Winsor and Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Brushes

[zuludog]

I've made similar comments on brushes about 4 or 5 Threads ago in this section. I'll give a brief summary here but it's better if you read the whole Thread

W&N #7 are obviously excellent brushes, but I also find they can be a bit too soft, and no matter how careful I am, they seem to wear quickly - or perhaps that's just me?

My preferred choice now are W&N 'Sceptre Gold 11', which are sable - synthetic mixture; a very similar performance to pure sable, but very slightly springier, or more resilient

I have also used W&N 'University', which are all synthetic, and slightly stiffer

They are both cheaper than all sable, cheap enough to try a couple. They are available in 'The Range' hobby & household stores, or search t'Net

I've tried a general bundle of brushes from www.abcbrushes.com - decent quality and very reasonable prices

For cleaning I now use Masters Brush Cleaner

[JR]

I've made similar comments on brushes about 4 or 5 Threads ago in this section. I'll give a brief summary here but it's better if you read the whole Thread

W&N #7 are obviously excellent brushes, but I also find they can be a bit too soft, and no matter how careful I am, they seem to wear quickly - or perhaps that's just me?

My preferred choice now are W&N 'Sceptre Gold 11', which are sable - synthetic mixture; a very similar performance to pure sable, but very slightly springier, or more resilient

I have also used W&N 'University', which are all synthetic, and slightly stiffer

They are both cheaper than all sable, cheap enough to try a couple. They are available in 'The Range' hobby & household stores, or search t'Net

I've tried a general bundle of brushes from www.abcbrushes.com - decent quality and very reasonable prices

For cleaning I now use Masters Brush Cleaner

Thanks for that Zuludog, now have another two to try :smiling::thumb2:
John.

[wonwinglo]

The best and certainly safest paint thinner for oils/enamel type paints is Oil of Spike lavender,not cheap but a bottle lasts years for painting in domestic environments and most of us do it is safe to use ,unlike odourless thinners which are not and you breathe them in but the odour is still there,not wishing to be alarmist but famous artist Bob Ross died of odourless thinner damage after sitting over the stuff for years,as for white spirits or turpentine not nice to breath in and always remind me of refined diesel fuel.

[JR]

The best and certainly safest paint thinner for oils/enamel type paints is Oil of Spike lavender,not cheap but a bottle lasts years for painting in domestic environments and most of us do it is safe to use ,unlike odourless thinners which are not and you breathe them in but the odour is still there,not wishing to be alarmist but famous artist Bob Ross died of odourless thinner damage after sitting over the stuff for years,as for white spirits or turpentine not nice to breath in and always remind me of refined diesel fuel.

Good point Barry, just because it doesn't have a strong odour doesn't mean it's not harmful, rather akin to carbon monoxide not smelling, and we all know what the results of breathing that mean !

[Guest]

Same in my line of work. Isocyanates are tasteless and odourless but pose a significant health risk. Nothing short of full skin coverage and fresh air supplied breathing apparatus satisfies UK H&S requirements.

[JR]

Read this just now , might be of some help to those using those more aggressive cleaning methods. !

TIP #1: CLEAN YOUR BRUSHES THOROUGHLY AND PROPERLY

Cleaning Water Colour Brushes


When pigment particles build up at the base of the brush, it pushes hairs apart and stops the point from forming. To avoid this, wipe your water colour brush clean with a lint-free rag and rinse it under running water. Then, using mild soap and cool water, swirl the soapy brush in the palm of your hand and rinse. Repeat the washing and rinsing process until the soap and water runs clear.

Cleaning Oil Colour Brushes

If you’ve been working with oils, use a rag to wipe away as much colour as possible from your brush. Then rinse any remaining colour using Winsor & Newton Artists’ White Spirit or Brush Cleaner. Next, as you would when cleaning your hands, create a lather and rinse the brush under warm, not hot, water until the water runs clear of colour and soap.

Cleaning Acrylic Colour Brushes

Looking after an acrylic brush bears similarities to looking after an water colour brush. However, there are also some differences. If you are using solvent-based varnishes, these should be removed using Winsor & Newton Artists’ White Spirit, whereas water-based can be removed with soap and water.

Cleaning your acrylic brush with mild soap and cool water still applies. For a thorough clean, soak the brush overnight in Winsor & Newton Brush Cleaner, which will remove any dried acrylic colour. Repeat the washing and rinsing process until the soap and water runs clear.


For discussion only taken from the W/N wed site.

John.