The real question is....which brushes do YOU use? 🤔 Edit: Wanna support the channel and get those sweet precise brushes? You can buy W&N series 7 here: bit.ly/3pztbKs or Da Vinci maestro series 35 here: bit.ly/2JxIqEt
Just getting into the hobby of Warhammer 40k. I am looking forward to painting soon. A little intimidated because I want everything to come out well. So I am watching so many videos to help me avoid beginner mistakes.
The most important thing is to start. It won't be perfect, believe me, but no one ever starts with perfect army! If you need any starter tips, check my beginner's guide
I've always been a massive slob when it comes to brush care, that's why I always buy the cheapest brushes possible. The straw idea is brilliant, now I won't have to worry about losing the original covers. Big thanks! :D
@@Zumikito I think it also comes down to the way people paint. I have a walk in hobby space, so I often sit down for an hour, paint something, do something else and then return much later for another hour or so. If I were to clean brushes every time I'd probably die :D
I've got a few W&N brushes and they are nice, but for precision I always use my Rosemary & Co brushes. They have really long bristles and a nice, slender profile that allows them to get into small crevices easily.
I LOVE makeup brushes for dry brushing. I get a pack of 2-3 brushes for less than $5 from a discount store and they last a few months before needing to be replaced. The best part is you can get very large makeup brushes for terrain for much cheaper than you could get a regular paint brush and they work just as well. For detail brushes I have a Windsor & Newton Series 7 which I like a lot and a couple of Rosemary and Co. brushes that are just as good and slightly cheaper. It's very hard for me to find these brushes locally in the Southeastern US, so I've had to order online, which adds some extra cost, but they are absolutely worth it for the control and detail work you can produce with them.
I really like the Rosemary & Co. Series 22 or Series 33 kolinsky brushes for my main brushes. The Artis Opus dry brushes are really nice. I was using GW dry brushes before that, and haven't touched my GW ones since switching.
Rosemary & Co Series 33. I use a size 2 and 1 for 90% of my painting, nice belly for holding a decent amount of paint and a brilliant tip. Not the cheapest of brushes but nowhere near the price of a W&N S7
Very interesting to see the discourse about pricing. Here at the bottom of the world (New Zealand) the W&N are the most expensive mass-market brush. Da Vinci is cheaper by some margin, so that is what I chose for my first Kolinsky brushes (series 35 and I tried a series 10). Since then I have started using Raphael 8404 and they are simply amazing! My Da Vinci is now for metallic paints, and I have 4 sizes of Raphael that covers everything I need.
@@Zumikito i really struggle with the Artis Opus dry brushes... GW paint just seems to dry so quick on the bristles and I just end up with dry powder all over my minis... I'm a newbie so I'm probably doing something wrong... but I'm even struggling to wash the paint out of the brushes 🤷♀️ don't know that I'll reinvest in another set when this one dies... but their actual paint brushes are pretty good, mind you, I've not used Raphael or W&N S7, they're hard to get here is Australia at the moment 😔
@@Zumikito I have been, but I do struggle to find the fine line between not at all helpful and drenched 🤦♀️ probably should've started with some cheaper brushes 😬
I know people who get great results with bulk-purchased, Cheap synthetic brushes. I use them... and I use a few Raphaels and Windsor & Newton’s for my own fine detail work. In the end, it’s not so much the tool as the artist. Do what fits your style, your budget, and your preference! ... but it is always fun to hear other artists give recommendations, which is why I have a drawer full of brushes. >.>
You can paint with a toothpick if you want to, the problem is you end up fighting the attributes of poor tool selection. That said, there are no useless tools, just the wrong job for said tool.
lol, just look at Sam Lenz's work. He typically is only using an Airbrush and Bulk packs of size 6 to 12 Golden Tacklon bristled brushes and has won many awards doing so.
Until recently I've been using DaVinci Cosmotop Spins as my generic workhorse brushes - they're a good synthetic brush I picked up in the winter before Covid hit. They've been excellent for me. I also backed the Ghost brush kickstarter and got those this past fall, and have been enjoying them - they've got a nice snap to the bristles, and hold their shape well. I also use the Blick Masterstroke brushes, a "finest red sable" brush for my detail work, and they've been good, but I find that they are "bushier" than my synthetics. They don't hold their shape quite as well, even when I take the same care. Once we move and get situated, I may have to invest in one of the "name brands" that get recommended so often, but for now, I'm satisfied. Good video as always.
Another thing to keep in mind is this: the best brush to use is... experience. Only by getting a lot of brush time in, and gaining experience, will you learn what works best for you. Then you can freely test and experiment with any brush you find and decide whether it does something you need - it's as simple as that. There's no replacement for experience. For example, one of my most used brushes, that I do probably 80% of my painting with on a given model is... a citadel medium layer brush. Not because citadel brushes are "better". You will certainly see recommendations for plenty of other brands and types of brushes that are, in a technical and material sense "better". But for how my hand works, how I hold the brush, etc - I get better results with that specific brush than any other I've tested. That's all. Naturally, there are objective qualities that make a difference - like which brushes can hold some degree of point, and which ones just can't. But at the end of the day, only you can tell yourself what the best brush is.
Great video. I've used Humbrol President (30+ yrs old and still pointy!), Army Painter, Citadel, Ammo by Mig as well as cheaper varieties but they are now all used for less demanding roles as they all pretty much split or refuse to hold a point - apart from the Humbrols (Army Painter are particularly bad for this). I've recently invested in the ARTIS OPUS range and they are, by far, the very best brushes I've ever used. And I've been around the block a loooong time.
That straw tip was legit the tip of the year, and im ashamed that I never thought of that. Let me counter with one of my own. Dollar General / Family Dollar / Dollar Tree (in the US) - best place to grab makeup brushes for dry brushing and that large kabuki brush for dusting. You can even sometimes find cheap acrylic brushes for mixing / loading yer pallete.
I discovered Da Vinci Maestro about five years ago and I prefer them to other high quality brushes as they retain more paint in the appropriate portion of the bristles to prevent damage to the brush.
I love your videos, learned a lot. I recently got my first sable brush, a W&N series 7 mini brush. It's just incredible compared to gw synthetics. Just wow.
Great Videos, Great advice, BUT a couple things I would mention ..You said you go to your Kitchen Sink with your Brushes ... 1st Normal Dish Detergent is a Degreaser, which means it removes Oils, which can be bad for natural (Sable) Bristles, the same as your Hair, you shampoo then condition, because Shampoo removes oils that make them soft, I would make sure to Condition your bristles, there are quite a few products for this, Most use Masters Brush Cleaner, it has a conditioner in it .... and 2nd when Washing your Brushes Warm water is very effective at helping loosen Dried paints BUT HOT water is bad because it can also cause the glues in the ferrule to loosen (Especially on cheaper Brushes) and hairs can either fall out or Separate in the feral causing the brush tips to want to flay out apart. *One of my Favorite Brush Cleaners is JOSONJA Brush Soap & Conditioner.
Thanks for this information. I'm getting ready to start painting miniatures. Have been building model kit (cars, military, Gundam.....) and want to work with something different. This video was very informative. Thank for sharing your experience.
Your adventures with precision brushes remind me of myself. Buying every shit you'll see on web till you'll find something useful. After long journey through the seas of synthetics, cheap kolinsky and other abominations I have finally found Winsor&Newton series 7. Your DaVincis are tempting, but I guess too expensive to buy if you're just curious. Anyway, great video!
Just to let you know, Citadel Brushes are Windsor & Newton brushes. This has been confirmed. They are just rebranded with different size selection for ease of use. Otherwise, same brushes. Come from the same "factory" (which I believe is cottage shop which makes all of them).
Manufacturers of high end brushes like Raphael and some other very skilled painters recommend their brushes are stored flat - not stood up! Seems like daft advice to me. My brushes spend their whole life stood up and never seems to bother them! The only decent brushes ive ever brought are Raphael 8404s - and im very happy with them. Will try a size 1 of the ones you use at some point to see how they perform
Thank you for a great video. It was the precise brushes recommendation I was looking for and those brushes will certainly be worth paying a little extra for )O(
I've only ever used synthetic brushes and, weirdly, the best I've found is those cheap generic ones (with the triangular wedge handle). A pack of them costs about a tenner and they last for about a year with great results!
The dish soap is a bit too brutal for brushes imo, since it washes off the glue that holds bristles together. I'd recommend "masters' brush cleaner" for cleaning purposes. There are also some brush restorers products which helps to preserve expensive brushes.
Thanks so much for the video! I'm looking up some da Vinci's now! I was curious about what the rest of your table loadout looks like! What do you find useful for storing brushes, paints, minis, etc? Do you find a regular desklamp provides the light you need, or do you like using a natural light lamp? Love your channel and seeing your contributions on the Facebook groups!
I am glad that you like the vids :) I use lamp that is dedicated for manual work, so that helps, the temperature is pretty good and is almost natural (not yellowish garbage). My whole setup is not ideal however, I am doing all the hobbying next to my computer. I am glad to hear it about the Da Vinci, really good brand!
I'm a big fan of rosemary and co, for their quality and price. I think I saw miniac say dont store your brushes upright. Hence I dont. I also use a brush cleaner which makes a big difference in keeping them lasting longer. As miniac said, treat your brushes like princesses 👸
I think Miniac debunked that as well in other video or podcast, you can store them upright, it's not gonna make a huge difference :) Like princesses you say? Well, you don't wanna know how I treat princesses 😅
Watching your other videos I Assumed you had sacrificed some of the hairs from your wonderful beard to use for brushes, your recommendations are fine alternatives however
Just wanted to say that I did experiment with dry brushing using the brushes you've shown, and I found that the result often looks dusty and chalky. I can't recommend enough using a very soft brush with lots of very thin bristles, because that reduces the dusty effect and lends a much better smoother finish. I use makeup brushes, but the ones you've showcased later basically look the same. makeup brushes come in all shapes and forms, and are definitely less expensive than art brushes.
@@Zumikito Think you might have been unlucky with your brush. W&N are over overrated garbage compared to Raphael 8404 and their control+spring is miles better.
I just got Monument's Bomb Wick Igniter Brush set, have only been useing them for a few days but i already rate them far higher than citadel, witch is what i used before.
Tip: if you don't want to spend money on the smallest of precise brushes but you have a cat like me you can wait until a one of it's whiskers falls off and superglue it to a toothpick and now you have the most precise brush there is, I've used it mainly to paint in eyes and irises with the aid of a magnifying glass on really small models
I always used Kolibri brushes, sizes 5/0 to 2 with natural horsehair bristles. Probably not the best, but they are indestructible, lasting over a year for me with near-daily use..
I allways used Winsor&Newton Série 7 for years. And i discovered Artis Opus Serie S. I can't paint with another brand now. They're far above all other brands.
I use Raphael 8404 as my current favorite brush. I have Red Grass Games brushes, but haven't used them just yet. WInsor Newton is solid, but I do like the longer bristles also. I just picked up some crazy cheap Fine Touch golden taklon brushes, 5 rounds for less than $3 and they are working great as work horse brushes. Heck at so far they are just as good as a red sable (but I know the tip will curl very very soon).
Really helpful guide to brushes. I use GW at the moment but the length and tip of the DaVinci ones looked so good. I shall be investing in some soon, thank you.
I really like Roubloff 101F kolinsky brushes Size 2 and 0. They are not that expensive like my Davince Maestro tobolsky but they feel pretty much the same.
I agree, They are reasonably priced and of good quality. I've been using my Roubloff brushes daily for a year and a half now and they hold up well. Of course, sable brushes require good care, but then you will literally enjoy them for years to come.
My better half has just brought me a set of broken toad brushes for Christmas, only tried them a couple of times but first impressions are very promising and may replace my Raphaels and Windsor and Newton’s.
Great vid as always will be taking your advice for sure with the use of metallics as I've recently brought myself a set of nice sable brushes from rosemary & co which I use detailed work.im also waiting for the army painter dry brush set to arrive as I think they maybe a good second choice to the artist opus ones which like you say are quite expensive.
The artist opus ones are the same they just cost more and come in a cheap box The problem with youtubers is they are in the business of selling you stuff, so often can't be honest due to maintaining business relationships
Great video. The trick with using a straw as a protector - brilliant. I went: "Bloody hell, why didn't I think of that?!" Btw I came across a piece of information that it is better to store brushes with brissles pointing downwards (with the protector on ofc) so dripping water won't damage the glue that holds them. What is your take on that?
I let my brushes fully dry before storing them anyway and I leave them pointing upwards after that - if there is any difference, It will be next to impossible to notice really
4:30 I'm new to all this and the guy at the store recommended that exact brush, so I got it. I do not get why I would want that brush for anything other than vehicles. I'm painting my first intercessors here, I could cover the entire miniature in like 5 swipes of that brush. Why do I want that? It seems to have so little precision and don't I want to hit the small nooks first after priming? That brush seems like it would easily get paint all over those and make me need to retouch it and then I'll probably get some on the main color and have to paint again. It doesn't make sense to me why I would want that brush at all. I'm mostly ranting because every time I look at it I just think "why was that guy so adamant about this brush that I don't see myself using for anything but tanks?"
What I want to know is how you stop the brush from spreading out. Just as an example I just bought a artificer layer brush from GW and when I put paint on the brush the tip of the bristles spread apart about 1.5 or 2mm before I even get a chance to use it.
I have that experience too. I think the brushes are just not good quality. I now use Roubloff brushes myself and now I don't have that problem anymore.
So, I'm not gonna lie. I looked at the Da Vinci Mastro brushes and the prices gave me heartburn. Think I'll just stick with my crappy Pandafly brushes. They're not the most user friendly, but they get the job done and they build character!
Honestly this is a great guide, but I'm at the point where I'm about to go full Trovarion and use the precise kolinsky brushes for just about anything short of basecoating a tank lol, I have a pretty bad case of tremors so I want as much control as I can on everything when my own hands are nowhere close to 100% under control lmao (painting inside the lines is still very challenging months later)
Raphael and Maestro are pretty close to the gold standard. W&N Series 7 is a trap imo. I used it for years and the 'lead bristle' caused so many headaches. I cannot recommend to avoid Series 7 enough. Get Raph or DaVinci if you want an expensive brush.
Okay so after your video I did try the davinci maestro brushes and they're ok, but not very precise (hard to maintain the tip sharp). They're still better than the winsor&newton ones, which are abandoning sable brushes in favor of synthetic alternatives (and not doing too well, I tried the cotman series (blue handle) and it's ok, good hair length, but not good for precise stuff. I still think that the Marta Kolinsky Abteilung 502 is the best. As long as we use sables for hair, which... ambientalists are working to eliminate. So far the best synth stuff I've tried is Princeton Aqua Elite. I'd recommend them, very sharp and stiff for synthetic brushes. Good for highlighting edges etc.
Interesting, you are the first person that I have heard of having problems with the tip! But I mean, that is like more or less a problem with every brush unless you lick them
nice video as always but I would not say silicon brushes are not useful for painting minis. For instance silicon brushes are the best tools to use when you need to apply liquid mask.
Great video thx - i was looking for a brush with sharp tip - so i was asking me if these brushed are also good when using speedpaints ? Thx for recommondations
I need you help boss....I keep using GW spray primer and I used an off brand...I live in Washington state USA so wet about 55 degrees to 65 degrees but alot of moisture in the air...like Scotland or Ireland 🇮🇪 in the winters...my spray can gives a smooth finish but when I try to apply contrast or even acrylic paints it's so smooth it pools or will not adhere to the model...I have a batch that it's OK on and another army that is jacked up...yes I have an good air brush but use it only to paint nit prime...so...if using g a spray can...what am I doing g wrong...please help...😢
Storing your brushes in a rack like that - doesn't that lead to water and maybe even paint to collect in the ferule? If you make sure they are dried out first after cleaning them, where do you put them while they are drying.
Takes a man to admit wetting his pants ;) Thanks for the video! @2:51 for a second there I thought you were taking out a lipstick! (you're wording took a whole other meaning) Hehehe
You are a significantly better painter than I am, but I've also tried more brushes than you so please take this as a strong opinion. After everything I've used, DiV Mastreo are great, but Broken Toad are the best. W&N used to be wonderful but have really dipped in the last decade. I didn't like AO at all but mine may have been damaged or something before it got to me as it lasted for less than a month.
I have to come back to say: seems that Broken Toad as a company has died. As much as I love their products, I guess you should take them off the table.
I use brushes from Roubloff. It is a russian company. They are pretty cheap and pretty useful. They are made from kolinsky. In Russia brushes from foreign companies are too expensive unfortunately :(
Nothing wrong with Roubloff. I bought my first set of Roubloff brushes a year and a half ago and now I don't want anything else! I find it very unfortunate that they are now so difficult to obtain in Europe. 😢
I bought a Windsor and newton andnirs worse than the citadel starter brush. It doesn’t stay in a point for shit it will at first but even the tiniest stroke will make it gray apart and it’s like brand new no idea what’s up with that
The real question is....which brushes do YOU use? 🤔
Edit: Wanna support the channel and get those sweet precise brushes? You can buy W&N series 7 here: bit.ly/3pztbKs
or Da Vinci maestro series 35 here: bit.ly/2JxIqEt
Windsor Newton Series 7 currently are my workhorses
I went from Citadel to Army Painter and ended up getting W&N brushes from a fancy art supplier.
@@justarandomname420 pretty similar journey!
I went with the Raphaël Series 8404. I love them so much. You should give‘em a try, mate 😊👍🏻
@@kevinschwager4327 I did and the one I tried split the tip unfortunately :( might give it another go
Just getting into the hobby of Warhammer 40k. I am looking forward to painting soon. A little intimidated because I want everything to come out well. So I am watching so many videos to help me avoid beginner mistakes.
The most important thing is to start. It won't be perfect, believe me, but no one ever starts with perfect army! If you need any starter tips, check my beginner's guide
Me too, I am getting better learning from my mistakes. But I’ve still got a long way to go.
hoping it’s going well 2 years later!
I've always been a massive slob when it comes to brush care, that's why I always buy the cheapest brushes possible. The straw idea is brilliant, now I won't have to worry about losing the original covers. Big thanks! :D
Glad it helped! Have to be honest, I also dislike taking care of my brushes too much
@@Zumikito I think it also comes down to the way people paint. I have a walk in hobby space, so I often sit down for an hour, paint something, do something else and then return much later for another hour or so. If I were to clean brushes every time I'd probably die :D
I've got a few W&N brushes and they are nice, but for precision I always use my Rosemary & Co brushes. They have really long bristles and a nice, slender profile that allows them to get into small crevices easily.
I LOVE makeup brushes for dry brushing. I get a pack of 2-3 brushes for less than $5 from a discount store and they last a few months before needing to be replaced. The best part is you can get very large makeup brushes for terrain for much cheaper than you could get a regular paint brush and they work just as well. For detail brushes I have a Windsor & Newton Series 7 which I like a lot and a couple of Rosemary and Co. brushes that are just as good and slightly cheaper. It's very hard for me to find these brushes locally in the Southeastern US, so I've had to order online, which adds some extra cost, but they are absolutely worth it for the control and detail work you can produce with them.
I really like the Rosemary & Co. Series 22 or Series 33 kolinsky brushes for my main brushes. The Artis Opus dry brushes are really nice. I was using GW dry brushes before that, and haven't touched my GW ones since switching.
Best painting tutorials ever. I've learned more from yours than all the others put together.
Rosemary & Co Series 33. I use a size 2 and 1 for 90% of my painting, nice belly for holding a decent amount of paint and a brilliant tip. Not the cheapest of brushes but nowhere near the price of a W&N S7
Very interesting to see the discourse about pricing. Here at the bottom of the world (New Zealand) the W&N are the most expensive mass-market brush. Da Vinci is cheaper by some margin, so that is what I chose for my first Kolinsky brushes (series 35 and I tried a series 10). Since then I have started using Raphael 8404 and they are simply amazing! My Da Vinci is now for metallic paints, and I have 4 sizes of Raphael that covers everything I need.
Hi Darren, also in NZ and looking for brushes. Where about's did you get your Raphael brushes from?
Ah a kindred spirit! I likewise landed on Da Vinci Maestro brushes for the majority of my miniature painting work!
Absolutely LOVE the lack of filter 😅 I, like my brushes, have been through some shit on my painting journey... good to know we're both still useful! 😂
Weren't we all? 🥺
@@Zumikito i really struggle with the Artis Opus dry brushes... GW paint just seems to dry so quick on the bristles and I just end up with dry powder all over my minis... I'm a newbie so I'm probably doing something wrong... but I'm even struggling to wash the paint out of the brushes 🤷♀️ don't know that I'll reinvest in another set when this one dies... but their actual paint brushes are pretty good, mind you, I've not used Raphael or W&N S7, they're hard to get here is Australia at the moment 😔
@@anabehrendt7472 do you use dampening pad as well? Some water might be worth it, also scale 75 might be solution as they use gel medium
@@Zumikito I have been, but I do struggle to find the fine line between not at all helpful and drenched 🤦♀️ probably should've started with some cheaper brushes 😬
I know people who get great results with bulk-purchased, Cheap synthetic brushes. I use them... and I use a few Raphaels and Windsor & Newton’s for my own fine detail work.
In the end, it’s not so much the tool as the artist. Do what fits your style, your budget, and your preference!
... but it is always fun to hear other artists give recommendations, which is why I have a drawer full of brushes. >.>
I agree that most brushes can be used in some way, but holy shit did my painting improve once I started using better brushes for detail work!
@@Zumikito Your first time using a GOOD brush is a transcendent experience.
“What do you mean paint is supposed to flow off the brush that easily?”
You can paint with a toothpick if you want to, the problem is you end up fighting the attributes of poor tool selection. That said, there are no useless tools, just the wrong job for said tool.
lol, just look at Sam Lenz's work. He typically is only using an Airbrush and Bulk packs of size 6 to 12 Golden Tacklon bristled brushes and has won many awards doing so.
@@Winterydee if it works for him, sure, but so many people can benefit from getting better brushes still :)
Straws as brush caps -- I will use this. Thank you!
That plastic straw suggestion is a great idea that wouldn't have occured to me!
Until recently I've been using DaVinci Cosmotop Spins as my generic workhorse brushes - they're a good synthetic brush I picked up in the winter before Covid hit. They've been excellent for me. I also backed the Ghost brush kickstarter and got those this past fall, and have been enjoying them - they've got a nice snap to the bristles, and hold their shape well.
I also use the Blick Masterstroke brushes, a "finest red sable" brush for my detail work, and they've been good, but I find that they are "bushier" than my synthetics. They don't hold their shape quite as well, even when I take the same care. Once we move and get situated, I may have to invest in one of the "name brands" that get recommended so often, but for now, I'm satisfied.
Good video as always.
Excellent guidance, on types of brush, proper care and choice of brushes to meet a budget. Many thanks this was very helpful.
Another thing to keep in mind is this: the best brush to use is... experience.
Only by getting a lot of brush time in, and gaining experience, will you learn what works best for you. Then you can freely test and experiment with any brush you find and decide whether it does something you need - it's as simple as that. There's no replacement for experience.
For example, one of my most used brushes, that I do probably 80% of my painting with on a given model is... a citadel medium layer brush. Not because citadel brushes are "better". You will certainly see recommendations for plenty of other brands and types of brushes that are, in a technical and material sense "better". But for how my hand works, how I hold the brush, etc - I get better results with that specific brush than any other I've tested. That's all.
Naturally, there are objective qualities that make a difference - like which brushes can hold some degree of point, and which ones just can't. But at the end of the day, only you can tell yourself what the best brush is.
Great video. I've used Humbrol President (30+ yrs old and still pointy!), Army Painter, Citadel, Ammo by Mig as well as cheaper varieties but they are now all used for less demanding roles as they all pretty much split or refuse to hold a point - apart from the Humbrols (Army Painter are particularly bad for this). I've recently invested in the ARTIS OPUS range and they are, by far, the very best brushes I've ever used. And I've been around the block a loooong time.
I picked up Raphael 8404 size 0 today... and my god it's awesome! There's a world of difference between using that and citadel for fine work.
That straw tip was legit the tip of the year, and im ashamed that I never thought of that.
Let me counter with one of my own.
Dollar General / Family Dollar / Dollar Tree (in the US) - best place to grab makeup brushes for dry brushing and that large kabuki brush for dusting. You can even sometimes find cheap acrylic brushes for mixing / loading yer pallete.
I discovered Da Vinci Maestro about five years ago and I prefer them to other high quality brushes as they retain more paint in the appropriate portion of the bristles to prevent damage to the brush.
can you tell me more about hte Da Vinci Maestro brushes?
I love your videos, learned a lot. I recently got my first sable brush, a W&N series 7 mini brush. It's just incredible compared to gw synthetics. Just wow.
Great Videos, Great advice, BUT a couple things I would mention ..You said you go to your Kitchen Sink with your Brushes ... 1st Normal Dish Detergent is a Degreaser, which means it removes Oils, which can be bad for natural (Sable) Bristles, the same as your Hair, you shampoo then condition, because Shampoo removes oils that make them soft, I would make sure to Condition your bristles, there are quite a few products for this, Most use Masters Brush Cleaner, it has a conditioner in it .... and 2nd when Washing your Brushes Warm water is very effective at helping loosen Dried paints BUT HOT water is bad because it can also cause the glues in the ferrule to loosen (Especially on cheaper Brushes) and hairs can either fall out or Separate in the feral causing the brush tips to want to flay out apart. *One of my Favorite Brush Cleaners is JOSONJA Brush Soap & Conditioner.
Thanks for this information. I'm getting ready to start painting miniatures. Have been building model kit (cars, military, Gundam.....) and want to work with something different. This video was very informative. Thank for sharing your experience.
I use a tiny metal sculpting spoon for spreading texture paint.
Your adventures with precision brushes remind me of myself. Buying every shit you'll see on web till you'll find something useful. After long journey through the seas of synthetics, cheap kolinsky and other abominations I have finally found Winsor&Newton series 7. Your DaVincis are tempting, but I guess too expensive to buy if you're just curious. Anyway, great video!
Series 7 fan here too, have a few and absolutely cant fault them.
@@richardwinstanley8219 I've managed to destroy my first set, but it took me 8 years and two painted armies.
Just to let you know, Citadel Brushes are Windsor & Newton brushes. This has been confirmed. They are just rebranded with different size selection for ease of use. Otherwise, same brushes. Come from the same "factory" (which I believe is cottage shop which makes all of them).
Manufacturers of high end brushes like Raphael and some other very skilled painters recommend their brushes are stored flat - not stood up! Seems like daft advice to me. My brushes spend their whole life stood up and never seems to bother them! The only decent brushes ive ever brought are Raphael 8404s - and im very happy with them. Will try a size 1 of the ones you use at some point to see how they perform
I was struggling making my mind up between the Windsor newton, and divinci… went with the divinci. They are on there way, glad you recommended them
Thank you for a great video. It was the precise brushes recommendation I was looking for and those brushes will certainly be worth paying a little extra for )O(
I've only ever used synthetic brushes and, weirdly, the best I've found is those cheap generic ones (with the triangular wedge handle). A pack of them costs about a tenner and they last for about a year with great results!
The dish soap is a bit too brutal for brushes imo, since it washes off the glue that holds bristles together. I'd recommend "masters' brush cleaner" for cleaning purposes.
There are also some brush restorers products which helps to preserve expensive brushes.
Thanks so much for the video! I'm looking up some da Vinci's now! I was curious about what the rest of your table loadout looks like!
What do you find useful for storing brushes, paints, minis, etc? Do you find a regular desklamp provides the light you need, or do you like using a natural light lamp?
Love your channel and seeing your contributions on the Facebook groups!
I am glad that you like the vids :) I use lamp that is dedicated for manual work, so that helps, the temperature is pretty good and is almost natural (not yellowish garbage). My whole setup is not ideal however, I am doing all the hobbying next to my computer. I am glad to hear it about the Da Vinci, really good brand!
I'm a big fan of rosemary and co, for their quality and price. I think I saw miniac say dont store your brushes upright. Hence I dont. I also use a brush cleaner which makes a big difference in keeping them lasting longer. As miniac said, treat your brushes like princesses 👸
I think Miniac debunked that as well in other video or podcast, you can store them upright, it's not gonna make a huge difference :) Like princesses you say? Well, you don't wanna know how I treat princesses 😅
Watching your other videos I Assumed you had sacrificed some of the hairs from your wonderful beard to use for brushes, your recommendations are fine alternatives however
Just wanted to say that I did experiment with dry brushing using the brushes you've shown, and I found that the result often looks dusty and chalky. I can't recommend enough using a very soft brush with lots of very thin bristles, because that reduces the dusty effect and lends a much better smoother finish. I use makeup brushes, but the ones you've showcased later basically look the same.
makeup brushes come in all shapes and forms, and are definitely less expensive than art brushes.
Paint can be too dry when drybrushing funny enough, that's your issue not the brush
Try also Raphaël series 8404 brushes. They’re amazing
tried them, wasn't too happy unfortunately...but might give them another go
@@Zumikito
Think you might have been unlucky with your brush.
W&N are over overrated garbage compared to Raphael 8404 and their control+spring is miles better.
HZ system, good choice, I'm slowly building up my work space with their modules.
This helps me a lot! Thx man!
I just got Monument's Bomb Wick Igniter Brush set, have only been useing them for a few days but i already rate them far higher than citadel, witch is what i used before.
I have to check them out, but from my experience it is not that difficult to upgrade from citadel! Thanks for the tip
Thank you for this awesome guide!
Tip: if you don't want to spend money on the smallest of precise brushes but you have a cat like me you can wait until a one of it's whiskers falls off and superglue it to a toothpick and now you have the most precise brush there is, I've used it mainly to paint in eyes and irises with the aid of a magnifying glass on really small models
Now that is great advice! Thank you so much! Time to visit the cat of my sister. :D
Time to pluck all my cats whiskers!
Fun video. I really like all of the Artis Opus brushes, particularly series S, but I’ve not tried Windsor or Da Vince and they definitely cost a bit.
I always used Kolibri brushes, sizes 5/0 to 2 with natural horsehair bristles. Probably not the best, but they are indestructible, lasting over a year for me with near-daily use..
I allways used Winsor&Newton Série 7 for years. And i discovered Artis Opus Serie S. I can't paint with another brand now. They're far above all other brands.
I tried a lot of different Brands and my favorite is DaVinci, really great price/quality
👍👍👍I’m going to order the da vinci ones
I use Raphael 8404 as my current favorite brush. I have Red Grass Games brushes, but haven't used them just yet. WInsor Newton is solid, but I do like the longer bristles also. I just picked up some crazy cheap Fine Touch golden taklon brushes, 5 rounds for less than $3 and they are working great as work horse brushes. Heck at so far they are just as good as a red sable (but I know the tip will curl very very soon).
Amazing videos! Thank you, I can’t wait until the next video.
Really helpful guide to brushes. I use GW at the moment but the length and tip of the DaVinci ones looked so good. I shall be investing in some soon, thank you.
I think you will not be disappointed :)
I really like Roubloff 101F kolinsky brushes Size 2 and 0. They are not that expensive like my Davince Maestro tobolsky but they feel pretty much the same.
I agree, They are reasonably priced and of good quality. I've been using my Roubloff brushes daily for a year and a half now and they hold up well. Of course, sable brushes require good care, but then you will literally enjoy them for years to come.
Subscribed for the beard!
I totally agree the da Vinci brushes are very good.
I appreciate what you do so much I have gone and watched a lot of your videos and liked the videos to try and support.
My better half has just brought me a set of broken toad brushes for Christmas, only tried them a couple of times but first impressions are very promising and may replace my Raphaels and Windsor and Newton’s.
nice!
Excellent and useful video, thank you!
Great vid as always will be taking your advice for sure with the use of metallics as I've recently brought myself a set of nice sable brushes from rosemary & co which I use detailed work.im also waiting for the army painter dry brush set to arrive as I think they maybe a good second choice to the artist opus ones which like you say are quite expensive.
The artist opus ones are the same they just cost more and come in a cheap box
The problem with youtubers is they are in the business of selling you stuff, so often can't be honest due to maintaining business relationships
I believe Scharff is a brand to look out for in terms of brushes.
Cheap Walmart makeup brushes have totally changed my drybrushing game!
I like to use a hairbrush for painting and for styling.
Very concise and useful video. Brushes are a very important tool and your advice was right on the money. Cheers!
Glad it was helpful, though now that I see your comment, I totally forgot to mention anything about oil paints!
@@Zumikito No worries. Hey, are you Canadian?
@@SmallSoldier no, but half of my siblings are Canadian, how did that cross your mind 🤔
@@Zumikito Your accent sounds French Canadian.
Great video. The trick with using a straw as a protector - brilliant. I went: "Bloody hell, why didn't I think of that?!"
Btw I came across a piece of information that it is better to store brushes with brissles pointing downwards (with the protector on ofc) so dripping water won't damage the glue that holds them. What is your take on that?
I let my brushes fully dry before storing them anyway and I leave them pointing upwards after that - if there is any difference, It will be next to impossible to notice really
4:30 I'm new to all this and the guy at the store recommended that exact brush, so I got it. I do not get why I would want that brush for anything other than vehicles. I'm painting my first intercessors here, I could cover the entire miniature in like 5 swipes of that brush. Why do I want that? It seems to have so little precision and don't I want to hit the small nooks first after priming? That brush seems like it would easily get paint all over those and make me need to retouch it and then I'll probably get some on the main color and have to paint again. It doesn't make sense to me why I would want that brush at all. I'm mostly ranting because every time I look at it I just think "why was that guy so adamant about this brush that I don't see myself using for anything but tanks?"
Just subbed, and this was a great explanation. Thank you!
Glad it helped :)
What I want to know is how you stop the brush from spreading out. Just as an example I just bought a artificer layer brush from GW and when I put paint on the brush the tip of the bristles spread apart about 1.5 or 2mm before I even get a chance to use it.
I have that experience too. I think the brushes are just not good quality. I now use Roubloff brushes myself and now I don't have that problem anymore.
@Pieternel2002 thanks mate I appreciate your response
So, I'm not gonna lie. I looked at the Da Vinci Mastro brushes and the prices gave me heartburn. Think I'll just stick with my crappy Pandafly brushes. They're not the most user friendly, but they get the job done and they build character!
Merry Christmas !!!! Love all your videos
Thank you! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Where is the miniature from the thumbnail from?
Honestly this is a great guide, but I'm at the point where I'm about to go full Trovarion and use the precise kolinsky brushes for just about anything short of basecoating a tank lol, I have a pretty bad case of tremors so I want as much control as I can on everything when my own hands are nowhere close to 100% under control lmao (painting inside the lines is still very challenging months later)
I feel you, I have my own stack of old kolinsky brushes for basecoating and most of the time I use precise ones anyway
“Those precise brushes that have been through some shit!”
I’m dead!
Just use a Citadel medium shade brush for fine detail work. Seriously it's fine for 80% of people see my profile pic.
Winsor & Newton Series 7 all the time
Raphael and Maestro are pretty close to the gold standard. W&N Series 7 is a trap imo. I used it for years and the 'lead bristle' caused so many headaches. I cannot recommend to avoid Series 7 enough. Get Raph or DaVinci if you want an expensive brush.
Great video, you made some really useful points
Glad it was helpful!
Okay so after your video I did try the davinci maestro brushes and they're ok, but not very precise (hard to maintain the tip sharp). They're still better than the winsor&newton ones, which are abandoning sable brushes in favor of synthetic alternatives (and not doing too well, I tried the cotman series (blue handle) and it's ok, good hair length, but not good for precise stuff. I still think that the Marta Kolinsky Abteilung 502 is the best. As long as we use sables for hair, which... ambientalists are working to eliminate. So far the best synth stuff I've tried is Princeton Aqua Elite. I'd recommend them, very sharp and stiff for synthetic brushes. Good for highlighting edges etc.
Interesting, you are the first person that I have heard of having problems with the tip! But I mean, that is like more or less a problem with every brush unless you lick them
@@Zumikito which I always do...
How about contrast and shades, will these mess up the brushes too? Or do I just need to rinse them more often during painting?
thank you :)
Keep doing what you’re doing!!!
Thank you!
nice video as always but I would not say silicon brushes are not useful for painting minis. For instance silicon brushes are the best tools to use when you need to apply liquid mask.
Sure, it works for that, but it is not exactly "Painting" in traditional sense :) but sure, you are right!
I would like to know if you have used Rafael 8404 by now and if you enjoyed them! love your videos!
Great video thx - i was looking for a brush with sharp tip - so i was asking me if these brushed are also good when using speedpaints ? Thx for recommondations
I need you help boss....I keep using GW spray primer and I used an off brand...I live in Washington state USA so wet about 55 degrees to 65 degrees but alot of moisture in the air...like Scotland or Ireland 🇮🇪 in the winters...my spray can gives a smooth finish but when I try to apply contrast or even acrylic paints it's so smooth it pools or will not adhere to the model...I have a batch that it's OK on and another army that is jacked up...yes I have an good air brush but use it only to paint nit prime...so...if using g a spray can...what am I doing g wrong...please help...😢
Storing your brushes in a rack like that - doesn't that lead to water and maybe even paint to collect in the ferule? If you make sure they are dried out first after cleaning them, where do you put them while they are drying.
Takes a man to admit wetting his pants ;) Thanks for the video! @2:51 for a second there I thought you were taking out a lipstick! (you're wording took a whole other meaning) Hehehe
You are a significantly better painter than I am, but I've also tried more brushes than you so please take this as a strong opinion. After everything I've used, DiV Mastreo are great, but Broken Toad are the best. W&N used to be wonderful but have really dipped in the last decade. I didn't like AO at all but mine may have been damaged or something before it got to me as it lasted for less than a month.
I have to come back to say: seems that Broken Toad as a company has died. As much as I love their products, I guess you should take them off the table.
I use brushes from Roubloff. It is a russian company. They are pretty cheap and pretty useful. They are made from kolinsky. In Russia brushes from foreign companies are too expensive unfortunately :(
Will have to check it out!
Nothing wrong with Roubloff. I bought my first set of Roubloff brushes a year and a half ago and now I don't want anything else! I find it very unfortunate that they are now so difficult to obtain in Europe. 😢
Glad I paint
Ty
Please don't ever stop doing videos...
As long as I am able to :)
im also using the davinci meaestro brushes.
Hell yea!
What brushes would your recommend for precision in the US now that kolinsky sable brushes are banned?
DaVinci has new series for miniatures 70 and 76, did you try them?
Very good info at brushes. UA-cam algorythm, take note!
heck yea! Thank you
I'm sub'd!
I found that the Winsor Newton brushes wear out way to quick
I bought a Windsor and newton andnirs worse than the citadel starter brush. It doesn’t stay in a point for shit it will at first but even the tiniest stroke will make it gray apart and it’s like brand new no idea what’s up with that
Da vinci séries 10 ? I've only heard about the 35 one :o good to know !
I mentioned 35,didnt you mean it backwards?
@@Zumikito Oh yes, my bad haha !
Since (I think) we're located in the same country. Do you have some local stores / brands that you would recommend?
Can't find series 7, even your link goes to something else ...
10:12 There it is folks. You’re welcome.