Brushes Vs Metallics: Synthetics advice wanted

[lawnor 25990xp 0]

I’ve had a twitch stream playing while working this morning and the subject of brush care came up.  Januinevision spent a little whil,e showing off his collection of brush soaps again and said he gets a year out of his brushes (W&N S7s) as a result of the soaps.  I said I have the same brushes and the same soaps but get around 5 months out of my brushes.  It was pointed out that the problem is that I use those brushes with metallics and I should have a separate set of synthetics for the meals.  I tried to ask for advise on what I should buy for that purpose, but a conversation happened and I didn’t get any real advice and so here I am to pester you lot.  I’m about to start some new brushes so now seems the time to see if this makes them last longer.

If I do the bulk of my painting with quality kolinsky sables and want a set of synthetics just for metallics, which ranges should I be looking at?  If they’re just going to get destroyed I don’t want to pay through the nose.  I also don’t want anything that’s going to lose its tip too soon.  Army Painter is commonly available, but their brushes don’t last long for me (Although I love their small drybrush.  A smaller one would be nice too).  I’m in the UK so please consider availability, especially under covid limitations.  If this ends up costing me more in the long run then there’s no point.

[sundancer 44891xp 1]

I’d go with the cheapest from the local hobby or art & crafts store. Metallics really settle in with the bristles and if I were to paint more metal I would get a second set of brushes for metals.

[lawnor 25990xp 0]

Are 20 for £1 brushes actually capable or painting anything with any degree of control?  Surely there’s a minimum level of quality needed for our delicate work, even if it goes in the bin at the end of the day?

[shingen 13941xp 2]

In  my experience there is more than one or two factors actually affecting how long your brush lasts. From the kind and scale of the minis you paint to technics you use to consistency and brand of paints to actual quality control at the factory and last but not least care.

It is said that metallics degrade paintbrushes faster, same is true for inks and washes (and I would expect contrast paints) , but I guess it comes down to how much of those types of paints you use. I don’t use metallics almost at all and still get maybe 80-100 28 mm minis out of series 7 (using soaps and all), from what I understand you paint more than that in a year.

Back on topic thou, I recently started painting with oils and use cheap synthetic brushes with them, granted technic is much different, but after 2 or three months (15+ minis) I haven’t noticed any degradation on those no-names:

In Dublin the set costs less than 4 EURO ( https://store.evansartsupplies.ie/product/20461/Brush-set-Short-Handle-10s/ ) . I used them with acrylics as well, and they aren’t brilliant, but sufficient for some base colour work.

 

 

[sundancer 44891xp 1]

@lawnor I remeber a video by Tabletopminions with Sam Lenz ( https://www.youtube.com/c/SamLenzArtwork ) and he uses cheap as chips brushes and he can paint.

 

HtH

[torros 23841xp 2]

I bought series 7 brushes and cheap £1 brushes. I think its a matter of luck if the point remains on them no matter how much you spend and care you take of them

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