Synthetic Brush Experiences?

[Valander]

I was wondering what kind of experiences people have had with synthetic brushes.

Part of the reason for this is that, while I really love the way the Kolinsky sable brush I have works, I have this little issue with how they\'re made (all \"natural hair\" brushes are byproducts of the fur industry, which is pretty controversial in its treatment of animals).

Anway, while I plan to use the sables that I currently own, I would like to make them last as long as possible. This means good cleaning with brush conditioner and using them sparingly.

I\'ve used golden nylon and white nylon brushes before, but they hooked or otherwise broke down after only a couple of models. This could be a really expensive proposition!

So, share your experiences with other synthetic brushes!

 

[FredrickvonCarstein]

I\'ve also experience hooking on synthetics (nylons aswell). I still continue to paint with them however. *sigh* I sorely need the cash for other brushes.

Edit: By the way I do not believe that the brushes are a byproduct of the fur industry as I\'m fairly confident the brush hairs are taken from live animals. So unless you consider making a camel hairless inhumane, then you should be okay.

 

[Margo]

I always work wyth synthetic brushes, but it\'s a matter of personal preference (I don\'t like the softness of natural brushes).

 

[Legacy Account]

Synthetic brushes suck!

Nope, don\'t like \'em for detail work at all. They splay and hook too easily. They are however very, very useful for drybrushing. They take no end of stick and rinse perfectly clean every time. Despite these problems i did just buy a ProArte Kolinsky/nylon mix, and this seems to be doing a reasonable job at the mo, although I am limiting its use.

Stick with sable. It\'s \'The Daddy\'

 

[Fizl]

I have one hooky ended synthetic that i love that has hooked just right to paint filigree, you hook it on and away you go!


Said hook too many times now...the word looks funny.


Hook -hookhook....hook.......hooky....hooked....

Shaz

 

[Mosch]

I don\'t like synthetic brushes at all anymore since I have started using sable. I really think getting an even coat is harder with synthetic brushes, they don\'t seem to hold enough paint and I never got it to flow freely. Using sable for the first time after having used synthetic brushes I was so shocked of the difference that I made a thread about it at once lol

 

[Warworks]

in-between?

I use Adiken\'s \"Imperial Sable\" brushes, which are a mix of Sable and Badger hair. They hold a point better than sable or synthetic and can still load up the paint. I think there are similar synthetic blends out there, which might ease your ethical concerns.

As to your problem with the harvesting methods overall...I can certainly understand that. If it really concerns you, you could always do a bit of research into the companies and see if any of them share your view on animal treatment. I think many of us, myself included, would be interested to find out. Good luck!

 

[Valander]

Thanks for the replies! Keep \'em coming!

@Warworks: that\'s a good idea; I\'ll do some digging to see what I can find, and report back here.

The nylon brushes I\'ve used definitely suffer from the \"flow\" and durability problem that everyone seems to mention.

@Margo: is there a particular kind of synthetic you use that seems to produce good results? Like I said, I used both white nylon (hated it, hooked after like 1 model and left lots of brushmarks, really hard to use for detail work), and gold nylon (ok, but still a little springy for my tastes; wore out after about 6-8 models).

 

[cadboy]

synthetics all the way

i\'ve been using the same brush for the past two years - it\'s a triple 000 HJ Series 970 White Taklon that unfortunately i can`t find around here anymore. it lasted me half and army, and 3 GD entries, but now alas, is sadly retired....
i haven`t found one just as good since it lost it`s point...

 

[Margo]

Originally posted by Valander

@Margo: is there a particular kind of synthetic you use that seems to produce good results? Like I said, I used both white nylon (hated it, hooked after like 1 model and left lots of brushmarks, really hard to use for detail work), and gold nylon (ok, but still a little springy for my tastes; wore out after about 6-8 models).

Yes, there is one kind of synthetic brushes that I\'m absolutely fanatic about. It\'s the White Sable series by Robert Simmons. They\'re very firm, they last forever and they don\'t leave brushmarks. There is yet another synthetic brush that I bought recently and quite liked: it\'s an Iris brush by Pebeo (a Japanese brand). It\'s a bit softer than the Robert Simmons brushes but it\'s great for freehand.

 

[G-nome]

I use nylons a lot. They hook pretty easily but its not a big deal, turning the brush to get the tip of the hook where you want it works fine for me if I want any detail. I normally use a size 2 taklon. They last for ages before you jam them into the desk screaming at them to behave.
I have found with the even coat problem mosch that it just takes a few more layers of thinner paint. I\'m not sure if its the brush or my paints that mean I have to do that from time to time.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Valander:

Synthetic Brush Experiences?

Unfortunatley ............All Bad! Hooking, Splaying out and Fishtailing. Gave up and use them for mixing only.

 

[Calavera]

Uhm, yeah

Mine.. are hooked, IMO Sable is just so much better. They don\'t hook, they don\'t splay out(except that GW brush I have, it gets wet.. BAM, splays out )
Most of my brushes are synthetic but I only use them for metallics and basecoating my not-so-important minis.

 

[Valander]

@Margo: thanks. I\'ll have to see if I can find a Robert Simmons brush up here. Sounds like they should be fairly easy to find in a regular art store. I\'m not too sure if I\'ll like the \"firmness,\" but I\'ll give it a shot.

@cadboy: White taklon, eh? I\'ve seen Golden Taklon (and picked one up, since they were on clearance and I got it for less than 2 bucks--haven\'t tried it yet, though), but not the white. I guess I need to hit an art store sometime soon.

My own experiences with synthetics pretty much are limited to white and golden nylon. The springiness was ok, but they definitely weren\'t durable. Still, I\'ll pick some of these taklon brushes up and give them a try.

Thanks for the info. I\'ll report back as soon as I\'ve tried some out.