24 replies to this topic

[karpouzian]

Where is the best/cheapest place to buy kolinsky sable brushes (with s&h figured into the cost)?
I'm in the US.

[Heisler]

Really the best place in the US is Dickblick.com. You have a choice between windsor-newton, raphael and DaVinci. My favorites are the DaVinci. There are a number of cheaper kolinsky alternatives out there but again you get what you pay for and if you are going to get a tool you should stretch and get the best tool you can.

[MonkeySloth]

You can get the Winsor and Newton's off of amazon for less then $15 with shipping.

[Serenity]

Reaper's Kolinsky brushes are fairly low cost, and you can get free shipping with a $25 order if you buy from Reaper or Miniature-Giant. As I recall, both Anne Foerster and Derek Schubert have used these brushes, so obviously not too bad a choice.

I haven't made much use of the Reaper Kolinsky brush I own, but not because I don't like it. Rather, I bought some Raphael 8404s and W&N Series 7s in sizes I prefer, and those are what I've been using. I got them from Dick Blick. The Reaper is waiting for its turn to shine.

[Corporea]

middle grade, nice price from amazon:

http://www.amazon.co...atercolor brush

I added these, but they're synthetic:

http://www.amazon.co...atercolor brush

[vutpakdi]

Just because the label says Kolinsky Sable doesn't mean that the brush is well suited for details work.

Winsor & Newton makes 3 grades of Kolinsky Sable brushes. The high end is the Series 7. The middle is the Watercolour series. The low end is the Cirrus. Based on my trial, there is a vast difference in feel, snap, and ability to keep a point between the Series 7 and the Cirrus. I'd rather use a decent synthetic than the Cirrus except for terrain. The Watercolour and the Citadel branded brush (made by W&N) fall somewhere in between.

You're better off spending a little more to get a good brush, especially if you are buying several at a time from Dick Blick. My favorite is the Da Vinci Maestro Series 11. I also like the Raphael 8404 and 8408

Ron

[ced1106]

* Michael's is currently having a 40% off your entire purchase of art supplies, including brushes. If you haven't bought your matte, flow aid, and brush soap, buy them and add a detail (spotter) brush, and size 0 brush. Michael's brushes aren't as good as hobby brushes, but you won't be paying much, anyway.

* Reaper Learn to Paint Kits 1 and 2 have brushes. I doubt they're sable quality, but if you're a n00b and also need paints, might as well start here.

[Ampersandrew]

* Reaper Learn to Paint Kits 1 and 2 have brushes. I doubt they're sable quality, but if you're a n00b and also need paints, might as well start here.

Can any of the Reaper peeps (or anyone else who knows), tell us more about these brushes, please. I'm waiting for kits 1 & 2 to make their way across the Atlantic to me. I'm wondering, what these brushes are like and if I should think about getting other brushes.

[CashWiley]

I'm hoping to limit myself to the included brushes when I start the L2P series, especially for metallics. I don't want to sully my good brush with metal flake! Not much help until I get to that, I know...

As far as brushed go, I went through $50 of cheap brushes before I finally broke down and bought a W&N Series 7 size 2 brush that I've used for almost everything since (I used a Series 7 size 0 for about 2% of my last mini). The difference in quality is striking, and if you take care of them (get some master's brush soap and use it) they will last you for a long time.

High quality brushes are a better value over time. They will last longer, thus cost less; and the time you spend using them will be a superior experience. Cheap brushes aren't worth the money imo.

[ced1106]

Check out the Reaper online store for brush sizes:
http://www.reapermin...ntKits/sku-down

Good point that you'll want a second set of brushes (and rinse water) for metal paints. I read that metal flakes can get into the bristles and come out at the worst times when painting. As a n00b, I haven't had that experience personally. You will also need brushes for drybrushing and these brushes will get trashed. I made mistakes with my brushes (using metal paints with my my non-metal brushes and paint on the ferrule and smashing the bristles against the rinse jar to get rid of paint and YEAH DON'T DO THAT), so I'm still fine with suggesting cheap brushes until mistakes are no longer made or March comes in...

EDIT: Haven't started painting personality miniatures yet.

[Heisler]

Yes, its a good idea to have a second set of brushes. But I have freely gone back and forth between metallics and regular paint with the same brush and even the same rinse water without a problem. Not that I would recommend it, its just what I do.

[buglips*the*goblin]

* Reaper Learn to Paint Kits 1 and 2 have brushes. I doubt they're sable quality, but if you're a n00b and also need paints, might as well start here.

Can any of the Reaper peeps (or anyone else who knows), tell us more about these brushes, please. I'm waiting for kits 1 & 2 to make their way across the Atlantic to me. I'm wondering, what these brushes are like and if I should think about getting other brushes.

The kits don't include Kolinskys - they're either golden taklon synthetic or red sable.

Reaper's Kolinsky brushes are okay, but not superb. I add them to orders here and there to keep a stock of "utility" Kolinskys, and even with proper care they never seem to last especially long.

But the W&N Series 7's? Indestructible. I'm still using the two I bought 3 years ago.

So how brushes break down for me is so:

- golden taklons/synthetics: absolutely brutal grunt work. Whatever I think is going to destroy a brush, these get the job. I pretty much consider them one-use. Best application: use the 5/0 and 10/0 for drybrushing small areas. Advantage: cheapest brushes to buy.

- red sables: hard duty but more useful than taklons and last longer. Best application: basecoating areas of significant size/basecoating metallics.

- Reaper kolinskys: midrange duty. Basecoating smaller areas, fairly decent lifespan. Good utility brushes.

- W&N series 7s: anything for detail, smooth highlighting, finishing work. Best overall value for money, last ages with care.

[Pingo]

My Winsor & Newton series 7s are twenty years old, but I have not been using them steadily. Maybe five years of semi light use all told. Still, with care they really last.

[Heisler]

In the last three months I have painted over 100 miniatures with by DaVinci Kolinsky brush (a #1) that is already two years old. I can't even tell you how many miniatures I have painted, primarily, with that brush since I got it. As a historical miniature painter rolling through 300 - 400 15mm miniatures in the space of a couple months is not unusual.

[kay13]

Hmmm I know whats going on my christmas wish list...