STOP messing up your Brushes

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We have made a brand new fantasy Universe with 10 amazing looking miniatures to paint! You can check out the campaign and support the channel - it goes live October 2022 here:

A guide on how to make sure your brushes don't break, and if they break - how to save them. But mostly it's about giving your brush the proper care it deserves before it's too late.

🖌️EU/UK hobby store affiliate - Reference code for extra store credit: EMI7383

Amazon Affiliate Links to stuff i use(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases you do after following this link - at no cost to you):

Masterson Brush Soap:

Jo Sonja brush cleaner & restorer:

Windsor & Newton brush cleaner & restorer:

Canon M50 (the cameras i use)

Anycubic i3 Mega (the FDM printer i use)

HARDER STEENBECK EVOLUTION SILVERLINE (the Airbrush I use)

Phrozen Sonic Mini (the Resin printer I use):

Phrozen Sonic Mini 4k

Emil On

Painting miniatures for your warhammer & d&d games. Age of sigmar and warhammer 40k. Space Marines, Space Wolves, Stormcast Eternals, beastclaw raiders, ogor mawtribes, cities of sigmar, chaos space marines, painting scale models, miniature busts! How to paint NMM. How to paint warhammer, how to paint d&D figures.

[SquidmarMiniatures]

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We have made a brand new fantasy Universe with 10 amazing looking miniatures to paint! You can check out the campaign and support the channel - it goes live October 2022 here:

[JustinDynamicD]

by the end of the video I was expecting "Don't actually paint with these brushes, use them to demonstrate to others that you are a serious painter only, just use synthetic when its time to paint".

[Jakvas]

Good idea and perfect timing, it's almost like you planned it... My tips are:
1. Keep paint in the top part of the brush
2. Don't use washes on nice brushes
3. Don't use metallics on nice brushes
4. Keep water clean, perhaps have two glasses of water, use one to get the excess off and the second to thoroughly clean whilst painting)
5. Store wet brushes upside down (the pringles container Squidmar shipped allows you to wedge brushes upside down in the foam)
6. Brush soap can help get baked in the paint out, but use it often otherwise it's limited in how much it can rescue your brushes in my experience.
7. Prey to the painting gods that your shiny new brushes will not split after 30 minutes despite being careful :D

[kingxerocole]

"Don't use them for 90% of the paints you use."

Got it.

[danioshea]

"I like to use a sharp hobby knife"
**shows literally the grubbiest, broken-tipped, knife available**

[BrookTheUndeadDM]

"Don't do anything to your brushes because it will damage them"

Got it

[Thertra]

So what I am hearing is I have no business buying this type of brush haha :)

[ClaptrapRapture]

I have a handful of Windsor & Newton brushes that I've used for about 7 years now. I use washes, contrast and metallics with them. They're absolutely fine with regular washing and cleaning using The Masters soap, and being careful about keeping the ferrule clean.

[Tom_-]

You also shouldn't use paper towels to dry your brushes! The paper fibres are released into the hairs and can get stuck and splay them out. Use a microfiber towel.

[docholliday]

I know there’s a lot of comments down below saying “just use cheap brushes” or “basically you’re saying don’t use the high quality brush”.

As someone new to the hobby and painting miniatures(only thing I’ve ever painted in my life was homes) I want to say that every piece of advice you’ve given on your channel has made a HUGE difference for me.

I had terrible OCD as a teenager and now that I have 3 kids, I’ve learned to let most things go Building and painting my Black Templars has reignited those ticks and I am SUPER appreciative of your channel.

Yeah, it may take me 6 hours to paint a basic troop unit but it’s a bit faster in batches and they turn out perfect in my eye because of the advice on your channel. So I’m here learning the next steps to take care of my good brushes.

Thank you

[TheAegisClaw]

Never had an issue with sable brushes and metallics, in my 30 years of painting. The key is to cleanup metallic paint extra carefully.

[jonathanmccormick]

I've been using a nail clipper to remove stray hairs. It works well to single the hair off, and snip it without risking damaging other hairs.

[patchlord]

its always good to keep the plastic tube covers from when you buy your brush and use it to protect your "nice" brushes when your done for the day and finish cleaning them

[SquidmarMiniatures]

To those who wonder what to use kolinski brushes for: I Use them a lot - almost all the time. Glazing, layering, highlights, details etc. Anything with acrylic paints - I use them 90% of all my painting. but you can make them last longer by skipping a few things that's hard on the brushes. Think of them as a nice regular car for every day use. Maybe a Tesla. And cheap synthetic brushes like a tractor for the dirty work.

[jamessykes]

The best and most comprehensive video on brush care I have seen! Some of the comments seem to miss the point that kolinsky brushes are for detail and not slapping on basecoats and washes, I certainly realised that too late when I started and so the video explaining that is helpful. It's also good to hear an explanation of why they can have split hairs from the outset, I've had that before and good to know it's not just me!

[shanewalker]

Well... you've convinced me to continue using my Army Painter brushes instead.

[Rustmonger]

I have noticed in your last few videos that you seem really happy. Like extra happy. Like, you are trying to get through the video to tell us some really exciting news. Always a hint of a smile. It's awesome. I'm super happy for your success. Thanks for the tips.

[ErokLobotomist]

I've done basically everything in this video at least once. Glad I watched this before I started using my new sets of brushes. Cheers from Canada!

[VaftrudnerKGA]

Thanks for telling me about not using the nice brushes with washes.
Hadn’t thought about it. Cheers for saving my brushes! 😁👍

[Jeremy-rpin]

Loved how you went over "Do not base coat with your expensive brushes" i did this and it absolutely chews through them. Aside from 2 expensive brushes i use all "Wal-Mart cheapo" ones since i can replace it in 30min and they cost around $4(USD) hah