Xcaliber Brush Preservative

[sanctuary13]

I've been painting minis a long time, but I also used to paint other stuff. For a long time I was really hardcore into Kustom Pinstriping, very Von Dutch. Anyways, while going through some old things, I found my pinstriping kit. Certainly brought back memories ^_^

Anyways, most of it really wouldn't be transferrable to mini painting (unless I want to make big thick stripes around a base or something) and the brushes are totally different (think liners, but longer bristles with a 2inch handle). The One Shot lettering enamel is some amazing stuff, but again not really for mini painting.

However, I have a big ol jug of Xcaliber Brush Preservative, and I was wondering if anyone else is familiar with this stuff? It was the GO TO brush extender for stripers because it allows you to shape your brush much more easily (with striping brushes you spend more time shaping the brush on the palette than you do actually applying paint to object). That seems like something potentially useful. The back of the jug says it contains Vitamin E and is safe for natural and synthetic hair. Now my striping brushes are not kolinsky sables like my W&N Series 7s, its a blue squirrel with a synthetic blend. but it seems I need even GREATER precision out of my mini gear than I did with my striping gear. If anyone has ever used this stuff as applied to minis, I'd love to hear about it.

Outside of striping this stuff is hardly ever mentioned, google revealed very little except that it's popular with stripers, and it's been around 7 years or so since I striped anything so my memory of WHY is kinda dim.

 

[Einion]

Never heard of this stuff specifically but there are a number of similar-ish products made for the care of artists' brushes.

The Xcaliber stuff, is it a leave-in product, to be rinsed out just prior to use?

For Kolinsky and sable rounds, some care and conditioning can be worthwhile but if you clean them thoroughly enough - not just at the end but during a session as well - then it greatly reduces the need. It's generally felt that more can't hurt though and some people condition regularly (sometimes using regular hair conditioner).

Einion

 

[sanctuary13]

yes, I've used the hair conditioner as well, not regularly though... OH BRUSHES!! oh yeah, again... not regularly.

Yes its a rinse out before use formula, with mineral spirits no less, so thats not fun.

 

[Einion]

Yes its a rinse out before use formula, with mineral spirits no less, so thats not fun.

Yeah I saw that, I guess this alone would preclude it for mini painting unless you're using enamels.

Einion

 

[sanctuary13]

well, I am using oils on the side, so its not completely without precedence. still, the advantage of the stuff is kinda outweighed by the hassle, it would seem.