Games & Gear brushes

[ragados]

Hey Folks,
I have finally killed my brushes (mix of GW and Army Painter). This is the result of a lot of use and some less than attentive care on my part (I plan on taking better care of the next set!). I have heard a lot of good things about Windsor Newton Series 7 brushes but have also just spotted http://www.gamesandgears.co.uk/ and am wondering if anyone has used them / rated them?

Cheers
Raggy

 

[Splurch]

I've got some of their double headed brushes and some travel brushes acquired through kickstarter. They're pretty nice, but not the quality of Winsor Newton, Raphael or the other top tier kolinsky sable ones.

The best thing I can say about the Games and Gear brushes is that bought as a set, their double headed brushes are a really good deal on decent brushes (especially with the current exchange rate.) The 5 set comes out to 6 pounds a brush and each brush has 2 brush heads to use, so essentially 3 pounds a brush. I've taped the brush cap in place on one side of mine and use the other as a kind of loaner/beater/oil rough brush, when it wears out I'll just switch the side the cap is on and do the same.

The worst thing I can say about them, given their price range, is that their brushes don't have great points, get a bit worse somewhat quickly, then stay at a meh level. I wouldn't want to do detail work with them, even their 00.

If you're really worried about killing brushes through inadequate care then getting one of the G&G sets is probably a good idea, you'll get decent brushes at a good price and can pick up a single brush for good detail work. If you think you've figured out what you did wrong and have corrected it, you can't go wrong with Winsor and Newton/Rosemary & Co/Raphael, they all make fantastic brushes and it's really down to personal preference which one you like more.

 

[ragados]

Thanks for the feedback Splurch! I think I am going to try and milk what I have for a little long and may use Games & Gear as an intermediary before I jump to the big time. I like the fact that some of their kits come with a brush soap as that's not something I am used to using and I think might help. I've gotten better about not getting paint in the ferrule... hopefully with soap I can get them to go a little further still!

 

[Splurch]

Thanks for the feedback Splurch! I think I am going to try and milk what I have for a little long and may use Games & Gear as an intermediary before I jump to the big time. I like the fact that some of their kits come with a brush soap as that's not something I am used to using and I think might help. I've gotten better about not getting paint in the ferrule... hopefully with soap I can get them to go a little further still!

I haven't used G&G's brush soap so I can't speak to its quality, but "The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver" (http://www.generalpencil.com/the-mastersreg-brush-cleaner-and-preserver.html) is pretty much the gold standard in brush soap. The 2.5oz size is about $8 on amazon and unless you are painting daily it will last for years