Are there any good paintbrush sets at Michael's?

Quincy,

Thanks for the tip.
It is funny because I was looking at that same brush soap today on discountArt.com's website and thought it would be good to get for $2.99 a bar:


Mike

Mike,

For several years now I've used a product from Grumbacher called Brush Soap. It comes in a pint plastic container and does a very good job of cleaning and conditioning my brushes. I'm still amazed at how much paint it pulls from the brushes that I'm sure that I have removed all the paint from with thinner. Even cleans the dried paint out that occasionally collects up around the top of the brush. I got mine at a Ben Franklin but have seen it in artists supply shops. Michaels and Hobby Lobby probably carry it too. (I figure that pint can will last me another ten years)

man, i'm a cheapo when it comes to brushes!! i get the cheap testors brushes from walmart, then, i go over to the art section and get a variety bag with about 6 brushes of various sizes, and let it rip!! if i screw one up, then i toss it and go get another one. i have 3 "main" brushes that i use for cockpit and various detail work, ones a "dotter", cost about $4.50, a rounded brush i use for drybrushing for around $5, and a 10/0 flat head (excellent for detailing IMO) #2 flat head good for larger areas, and a 12/0 for detailing, i keep good care of these as i paid about $4 a piece, but i've seen prices for similar brushes at $7 or $8 a piece. they suffice. later.

Thanks John.
I have been looking at paint brushes at different websites and I have come to the conclusion that buying them at Michael's with the 40% discount would actually be more expensive than many of the online stores such as Dixie Art and Dick Blick who sell them for 50% off.
Some of the Robert Simmons, Jack Richeson and Grumbacher brushes from Dixie Art sound like a great deal also. Too many choices for sure.

Mike

I haven't used the White Taklon brushes before. I looked at them in my catalog and they seem like they would be good for modeling. There is a set of them #A05381-0069 for $8.49 or in my catologe that look to be a good deal. I would give them a try.
John

Thanks for the information John, I will look into it.
Those Kolinski sable brushes sound like they are the best period, but total overkill for modeling I would say. In your case with watercolor paintings they are probably great though.

What do you think of White Taklon brushes?
The ones at Dick Blick's website sound great and are described this way:
"Blick's White Taklon delivers the texture and responsiveness of Red Sable, yet holds up to the caustic nature of solvents and acrylic paints with greater durability"
Would you agree or is sable still a better choice?

Thanks

Mike

Mike, I use Windsor Newton, Robbert Simmons and even the better Dick Blick water color brushes for my art work and model painting. I have used some Cottman(windsor newton) brushes for some years and they have held up well. I believe the Cottman series are student grade brushes-they don't cost as much but they are very good. The Kolinsky sable brushes are the best hair brushes in my opinion they are the only ones besides white sable that I use for my water color paintings. I recommend using a brush conditioner every once in a while if you use your brushes in laquer thinner as it tends to dry them out.
John

QUOTE: the only thing is I can't really remove the crusted-on paint on the hand.e

Castrol Super Clean will do it. That stuff is great. My hat is off to whoever made that discovery. Once I found out about the stuff I use it for alll kinds of chores involving dried paint.

QUOTE: I appreciate the help as paint brushes are not something I have looked into enough in the past. I was looking at them again tonight and was amazed at the selection they have.

The selection of brushes is never ending. The Michaels around here has displays of them scattered all over the store.

I was confused about brush sizes and sent an email to one of the manufacturers (can't remember who now). The size a particular manufacturer assigns to one of their brushes is a completely arbritray number. For example, one manufacturer's 10/0 brush can be much larger or much smaller than another manufacturer's 10/0 brush because there is no "Standard" that defines what "10/0" actually means. For that reason it's important to actually look at the brushes and not just pictures or numbers. You need to see them in person to be able to judge the sizes. I'll see if I can dig up that email if anyone is interested.

Man you guys have so many brushes. I have 1 Tamiya fine brush that I bought in 2002, It still works as new, it never sheds hair, the only thing is I can't really remove the crusted-on paint on the hand.e

Thanks John and Scott.

I appreciate the help as paint brushes are not something I have looked into enough in the past. I was looking at them again tonight and was amazed at the selection they have.

John,

Are there any particular brands that you buy from Michael's?

These look great:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz050/02/products.asp?param=0&ig_id=371

Mike

I like the Royal brushes that Michaels carries, but they aren't top of the line brushes. They have some brushes called "Soft Grip" that have a piece of soft vinyl where your fingers fit that I like very well. One of them (SG 250 I think) is a little 20/0 brush that comes to a point like a needle. They tend to "Dull" pretty quickly, but they are great for detailing and on;y cost about $3 each.

Mike, the brushes you buy from micro-mark and other places aren't the same. They use a lower quality hair in there brushes. I have made the mistake of buying brushes from them and hobby shops in the past. I have found the brushes that hold up best( hold a point, don't loose hairs, flat brushes that stay flat) are good quality artist brushes for water color and acrylics. I still have brushes from 15 years ago that work as good as new. They cost alot but they are worth it. You could also use a brush conditioner that they sell at stores to prolong the life. Those Michales coupons come every week in the mail around here-use one a week to get a good brush every week. A few weeks ago they had 50% off all brushes;I guess I should have posted something to give people a heads up.
John

Thanks guys.

I have a few red sable brushes now that I bought years ago but from reading the Micro-Mark catalog it sounds like the Golden Eagle brushes they sell are even better than red sable and that is why I asked.
http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=60432

Mike

I used the same coupon to by a very nice woodburning set. I won't use it for woodburning, but adding details to models, but they don't know that!! It came with the hot knife attachment. Very Handy. Dick Blick has a sale on their top of the line sable brushes. I just restocked myself. Pretty good deal and cheaper than Micheal's.

Ted

Buy a good quality natural hair (red or white sable) they last a very long time. You definatly get what you pay for with brushes.
John

Dunno about micheal's, but you should be looking for red sable type (best) or other natural hair brushes.
I would stay away from synthetic brush hairs.

The only word of caution with the natural hair brushes is you have to be careful with
the manufacturing (cheap) as they will shed and generally self-destruct before thier time