The correct brushes?

an artist friend of mine told me to get some vaseline . when you have finished just the merest smear on the bristles and twirl . it doesn't effect the the paint at all .

Garry;

       I have said in other posts that it's the care of brushes that will save your day. Never take a brush and push it down and flare it on the bottom of the thinner jar. Always turn it gently with the brush submerged in the Thinner/Brush Cleaner, on the side of the jar. Whe you see clear cleaner coming of the brush then press gently on the side of the jar at about a 40 degree angle. Do this more than once.

       Now here is where most folks mess up. When you are finished, wash the brush in soap and water, no matter what kind of paint you are using. This is essential. This washes any dirty thinner out of the base of the bristles. Then when clean Shape with your clean fingers or like me put it in your mouth and draw slowly out, moistening it like we used to do old pencils.

     I know, sounds awful doesn't it. It's NOT. Your saliva will keep the brush bristles from separating and allow them to keep their shape. Then just roll it gently in your fingertips or if a flat brush, bend it gently on a clean surface.

     If you have noticed when you buy new brushes of quality they are kinda stiff. Well they dip them in, I believe, what amounts to Glycerin Water. This acts like the saliva and helps the brush keep it's shape till you buy it and use it. Your brushes, if good quality! should last for over twenty years or more. I have some I bought back in the middle nineties still going strong!

      You can get good quality brushes at Hobby Lobby,Micheals or if you are really fussy a oil paint and canvas supply store. Don't be surprised at the price. Thay are not cheap.!

Thanks for the advice Don.

I have invested in better quality brushes, also now using Revell's Paintaclean. Takes some skill and practise to obtain finer detail, even with the help of a good magnifiying glass lamp.

Regards

Garry

Like Don said, best to use good (but not necessarily top of the line) brushes from the artist's section in Michaels, or the craft/hobby store of your choice.  Absolutely skip the cheap plastic-bristled, plastic handled junk that comes cheap at ahobby shop.

Second, take really good care of them.  Use the right brush cleaner (I use water for acrylics and laquer thinner for enamels.  Not the right product to thin the paint, but fine to get the paint out of your brush.) 
I gently wipe the paint off on a rag, then dip it in the bottle of cleaner, wiggling it around and brusing up against the inside of the bottle.  Then back to the rag, and repeat until the paint is out of the bristles.  For a check, I run the brush across a 3x5 card and am satisfied when it doesn't leave a rtail of paint. 

I paint a lot of small detail stuff, and my brushes last for several years each. 
Good luck,
Rick

gpat5570

Folks, I have returned to scale modelling, as a result of the current lockdown.

I have a question - what brushes could people recommend, to enable painting fine detail? I have bought various brush types, but I tend to find that they quickly become frayed and therefore difficult to use, i.e. in applying fine paint detail.

 

thanks in advance,

 

Garry

 

I fins nice fine-point brushes at decent prices at craft stores such as Michaels and Hobby Lobby.  But ford really fine detail I use the end of a double ended toothpick.  I shake the bottle, put the cap down upside down on the bench, and dip the point in the layer of paint left in the top.  It is just the right amount on the bench so it won't run or smear. If you are making a long line it takes awhile, but the results are nice.