Brushes? | minipainting | Page 1

thorn venture Apr 15, 2025, 3:49 PM

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At what point do brushes start to make a difference? I'm not a good painter, and I'm really just getting base coats across my 40k army, maybe some shading or dry brushing. My primer and primary armor colors go on with my airbrush, if that makes a difference.

I've got a cheap synthetic set that's starting to hook on some of the smaller brushes and it's getting frustrating. Should I replace them with other synthetics, or should I upgrade? I like the idea of brushes with some extra grip to hold onto like the attached. I'm kinda shakey and my small hands get fatigued kind of fast. But I don't think I need a whole new set.

Also: could I be doing something wrong that's affecting my brush performance?

Budget: $20 doesn't seem too bad, but there's probably some fluff in that set that I don't need. I think I bought a sable brush that was about $16 when I started, but haven't used it. Everything adds up fast when you spend $40 on a handful of paints.

wraith pollen Apr 15, 2025, 3:53 PM

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That's the drawback with synthetics, even the high quality ones, they starts to curl very quickly.

thorn venture Apr 15, 2025, 3:54 PM

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wraith pollen That's the drawback with synthetics, even the high quality ones, they starts to ...

Sable lasts longer? But I've heard you might want to not use them first to not wear them out faster

wraith pollen Apr 15, 2025, 3:55 PM

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Yes, if cared properly, they will last much longer. And even when they have lost their point you can still use them for some more basic work.

thorn venture Apr 15, 2025, 3:56 PM

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If so, sounds like sable is worth the investment in the long run. I don't mind an investment if it's worth it there. Tbh, I'm also probably not taking care of the brushes I have now

wraith pollen Apr 15, 2025, 3:56 PM

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Depending on how much you paint per day, a sable brush could last from a good 6 months to a few years.

thorn venture Apr 15, 2025, 3:58 PM

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My goal is some sort of hobby (either building, airbrushing, or painting) 6 days per month. When I get started, I probably go for 3-4 hours (but I'm slow). I'm probably going to do better than that now

rapid rune Apr 15, 2025, 6:47 PM

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I got a set of these and have been happy with them to start with. It does come with fewer brushes than what you posted, but they've worked well for me to start with. I would recommend getting a makeup brush or one of their poofier brushes for drybrushing, though.

It's two sable and one synthetic, all with a fat, triangular grip.

Whatever you get, I hope you like them!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007H4YR8S?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k5_1_32&amp=&crid=VK31CHW293CK&amp=&sprefix=army+mini+most+asked+for+brushes

The Army Painter Most Wanted Brush Set - Miniature Small Paint Brus...

The most popular Miniature Paint Brushes are now in a pack of their own! The Army Painter Wargamer Most Wanted Brush Set is an indispensable set for serious hobbyists. The miniature brushes have long-lasting durability and high-quality standards, making the set a popular choice among novice and a...

thorn venture Apr 16, 2025, 3:03 PM

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rapid rune I got a set of these and have been happy with them to start with. It does come w...

Think those are better than "Golden Maple" brand from Amazon?

rapid rune Apr 18, 2025, 5:01 AM

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thorn venture Think those are better than "Golden Maple" brand from Amazon?

The catch is that I haven't tried the Golden Maple. The Army Painter set came recommended to me by a few friends, but I haven't gotten a lot of experience to compare it to, yet. I figured it was an option and maybe something to google as needed.

hasty delta Apr 19, 2025, 8:00 PM

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I have these, they are fine. They aren't going to hold you back much, if at all, but they aren't going to last a long time

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I use mine for oil paints so they get a bit more push vs only pull

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Honestly I would recommend grabbing this set then 1 good kolinsky and you'd be set for a good while for most things

#Brushes?