Brushes for metallics

[Modderrhu]

I know that many people keep separate brushes for metallic and normal paints - almost the accepted practise. The idea being to prevent metal contamination in the pure colours. But now I\'ve read that metallic paints are harder on the brushes than normal paints, and that some people use synthetic or worn-out sables for metallics. Anyone here do this? I really don\'t want to dedicate some W&N 7\'s to metallic paint if it is going to damage them.

Robert Simmons/Daler Rowney white sable have been recommended, so I tried using them for metallics over the weekend... no way, I am now too used to bunny-fluff-soft sables. Maybe W&N Sceptre Gold... they\'re available and fairly affordable.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
I know that many people keep separate brushes for metallic and normal paints - almost the accepted practise.

I don\'t, used to but now that I rinse my brushes properly I find it\'s not necessary - dirty residue at the bottom of the rinse jar is the culprit here but if you don\'t have any in your thinning water and your brush is rinsed properly it\'s basically not a problem.

Originally posted by Modderrhu But now I\'ve read that metallic paints are harder on the brushes than normal paints, and that some people use synthetic or worn-out sables for metallics. Anyone here do this?

Not me, I use the brush I need to which might be a 000 Kolinsky, although I try to use larger brushes as a rule. I even use my normal brushes for the alcohol-based metallics since they\'re not in the paint for long periods.

Originally posted by Modderrhu
I really don\'t want to dedicate some W&N 7\'s to metallic paint if it is going to damage them.

Well I wouldn\'t necessarily use those anyway

Einion

 

[Sonnyslayer]

Buy some gw brushes if youre afraid to ruin your kolinsky..

 

[freakinacage]

i know i don\'t paint a lot but i have never used separate brushes. as einion says, if you clean them properly, there should be no problem

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Einion
I don\'t, used to but now that I rinse my brushes properly I find it\'s not necessary - dirty residue at the bottom of the rinse jar is the culprit here but if you don\'t have any in your thinning water and your brush is rinsed properly it\'s basically not a problem.

Some people use a jar for rinsing metallics and a jar for normal colours. I just don\'t paint metallic and non-metallic areas at the same time. Anyhow, I\'ve noticed the metallic flakes float on top of the water.

As for rinsing my brushes, well it sometimes seems that I spend a third to a half of my painting time rinsing and repointing. I get quite anal about paint in the ferrule, and flow aid seems to help the paint into the ferrule. So I rinse until I see no colour coming out of the brush. I wonder if I\'m over-pedantic about this though.

Originally posted by Einion
Not me, I use the brush I need to which might be a 000 Kolinsky, although I try to use larger brushes as a rule. I even use my normal brushes for the alcohol-based metallics since they\'re not in the paint for long periods.

And you found that metallics cause no more damage or wear than normal colours?

Originally posted by Einion
Well I wouldn\'t necessarily use those anyway

I know this, Einion, I know this already! lol Hmmmm... maybe suggesting that you supplement my Kolinsky\'s with Vallejo or Andreas brushes will shut you up?

Originally posted by Sonnyslayer
Buy some gw brushes if youre afraid to ruin your kolinsky..

Well, I\'ve got no problem with that at all. I already said that I could happily use W&N Sceptre Golds for the job... but the question really is: do metallic paints cause more damage to Kolinsky\'s than non-metallic paints? If so, I\'ll use poorer brushes. If not, I\'ll use my Series 7\'s (much to Einion\'s disgust lol ).

As for the source of this question, it was an article in Harbinger where the author stated that metallics are harder on brushes than non-metallics, and that he maintains two seperate sets of brushes for the job.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Some people use a jar for rinsing metallics and a jar for normal colours.

I use a double-bath system for rinsing so I always have clean water to do a final swish, plus my main rinsing jar is pretty big (1 litre, which is about a quart) which doesn\'t hurt.

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Anyhow, I\'ve noticed the metallic flakes float on top of the water.

Some do, some don\'t, depends on what they\'re made of I would think - mica or aluminium. With detergent in my water usually I wouldn\'t see this anyway because the surface tension has been broken.

Originally posted by Modderrhu
...flow aid seems to help the paint into the ferrule.

Yep.

Originally posted by Modderrhu
So I rinse until I see no colour coming out of the brush. I wonder if I\'m over-pedantic about this though.

Nope, clean is clean. This is why I recommend blotting brushes on white kitchen paper - you can see if any more colour comes out that you\'re not done.

Rinsing shouldn\'t take more than about a minute at the outside (ten or twenty seconds usually) by the way, depending on how heavily you had loaded the brush.

Originally posted by Modderrhu
I know this, Einion, I know this already! lol Hmmmm... maybe suggesting that you supplement my Kolinsky\'s with Vallejo or Andreas brushes will shut you up?

Probably not, but it\'s worth a try lol

Originally posted by Modderrhu
As for the source of this question, it was an article in Harbinger where the author stated that metallics are harder on brushes than non-metallics, and that he maintains two seperate sets of brushes for the job.

Well friction is friction and larger and/or harder pigment particles will wear the hairs down faster but with a gentle brushing action it shouldn\'t make much of a difference. I\'ll pay attention to this in future, there might be something to it and I\'ve just never spotted it.

Einion

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Einion
Some do, some don\'t, depends on what they\'re made of I would think - mica or aluminium.

GW metallics are floaters, whatever they\'re made of. So withdrawing the brush from the rinsewater is likely to pick up some flakes.

Originally posted by Einion
I\'ll pay attention to this in future, there might be something to it and I\'ve just never spotted it.

Attaboy! CMON\'s technical advisor is on the job.

 

[Crackpot]

Normally I completely change my water jars when I change from metallic to normal colors. I hate \"glitter\"-effects in my normal paint. :flame:

And I would agree, that excessiv use of metallic paint most likely ruin a brush. I can paint hours and hours with one brush and the brush is like new. But painting with metallic colors my brushes often tend to \"split-up\", so I habe two brush-tips. And I have to say I realy care for my brushes. I have special \"brush-shampoo\" and they get a nice cure everyday...

 

[Ogrebane]

This is all very interesting. I had never noticed any problem with metals on my brushes but then I change brushes about once a month or so. I dint have access to W&N so I just buy cheap brushes. I do have seperate water for mixing rinsing and cleaning so maybe I was doing it right in the first place. I have noticed that gw metals float and thats why I started doing a two stage rinse for my brushes. I will have to be more vigilent.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Modderrhu
GW metallics are floaters...

Bloated corpses bobbing to the surface with distended bellies?!

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Attaboy! CMON\'s technical advisor is on the job.

lol Woof! I\'m sure I can learn to fetch slippers too.

Einion

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Crackpot
And I would agree, that excessiv use of metallic paint most likely ruin a brush.
...
But painting with metallic colors my brushes often tend to \"split-up\", so I habe two brush-tips.

Perhaps the fish-tailing is because of the flakes building up inside the body of the brush? Perhaps more thorough rinsing between paint loads would fix that? Just an idea.

Dammit, I\'m gonna try a fine Kolinsky sable tonight with metallics and see what happens. I\'ve got plenty enough to do to keep the brush busy for a couple of hours.

Originally posted by Einion
Bloated corpses bobbing to the surface with distended bellies?!

Hehehe, well... when I wrote that I was thinking of other kinds of floaters... But yours are less savoury, so you win.