Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I keep hearing about these 7 brushes. Dick Blick has a 4 brush set for about $35 i think, many painters here recommend them for those that want to upgrade to high end brushes.

As an international, I tried to buy some sable brushes from Dickblick and they weren't allowed to ship them due to export regualations on animal products.

I placed the same order through a company called "Art Supply Warehouse" - http://www.aswexpress.com/

Order hasn't arrived yet, but they are shipping it all out and slightly cheaper than Dickblick. I'll update if I get the order and provide feedback on if they are reputable or not.

The brushes I bought are the miniature versions of the Series 7 - http://www.winsornewton.com/products/brushes/for-water-colour--gouache/series-7-kolinsky-sable/series-7-miniatures-short-handle/

Ok, well the order showed up today (about 1 hour ago). Sigh. The Flow Improver's lid had come mostly off, and almost the entire bottle leaked through the package. My wife was at home for the delivery and sent me the following photo's. She's being awesome and cleaning everything up for me now to assess the extent of the damage.













I'm really hoping the brushes didn't spend the last 10 days soaking in Flow Improver, they look ok-ish from the photo but will know for sure when I get home in another 6-7 hours.

I have contacted their customer service, so hopefully they will get back to me with a positive solution. Will update again when I know how they will handle. Fingers crossed it will be positive and I will have nothing bad to say about them, wish me luck.

[UPDATE] I heard back from their Customer Support the very next day after letting them know about the issue. A new bottle of Flow Improver is being sent out no questions asked and I don't have to pay for shipping. So that went really well. So once that shows up I'll give my final recommendation for Art Supply Warehouse, but so far apart from the shipping issue the products were cheap, support is excellent and I'd say they are ok to order from if you need Art products. They also do Armature wire, Polymer Clays etc not just paints and brushes.

The brushes should be okay. Those tubes have a good seal.

Was the flow improver not in a sealed bag? Every liquid I've gotten in the mail has been in it's own zip lock bag for just such situations.

Hopefully it all gets sorted for you.

i use army painter brushes. i buy 2 good brushes every 3-6 months and they are great.

 TheContortionist wrote:
i use army painter brushes. i buy 2 good brushes every 3-6 months and they are great.

They only last 3-6 months? Or you are continually expanding your selection with new sizes?

A good brush should last years and years, not months.

i paint a TON of gauardsmen and gaunts. my brushes do not last years. i don't care how good they are.

Perhaps an airbrush is in order then. It would save you tons of time and a ton of wear on brushes, even if you only use it for base coating.

Are you cleaning your brushes properly after each session? Some Masters Brush Cleaner can restore brushes that most people write off as dead.

i enjoy painting too much to air brush. plus it's too messy and takes too much prep to setup. All i need is a brush. as for cleaning, i keep them very clean. not complaining. 3-6 months is really good considering how much i paint i feel. i'm not too worries about spending 10$ on 2 brushes every so often. better than terrible bulk brushes any day of the week. brushes are sooo important in painting.

Personally, I made the switch to Royal & Langnickel Golden Taklon brushes (they're in the local art store, which is why I chose them in the first place, but next set I buy will likely be online.) just over a year ago.

They're good quality, not too pricey, and have a good range of sizes (I've got 10/0, 5/0, 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and a range of flat brushes.) all of which have lasted well.

A few months ago i started this thread, i was disappointed at the quality of brush GW has to offer. A lot of people recommended Rosemary & Co brushes so i did a bit of research and about a week later i ordered some. I've been using my Rosemary & Co brushes pretty solidly since i got them, and well i'll let the pics speak for themselves. I cant recommend these brushes enough!!!!!

I'd reccomend Army Painter or Winsor and Newton.

Dick Blick is a great company. Their warehouse is totally awesome. My mom lives about 15 minuets from their home store, so I checked it out about 6 months ago.

The biggest thing I will reccomend is MAster's brush cleaner. That gak saves brushes.

Seconded on the cleaner - that stuff has made a massive difference to the longevity and pointyness of my brushes, something I always struggled with.

I used to run my army painter brushes through the brush cleaner after every paint session and they didn't last too long, my Reaper Kolinsky brushes get run through once every month to 3 months (depends on how much I paint) and after every session, I clean them out well with some fresh water, and I've had these brushes for a year (first set of brushes to last this long without losing point, or curling, etc...

I ike Rosemary & Co and Army Painter. I've had a few W&N series 7s over the years but found them inconsistent compared to 10 years ago when they were always perfect.

Every single gw brush ive ever used has been waaay too big. I cant believe the eavy metal painters can get such detail with those things. I prefer armypainter brushes or just generic small art store ones.

You are assuming that the Eavy Metal team use GW products

 Color Sgt. Kell wrote:
Every single gw brush ive ever used has been waaay too big. I cant believe the eavy metal painters can get such detail with those things. I prefer armypainter brushes or just generic small art store ones.

That's because they probably don't. I find it really hard to believe anyone can get results like that with the crap GW pedal. Each probably has their own set of brushes, according to their preference. By the looks of it, a lot of Eavy Metal's tanks are airbrushed, GW doesn't even make an airbrush...

Just take it back and get another.

 Color Sgt. Kell wrote:
Every single gw brush ive ever used has been waaay too big.

Seriously.

When I saw the OP's picture I was like 'that is huge for a detail brush'. I have 3 brushes smaller than that sized brush I use for details.

I have a few GW brushes which have lasted a long time, mostly larger brushes. No Detail brushes.

The army painter does an insane detail brush, I have it, it's awesome, check it out

GW brushes are terribad. The new ones at least. They last hardly any time at all, I have the old red handled Citadel brushes that are way better than what GW are peddling now that i;ve had for 10 years or more and they are still ok for basic work at least

I was going to get the GG kickstarter dual ended brushes to replace my current atrocites but these rosemary and co ones have given me pause for thought.......

pitboy2710 wrote:
You are assuming that the Eavy Metal team use GW products

I'm pretty sure they do not. They recently released a LE 'Eavy Metal brush set that were, I believe, rebadged Windsor & Newtons.

 SargentWhiskey wrote:
A few months ago i started this thread, i was disappointed at the quality of brush GW has to offer. A lot of people recommended Rosemary & Co brushes so i did a bit of research and about a week later i ordered some. I've been using my Rosemary & Co brushes pretty solidly since i got them, and well i'll let the pics speak for themselves. I cant recommend these brushes enough!!!!!

Can you give me a link to where you got these? Although based on your flag I'm guessing it might not make sense for me to use the same source...

 RiTides wrote:

 SargentWhiskey wrote:
A few months ago i started this thread, i was disappointed at the quality of brush GW has to offer. A lot of people recommended Rosemary & Co brushes so i did a bit of research and about a week later i ordered some. I've been using my Rosemary & Co brushes pretty solidly since i got them, and well i'll let the pics speak for themselves. I cant recommend these brushes enough!!!!!

Can you give me a link to where you got these? Although based on your flag I'm guessing it might not make sense for me to use the same source...

I've ordered directly from Rosemary & Co and shipping was very fast.

http://www.rosemaryandco.com/

Ive had my GW brushes for over 5 years lol

not careful.... just dont paint that much

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

A full set of 1 and smaller runs about $28 US before shipping.

 Aerethan wrote:
http://www.rosemaryandco.com/watercolour-brushes/pure-kolinsky-sable/pure-kolinsky-pointed

A full set of 1 and smaller runs about $28 US before shipping.

Cheers, i was actually looking in the acrylic brushes and getting quite disenheartened

Any fellow brits, Postage is only a quid and 10/0 3/0 2/0 0 1 and a 2 brush (6 brushes) sets you back £22 which is pretty good IMO

I have noticed the new GW brushes seem poorer quality, I last bought the blue handled ones but changed to W&N #7 a few years ago.

I did buy the citadel masters set some 6-8 years ago, was £85 then but the well made wooden box, 3 rebranded W&N brushes, brush soap, towel and water 'shell casing' are still used, okay the brushes are dead but the box is really good quality, brush soap is excellent.

Look at the current wavy metal brush set, it's in a pressed metal tin and that's about it.

The old masters set was a serious bit of kit which holds all my tools now :-).