Tinny Tiny Paint Brushes

voltigeur · Post by **voltigeur** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:01 pm

My brush collection is to the point I can no longer coax any more out of my 20/0 & 30/0 brushes.

I was buying them from ASEL art supply store but they are no longer carrying them. I have never seen them in the mainstream art supply houses.

Anyone know of a good supply source?

Cav Dog · Post by **Cav Dog** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 12:38 am

I have bought 20/0 at Michaels. Did you look on Micro-Mark's website? They seem to carry a lot of specialized and odd sized brushes.

bound for glory · Post by **bound for glory** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:14 am

i've got my 20/0 from michels, but thats not the number on them. the problem, with michels and ac moore, at least in my area, is the paint brush section is a mess. i complained at both stores about the ruined brushes. i have to spend alot moor time going through them, because they are nearly all f'ed up by idiots.

Mikee · Post by **Mikee** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:30 am

Micro-mark has several types of 20 "0s" and three different lengths of 30 "0". I use several 20 "0" "spotter" brushes and a few others each year. I did try a #6 30 "0" brush several months ago. The bristles spayed out after a few uses, & it hasn't been usable since.

Baphomet69 · Post by **Baphomet69** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:18 pm

I've also ordered from Art Supply Warehouse before (aswexpress on the web).

voltigeur · Post by **voltigeur** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:52 pm

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the next time I'm in Hobby Lobby I should actually ask for help!

I looked at the Micro Mark site. Interesting stuff. I found the brushes there not sure I liked the ball design. I tend to use chopsticks to guide the paint brush for some things.

Still looking through the Art Supply Warehouse. I went on the site just before work but couldn't spend too much time there.

Keep the suggestion coming tho.

Thanks to all who have replied.

ed*b · Post by **ed*b** » Sat Aug 27, 2011 10:23 pm

And if anyone has suggestions on extending the life of brushes, that would be welcome. I use the White Ensign oil paints, and Testor brush cleaner, but I am lucky if one of these 10/0 or 18/0 brushes lasts for 6 or 8 ships before splaying out into an unusable mess.

voltigeur · Post by **voltigeur** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:07 am

To extend the life of my small brushes I only use them for fine detail stuff. I use the larger brushes for pushing paint into grooves and things of that nature. I try to use 18/0 or larger for those jobs that just tear up brushes.

I also keep the protetive tubes if the brush comes with one. After I finish usung a brush i wet it and slide that tube back over it. That keeps the brush from being damaged during storage.

I have had some luck with hairspray on my brushes. It will give some extended life to them but there is a point (where I'm at now) that the brush is toast.

I typically get 1.5 to 2 years out of my little brushes and 6 months to a year out of my general larger ones.

Cav Dog · Post by **Cav Dog** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:49 am

I use BJ's "The Masters" brush cleaner and preserver available from Blick and other hobby or art supply stores. It is a little pricey but it beats replacing brushes so often. Works fon brushes used for both acrylic and oil based paints.