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.

Hi

I'm very new to this painting hobby and was wondering if anyone can recommend a decent but not so expensive set of brushes that i can use for metallic paints? most articles/videos I've seen recommend using older brushes but being new, i don't really haven older brushes yet. i started off buying a pack of cheap synthetic brushes from amazon but i quickly learned they are garbage so invested in some W&N series 7s of various sizes for normal paints and the difference is night and day but i don't want to use these brushes for metallic paint. I've tried using the the cheap amazon ones i first got but its hard work.

should i go with another set of better synthetics or cheaper kolinsky sable?

any recommendations

thanks

Use synthetics, but still good ones for finer work. Luckily decent synthetic brushes are fairly cheap. I paint a lot of metallics and just use the same brushes for everything until they die but that's just me

Check out art stores' house-brand synthetics. They're usually better quality than ones sold as a bundle on amazon.

Been painting with acrylics with synthetics for 20+ years. I never let my W&N touch acrylics.

I’ve never heard of using different brushes for metallic paint. But for a decent synthetic I use Windsor Newton cotman 111 series. The main complaint about synthetics is that they get a hook shape at the end of the bristles which is true but these brushes just don’t hook nearly as badly as any other synth I have used and when the do it’s tiny so it doesn’t affect your ability to do things like highlighting and even eye lenses. I do have some kilinsky but don’t use them that much.

I tried so many different brushes and have been through several sets of these cotman brushes now. Synthetics don’t last forever but they are cheap. Make sure you wash your brushes properly using a soap and be gentle with them and they will last a lot longer and give you better results.

I’ve realised now that you only need a gentle touch to apply the paint to the mini, I think I ruined some good brushes just though poor technique

Synthetic bristles resist clumping with actual metallics(i.e. actual metal flake suspended in paint). They're also easier to clean afterwards.

I just Checked out the prices of W&N series 7 as I thought I might see what the fuss was all about. 15 quid for a size 2, not so bad. 50 quid for a size 6! Incredible!

I don’t think it ever replace my whole collection with W&N

Thanks all for the replies and advice. The W&N Cotman series 111 seem to fit the bill. Will purchase a few of those and see how I get on.

I just use my normal brush.

mrFickle wrote:
I just Checked out the prices of W&N series 7 as I thought I might see what the fuss was all about. 15 quid for a size 2, not so bad. 50 quid for a size 6! Incredible!

I don’t think it ever replace my whole collection with W&N

For anyone that likes W&N brushes I will always recommend the Raphael sable brushes.
They are a bit cheaper and just as good in quality.
Where they shine for me though is they have longer hairs, so the tip is a little longer.
I just find it’s easier to reach awkward areas and gives more control when doing so.


For metallics I just use GW brushes.
When they launched the magazines through part works you could pick them up for around £1 each, so I grabbed 20 or so for using on damaging work.
Metallics, washes etc, just rather use a £1 brush than put a £30+ one near them.

I just buy cheap sets of synthetic brushes and use them until they die and then they become mixing brushes.

humpo wrote:
Thanks all for the replies and advice. The W&N Cotman series 111 seem to fit the bill. Will purchase a few of those and see how I get on.

These are some of the best synthetics out there.
One can also use an older kolinsky sable. It’s what I normally use but if you don’t have any old ones get the Cotman.

mrFickle wrote:
I just Checked out the prices of W&N series 7 as I thought I might see what the fuss was all about. 15 quid for a size 2, not so bad. 50 quid for a size 6! Incredible!

I don’t think it ever replace my whole collection with W&N

You're never in a lifetime going to need a size 6 to paint miniatures, that's a massive brush.

 Mr. Grey wrote:

mrFickle wrote:
I just Checked out the prices of W&N series 7 as I thought I might see what the fuss was all about. 15 quid for a size 2, not so bad. 50 quid for a size 6! Incredible!

I don’t think it ever replace my whole collection with W&N

You're never in a lifetime going to need a size 6 to paint miniatures, that's a massive brush.

I use size 6 for priming by brush or applying inks or washes over large areas. And your wouldn’t want to paint a tank with a size 2