Brushes for acrylic clear coat

[chrisonord]

I have been painting a lot of my builds with  the stick of hair of late  mainly because the button on the airbrush makes my fingers go numb, but also to hone my patience  and ability  with  said sticks of hair.  I am  however  having problems with  putting  clear coat/varnish  on my models, as the brushes I  have seem to push the varnish  around  more than paint it . I use almost  exclusively  vallejo matt and gloss varnish  as I  like how it dries, but I  do struggle  especially  with doing  large  areas and even more so putting  matt clear coat over the gloss coat.  My collection of brushes is  varied  but non seem soft enough to  get the job done  properly.  What is everyone else using, I  am U.K.  based and not keen on getting  extravagant  with the cost of  brushes.
Cheers
Chris

[NARSES2]

Hi Chris

I'm exclusively a brush painter and use Windsor and Newton Galleria acrylic matt varnish which has a rather "thick" look to it. Sorry but I can't think of a better way to describe it. However after a good shake and a short time to settle it brushes very well and drys quickly, 15 minutes or so. It normally also only takes one coat.

As for brushes I've a selection and if I'm honest my varnish brushes tend to be those that have been retired from paint service. Having just looked Windsor and Newton Cottman brushes seem to be the most used. Both varnish and brushes available from WH Smiths or an art shop and neither are expensive.

I picked up a lot of good value brushes at SMW from ABC Brushes who specialise in "seconds". They have a website http://www.abcbrushes.com/

Chris

[chrisonord]

Thankyou  Chris, I  will  look into those.  I  definitely need some  more  brushes  and ones that  coat the  model  evenly. 
Chris

[NARSES2]

Aftercare is one of the most important things with brushes to be honest. As well as the normal cleaning routines every now and then I give my brushes a soak in Deluxe Materials' Brush Magic. It's a bit aggressive and will strip the paint of the brush handle if left to long, but it does clear out all the gunge in the brush and brings them back to almost as good as new.

[Dizzyfugu]

I primarily use marten hair brushes, and sometimes brushes with synthetic fibres - e .g. flat ones for shading effects. It's rather a matter of feel, though, nothing rational. For acrylic varnishes I use a very simple pony hair brush (size 6 or so, one that is actually recommended for children's water paints), which is very soft and baggy.

What I found really helpful is the use of painter soap (from a local artist goods shop), esp. after metallic acrylic paints. It really helps washing pigments out of the brush, extending lifetime.

[chrisonord]

Thankyou for the tips , much appreciated.  I have  used an airbrush for  for most of my builds  for quite some time now  so I am re learning  using  brushes  really.  Having a  decent  acrylic paint helps  too, and I  I  more than keen on the Vallejo  paints, its just their varnish  that is being  awkward to  use.
Cheers
Chris

[The Wooksta!]

Plasticweld is also very good for getting dead paint grunge off.

[PR19_Kit]

Plasticweld is also very good for getting dead paint grunge off.

Really? 

I must give that a try then, some of my old brushes are only fit for repainting my bathroom ceiling, when I have one of course......

[NARSES2]

Plasticweld is also very good for getting dead paint grunge off.

I think Plasticweld does for most things ?

What I found really helpful is the use of painter soap (from a local artist goods shop), esp. after metallic acrylic paints. It really helps washing pigments out of the brush, extending lifetime.

Interesting Dizzy, thanks. I shall ask in my local art shop, when and if they re-open again 

  Having a  decent  acrylic paint helps  too, and I  I  more than keen on the Vallejo  paints, its just their varnish  that is being  awkward to  use.
Cheers
Chris

Varnish can be the make or break of a model. I think you have to find one you like and then get used to it's little foibles and then stick with it.

[chrisonord]

Absolutely Chris, I  like the vallejo stuff  as it dries well, and if bought  in the middle  sized bottles  is good value for money.  It's  when it doesn't  want to paint itself down due to the brushes that's what annoys me.  Only way I seem to be able  to get round it is to put a very small amount on the brush  and put the thinnest of  coats on.
Chris

[NARSES2]

I must admit I find the weather conditions can effect varnish more than most paints for some reason.

[chrisonord]

I must admit I find the weather conditions can effect varnish more than most paints for some reason.

Hmm....?
Its crap here most of the time, so I  think that you could be on to  something  there Chris 

[NARSES2]

I must admit I find the weather conditions can effect varnish more than most paints for some reason.

Hmm....?
Its crap here most of the time, so I  think that you could be on to  something  there Chris 

True  , but I think it might be humidity when it comes to drying times ?

[Old Wombat]

Unfortunately, I'm having to transition out of my favourite varnishes, Testors Dullcote & Glosscote, because the manufacturer is getting out of model supplies - although I've discovered that Mr Hobby's Mr Color Leveling Thinner works very well as a thinner for the Testors products - but, then, I NEVER brush coat a varnish because, the last couple of times I did, I ended up with the paint streaking badly, & I always had at least a few streaks on the best of my paint jobs.

Short of it is; My experience, based on my skills, with brush varnishing are pretty negative, so I don't do it.

[chrisonord]

I do prefer to airbrush the paint and clear coat but I am struggling with my fingers going numb whilst using the airbrush  not reet happy about it but it is yet another thing to know class my backside