Paintbrushes

[Myriad]

Quick query.  Having sat down with my brand new fine detail GW brush and found myself swaering at it, I was wondering what brushes other people used (and if I'm just feeling cranky  )?

[Backyardpatrol]

Windsor Newton Cirrus sables.

[Nevermore2010]

I have to admit that i have been frustrated by the newer Citadel brushes, they appear to be of a much lower quality than the average paint brush or even their older model brushes. My advice is to go to a dedicated art shop and buy a quality brush, granted you'll pay more, however they last MUCH longer and provide a higher quality finish.

[Shannow]

I have several of the fine detail GW brushes, but I only use one for the finest detail. as this keeps it at best quality but the other two I use for medium detail as I found with repeated use they lose their fine point really quickly. Bit of an expensive solution though!

Rob

[DapperAnarchist]

I've been told there is a substance called Brush Soap, used specifically for washing small brushes. To keep them from fraying, you can apparently use the soap as a paste to mold them into shape, leave them, then I think you wash them clean and they stay in shape. This was on some modelling and painting advice site ages ago...

[Shannow]

Hmmm interesting, I shall have a browse for that, will update any discoveries!

[precinctomega]

Check out Rosemary & Co. for the best brushes, and for brush soap.

R.

[Dexter]

I haven't bought a GW brush in over a decade, and I'm not about to start now.  I get all my brushes from art stores.  Michaels usually does not have the kind I use, but specialized art-supply stores (as opposed to arts-and-crafts-supply stores) typically have an awesome selection of small, round brushes.
My biggest problem with brushes is their resilience.  There's nothing worse than bringing home a new detail brush, drooling over it's needle-like point, and then realizing that after two hours of use, that point has turned into a hook, and simply won't bend back to be straight.
I use kolinsky sable-hair brushes.  The hair is stronger and more resilient than normal sable-hair brushes.  So long as you are gentle when cleaning and storing them, their tips will last for years.  Currently I have three different sizes of kolinsky sable-hair brushes for detail use, and the rest are el cheapo Loew-Cornell brushes that are about two or three bucks a piece.

[precinctomega]

I recently started using Coat d'Arms brushes.  They have two main advantages: 1) the triangular body makes fine brush control really easy, and 2) they're cheap.

However, as Dexter observed concerning cheap brushes, they don't retain their points at all well.  Generally I get about a month of use from a CdA detail brush and after that, it's relegated to basecoat work.

R.