Longevity of more expensive brushes

Michele Rushworth · 12-22-2001, 11:34 AM

Administrator's Note: The following is a partial copy of another post which was going into a new topic.
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I've got a question: do you really feel that higher quality brushes last long enough to make them worth the investment? Will a $10 brush really last more than three times longer than a $3.30 brush if cared for in the same way?

Thanks!

Maxine Gilder · 12-26-2001, 08:44 PM

I would really like to know the answer to that myself. I've bought every kind of brush imaginable, and my conclusion is that it's all in how you take care of them. Turp destroys any good quality hair. The synthetic hairs seem to hold up better, but they are also stiffer. Even though I work in oils I like the softer brushes. I wish someone would give us an easy answer to this dilemma!

Karin Wells · 12-27-2001, 07:38 PM

I find that in brushes, you mostly get what you pay for. I get expensive brushes and use Silicoil as a final wash at the end of each painting session. This product keeps my brushes in good shape.

Jim Riley · 01-03-2002, 10:56 PM

Karen,

I have never heard of Siliciol. Would I find it in an art suppy store? I use a common brush restorer to clean my brushes and follow up with two rinses in turpentine. Good brushes don't seem to mind turpentine and show wear long before I have seen any ill effects from the solvents.

I also stopped washing in soap and water and sometimes wrap brushes in paper or vinyl to keep them from drying between sessions and see no damage or build up of old paint.
What is your life expectancy for brushes that you use on a daily basis?

Thanks

Karin Wells · 01-03-2002, 11:56 PM

I find Silicoil in art supply stores. You buy the liquid along with a glass jar with a lid. The glass jar has a coil on the botton that is verrrrry kind to brushes and gets them clean. Be sure to swish your brushes in turps to get the Silicoil off before you begin to paint.

Brushes don't last very long with me. I simply wear them out on each painting I do. Sometimes I start with a #4 round sable and it becomes a #00 by the time I finish! I don't use soap and water any more....I don't think it is necessary with the Silicoil cleaner. I have a lot of old wornout, spent and sprung brushes around that I use for various things...like mini-blender brushes.

Also, when I did use soap and water, I used shampoo instead of brush soap....after all, it is hair that you are washing. (No conditioner of course

)

Maxine Gilder · 01-07-2002, 12:03 AM

Karin, your brushes sound like mine. Do you think it's because we use smaller brushes? I am about to buy some new ones, do you have a favorite brand? I am desperate to find at least one brush I can keep for more than one painting! I am going to try using the silicoil. Thanks for the tip. I think my main problem is I'm neglectful of good care.

Karin Wells · 01-07-2002, 01:04 AM

Hmmmmm.....favorite brand of brush? That's a tough one. I try to go to an art store to select them by hand. When I order brushes through a catalog, I sometimes get a loose ferrule, damaged hairs, or some such annoyance.

I like sable hair brushes and sometimes I even get short-handled ones. I usually like Langnickel brushes, but sometimes I get a dud with this brand too.

I wish I had better answers for you. I am always looking for decent filberts (all sizes) and small rounds. I have a painter friend who swears by Monarch (synthetic by Windsor-Newton) because they are so inexpensive compared to sable....and because they wear out so quickly, it is less painful to toss out a cheap - rather than a pricey - used brush.

Every now and then I find an odd-ball brand that I like at Pearl Paint but I can't ever seem to find the same thing when I return to stock up...dang. The endless search for a good brush can certainly be frustrating...

Jim Riley · 01-07-2002, 02:30 PM

I am amazed to hear that several of you can destroy a sable brush through the course of one painting. My style is such that I don't have to blend a lot and even when I do my bristle brushes can do the job. Do you use these sable brushes to lay in large areas also? My best investment has been 3" bristle and I use it as much as I can to block in and often use it in the finished work for size contrast.

I would guess that you are using a smoother canvas than I. I tried a good quality sized portrait canvas recently and found that my brush strokes tended to slip and slide.

David Dowbyhuz · 01-07-2002, 04:32 PM

Jim,

I agree with you on "portrait canvas". Not only is it many times more expensive than regular canvas, it's like painting on glass; the paint just won't stay put!

Great to draw on though ...

Stanka Kordic · 01-09-2002, 06:37 PM

Putting in my plug regarding brushes..I do dislike portrait canvas as well, prefer medium texture linen. Typically, I go through hog bristle brushes pretty quickly because of it. Well, for the past 2 years, I have had the same set of Silver Brush Brand, Grand Prix brushes. I spent the extra dollar and don't regret it in the least. They still look brand new! I highly recommend them. I ordered them through ASOPA and used the member discount. (Not sure if they still offer it..)