Scharffs. I can use pretty much any of them to get the same results, though I obviously make sure to baby my more expensive ones.

 
   
 
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