Even synthetic brushes may not be up to the task of dry brushing. In fact, dried pigment in any natural sable brush is a death knell (see brush issue #1). Wet paint acts like a lubricant, whereas the dry brushing technique requires no moisture in the bristles. Their bristles are soft and work well only with wet paint media. Kolinsky sable brushes, for example, are not meant for dry brushing. But, if you are the proud owner of a new paintbrush, be aware of its capabilities. Certainly, many miniature painters including myself relegate old, worn out brushes to the dry brush heap. Not all brushes have the robust bristles requires to withstand the abuse of dry brushing techniques. If you’re looking for budget brushes that will serve you well for painting miniatures, you can see my budget brush recommendation. Or, buy really cheap brushes and be aware of their shorter service life. Solutionīuy the best brushes you can afford. Or, the entire ferrule and bristle end falls off the brush handle (which I find is a common problem even with proper care). Brush tip shape isn’t reliable, failing after a short time of use. Together, these problems in cheaper, lower quality brushes lead to a shorter brush life. Inexpensive, budget brushes may have bristles of different thickness and quality (e.g., hybrid or filler material), brittle or weak construction glues, and misshapen ferrules, which allows bristles to stray from their position on the handle. Also, make sure the water in your brush water pot isn’t too hot when you first refill it.Ĭheap paint brushes have design flaws or assembly shortcuts in their construction. Use cold or lukewarm water when you’re cleaning your brushes. This is also the reason why you should never pull out stray hairs, and snip them off with a sharp blade or scissor instead.Įxposing your brushes to hot water for any period of time is a slow death for any brush. And, once a single hair falls out, the entire bristle tuft will eventually come apart. At this point, things will start to fall apart.īristles will work loose. If you use hot water, which is any water too hot to touch, you will soften and weaken the glue inside the brush. ![]() SolutionĬlean your brushes after every painting session with warm water and conditioning brush soap.īrush bristles are held together with glue and other means in the handle assembly. For synthetics, debris and soils within the brush hairs will warp the proper shape of every bristle, which leads to the entire brush losing its shape. Bristles will become brittle, stiff, and may even break off. ![]() In short, a dirty brush will literally dry out and wither. This is particular true for brushes with natural bristle tufts, which have intrinsic organic oils that help retain brush character. Second, acrylic paint build-up and other debris within a brush can also prevent proper moisture retention of brush bristles. Related to this, if acrylic paint dries deep inside the ferrule (usually a metal band around the handle/bristle interface), it can permanently disrupt the pointed shape of a brush leading to splitting brush tips and ruin a brush entirely. Drying acrylic paint can lead to microscopic breaks in natural hair bristles can slowly degrade the integrity of the filament, reducing snap, spring, and other desirable miniature painting qualities of a brush. And, it doesn’t matter if your brushes are expensive or cheap, not cleaning your brushes will kill them quick.ĭried acrylic paint is a monster that eats brushes for breakfast.įirst, as acrylic polymer dries it contracts and distorts whatever it has attached to. Not cleaning your brushesĭried acrylic paint and dirt in your brushes does two things to ruin paint brushes. Here are the 7 reasons why your brushes for painting miniatures fall apart (and how to solve the problem): 1. The intended service life of any paint brush is related to 1) the quality of the brush, and 2) how well its user cares for the brush. For a more details in finding the best brushes for painting miniatures and tabletop gaming models, here’s a free guide. So, you’ve spent all that money on high quality brushes for painting miniatures? Awesome! Now, it’s time to make sure they last a long time and continue to provide you with great service in your hobby. In this article, I highlight 7 reasons why your brushes for painting miniatures fall apart, and the key ways you can avoid the problem for longer-lasting paint brushes.
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