Favorite paintbrush

Anyone use Humbrol or Revell paintbrushes?
Any comments?

Thanks eizzle and Ryan for the Testor brush tips. 

One thing I should have mentioned regarding my experience with paint brushes.

I went to my local craft/hobby shop, they had two different 30/0 brushes to chose from, one had a handle that was about 4" long, blue, stubby and sold for almost $7.00. The other one, that I bought, had the usual 10" or so handle and sold for around $4.00. I had to bring it back, after detailing just two models it's looking more like a fan brush than a fine detail brush. I brought one of my 30+ year old brushes to the store to show them what I was looking for. They couldn't believe how old it was (it did look old too LOL). They were nice enough to let me return the brush for credit towards the $7.00 one. So far so good with that one. Don't know the brand name, never pay attention to that stuff, only when it comes to models and paint.

Strange... because the brushes I bought at Wal*Mart are doing just fine. 

Go figure... 

tabascojunkie wrote:

Winsor & Newton Series 7. Expensive, about 6 or 7 bucks a pop at Dick Blick, but they're good stuff.

Aye, that they are. I recently bought a few non-brand-name Kolinsky brushes for painting my backlog of wargame minis. Paid the equivalent of about 5-6 dollars each for sizes 0 and 2. For detail work, they're worth the expense.

jhande wrote:

Oh, the only thing I've found those Testor paint brushes good for, stirring the paint when I run out of toothpicks. If anyone knows of what else they can be used for, please... I'd like to know.

I trim them up to apply putty with...

I got my assortment of brushes from Ragshop, Pearl, or Michael's.  Cost about 4 to 6 dollars each, but those round tip one are well worth the money since I used to do Warhammer figure miniatures.  I renewed them once so far after sustaining 6 years of abuse.  I mix up a bunch of 0, 00, 10/0, 18/0, 20/0, and then some flat 4s and 5s, disregarding the brand though, so I have no preference.  As long the build quality looks okay it's fine by me.  Some recent ones I got has acrylic bodies so I actually uses them to stir paints as well, thus no need for Testor's brooms.  =P

Winsor & Newton Series 7. Expensive, about 6 or 7 bucks a pop at Dick Blick, but they're good stuff.

I use the Testors brushes for putting on glues. They work great for that!

I do try and get  good-quality brushes.  Not the "Great" quality brushes, but good quality red sable.  They aren't that expensive, tend to last a long time if they are taken care of, and the difference in results between then and the modeling brushes is like night and day.  I usually get mine from Michaels since there are three of them pretty close to me.  I like the "Royal" brand, and I think they typically cost about $3 each.  I have some that are several years old and still are as good as the day I bought them.  I also have a couple of Windsor & Newton and a couple of other brands.  Take care of them and they will pay for themselves.

I've tried brushes made of different fiber bristles and found the best to use, at least with my enamels, are the brown natural soft fibers. Whenever I need to replace one (usually because my wife borrowed it for her canvas painting LOL) I check at my department stores craft department or hobby shop. I have brushes that range in price from $3.00 to $7.00 US. I bought my son a set from Wal*Mart (our local department store) in their crafts section for around $5.00 or $7.00 and it had around eight brushes in it. It came with a small size of 0 I think, but I have a few 30/0's and/or 000's that we can use.

Look for those brushes that are marked for "Oil Paints".
Stay away from those that you can buy 30 for $2.00 US, the ferrules [right word?] fall off the handles when cleaning/drying the bristles on a paper towel. 

Spend the extra money for a decent brush and take care of it, they can last almost forever. I still have a few that has lasted for 37+ years and seen hundreds of models or painting projects.  Not a bad investment for a $4.00 paintbrush instead of a $1.50 one. 

Oh, the only thing I've found those Testor paint brushes good for, stirring the paint when I run out of toothpicks. If anyone knows of what else they can be used for, please... I'd like to know.

I have a 3 pack testor brush (the white one) that I never really use, and have about 10 brush of very small size of different brand (average 3 to 5$ each) I don't trust cheap airbrush, but I don't pay big buck either for a brand name.

I don't buy brand name paint brushes, its seems like a waste of money when I can get them that are just as good at walmart for $6 and that comes with 10 brushes. Granted 4 or 5 you will hardly, if ever, use. But you can still buy the tiny ones for $3 at most for a pack of 2 or 3. They work good, they last, and they are cheap enough if something happens, its not a big deal. They carry them in the craft section (by the fabric and cross stitching stuff).