W&N vs. Vallejo Brushes: Deathmatch

[MClimbin]

Have any of you used the Windsor and Newton Series 7 brushes as well as the Vallejo Kolinsky brushes? How would you compare them?

I\'ve been using the Series 7 for a few years now, but am thinking of ordering at least one Vallejo, as they offer a 0000 that W&N doesn\'t. Do you think it\'s worth it? Should I pick up some of the others too?

 

[Modderrhu]

Nothing wrong with buying one to compare them - the Vallejo will remain a good brush. I use Series 7 only because I\'m sticking with what I know and no brushes of that calibre can be bought in ZA.

As for the 0000, well I bought one of the W&N Cotman 0000\'s to try, and it\'s useless. Plain useless. The paint dries on it before you get it to the mini, and there\'s nothing a 0000 can do that a Series 7 00 cannot.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

I get cheap brushes and have had real good luck. It\'s kinda like wine. Bottom line is it\'s just grapejuice. I have had good and bad expensive and good and bad cheap wine. Same could be said for brushes. I see no real advantage to expensive brushes. Brushes are simply a device to precisely move paint from one place to the other. I find the cheapies to suit that function just fine and saw no reason to blow the extra (sometimes alot extra) money for something that worked the same.

 

[Legacy Account]

Well said. I\'m sticking to my 2 quid a go Pro Arte jobbies

 

[Ogrebane]

Never used anything else but $4 brushes myself. I once shelled out for a $5 brush but it bent so I went back to the cheepies. I guess that reflects in my standard of painting.

 

[Arjay]

I own both but only use the W&N series 7s. The quality of the Vallejos is variable - some great some utter crap. I bought 2 triple packs of the Vallejos and only use two of them. As a rule I\'d never buy Kolinsky brushes through mail order, you really need to try before you buy with them. Just my two bobs worth...

 

[Modderrhu]

Originally posted by Arjay
As a rule I\'d never buy Kolinsky brushes through mail order, you really need to try before you buy with them.

Aye, if only it was that easy though. Last time I was in Scotland I bought a couple, but the serving wench looked on in horror as I proceeded to test one, then blamed me for damaging one which I\'d just said I\'d take. I did get a 000 for nothing, since it was \'bent\', but a bit of spittle and shaping turned it into the best 000 I\'ve got.

If only it was that easy to test before I buy. Series 7\'s, or any equal brushes, are not available in ZA. So I bought some through DickBlick, and there was one single brush with a stray hair. Clipped off and the brush is perfect.

As for cheaper brushes, I\'ve found it\'s all very well to just fork out 2 quid (or equivalent) for a Pro Art brush, but for 6 quid, you get a brush that lasts for far more minis. A top-notch brush might not be necessary, but it sure is value for money and makes the job easier. I\'ve had a W&N Series 16 size 5 for 18 years now, and its point is still perfect. Value for money.

 

[Galante]

I agree with Modderrhu, I have two Series 7, a #1 and a #0, and I use them for everything.
I also had to buy them online, from a UK online store, and the #00 that I also ordered wasn\'t in such good conditions.
Still, they were at a discount, so it wasn\'t such a big loss.

 

[MClimbin]

Ok, sounds like I should just try out the Vallejo 0000 and stay with W&N for the other sizes. Thanks!

 

[supervike]

Are W&N more expensive in other parts of the world or something?

I bought mine for 8 bucks, I hardly consider expensive when I also pay 3.00 bucks for a jar of paint, or 6 bucks on a single figure.

I\'ve had my W&N Series 7\'s for quite a while and like them quite a bit. I\'m pretty rough on my brushes, and they have taken the punishment for several years now.

 

[Arjay]

Sorry, I didn\'t bother to think that some people may not be able to buy them in person...

I\'ve heard that the best high quality brushes to buy through mail order are Raphael 8404s. They tend not to produce dud brushes so the only way you\'ll not get a good one is if it\'s damaged after production. They\'re also a little cheaper than W&N series 7s which is a plus.

 

[Einion]

W&N vs. Vallejo Brushes: Deathmatch lol I\'ll take the flak cannon and the shockrifle please.

Originally posted by MClimbin
...Vallejo ...offer a 0000 that W&N doesn\'t. Do you think it\'s worth it?

In general I wouldn\'t recomend you get really tiny brushes, it\'s better to use a larger brush with a really good point as a rule.

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
I see no real advantage to expensive brushes.

Purely on the basis of high cost I would agree. However some expensive brushes really are an example of getting what you pay for - a good Kolinsky will allow you to do things that no synthetic brush can do. On the other hand a hooked tip can do things a nice sharp point can\'t either.

So depending on the job one needs the brush for each type does have its uses.

Originally posted by Arjay
I own both but only use the W&N series 7s. The quality of the Vallejos is variable - some great some utter crap.

I\'ve had some Series 7s that were in the second category too, one reason I no longer give them a blanket recommendation (the climbing price being the other).

Originally posted by Modderrhu
Aye, if only it was that easy though. Last time I was in Scotland I bought a couple, but the serving wench looked on in horror as I proceeded to test one, then blamed me for damaging one which I\'d just said I\'d take.

FWIW a good art shop will have no problem with supplying you with a glass of water to test the pointing of Kolinsky and sable rounds.

Originally posted by supervike
Are W&N more expensive in other parts of the world or something?

I bought mine for 8 bucks, I hardly consider expensive...

Well that depends on the size But considering retail for even a 000 now runs into double figures that isn\'t a bad price for any size it would appear.

Einion

 

[Klute]

Da Vinci Meastro 1503

I have used these for a while now and W+N 7\'s don\'t compare in my opinion.
They are pricey but worth every penny. Big brushes with tiny fine tips.
The pocket ones in the pic go down to a size 1 which I use to paint pupils on 28mm scale but the non pocket ones go even smaller, though I dont see the point.

Honest give them a try.

I was talking to a rep at an art exhibition and apparently they use only red kolinsky sable, only from the male cos its softer and only from the winter coat.
Well I never.

 

[Legacy Account]

Only batter the red ferrets!

What\'s the difference between a stoat and a weasel?

One\'s weasel-y identifiable, the other is stoat-ally different.

*Ducks the rotten tomatoes*

 

[Shawn R. L.]

One thing, a bit off topic, that I LOVE is using a Japanese writing brush to do cartooning. I believe Calvin and Hobbs was done with something similar. Some truely GREAT drawing there to go along with one of the truely great storys/characters.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Klute
I have used these for a while now and W+N 7\'s don\'t compare in my opinion.

daVinci brushes are very good, I have a couple. I really like them and they\'re holding up well too.

Originally posted by Klute
I was talking to a rep at an art exhibition and apparently they use only red kolinsky sable, only from the male cos its softer and only from the winter coat.
Well I never.

The rep, like many of them unfortunately, needs to go and get properly edumacated on the product

Originally posted by Spacemunkie
What\'s the difference between a stoat and a weasel?

One\'s weasel-y identifiable, the other is stoat-ally different.

*Ducks the rotten tomatoes*

lol

Einion

 

[Klute]

Well I could be miss quoting the rep there a bit but it was along those lines.
The ones Ive got have stayed good for ages, and I dont take care of them very well either.

 

[Klute]

This from the da vinci site

14 MAESTRO water colour brush, exclusive series
Siberian Kolinsky red sable hair from selected male winter tails
brush holds a needle-sharp point and has plenty of spring and life
genuine ebony wood handles
each brush has been tested carefully


Looks like the rep could be right.
Who cares they are bloody good.