Dry brushing tools?

[Thunderchicken]

Just wondering if you use a specific brush for dry brushing. At the moment I'm getting through a standard brush a week dry brushing a fair amount of brickwork. It's not breaking the bank but do you use a specific brush when you dry brush, one that might last longer or do the job more effectively?

[Svennn]

I don't do much drybrushing these days. Most of what I do is large terrain pieces where I use household brushes anyway.

If I do need some on a miniature I have found that sable brushes are better for this as well. Not the most economical method using series 7's

The one tool I do insist on though is the correct kitchen roll. I only use ones emblazoned with cartoon characters, I am currently using Scooby Doo

[Westfalia Chris]

Occasionally, I purchase a cheapish synthetic flat brush if I have the need for a larger flat drybrush for a special project. Otherwise, I just use up regular brushes that have become unusable for regular use - they usually last for some 3 months in their first tour of duty, then another 3 in the drybrush circuit.

[BaronVonJ]

ditto what Wesfalia Chris says.
-J

[Skrapwelder]

For the brick work I've seen Alfrik do wonders with a little foam roller brush.

http://armoredink.blogspot.com/2009/05/speed-painting-brick-walls.html

[OSHIROmodels]

I sometimes use big pastel brushes, they are really soft and give a wonderful effect. They tend not to last long, but hey, we all spend more on lead that we never use anyway so a few extra pounds on a brush that gives the effect needed, what the hell 

cheers

James

[gamer Mac]

Occasionally, I purchase a cheapish synthetic flat brush if I have the need for a larger flat drybrush for a special project. Otherwise, I just use up regular brushes that have become unusable for regular use - they usually last for some 3 months in their first tour of duty, then another 3 in the drybrush circuit.

I do the same as chris. Use old brushes for figures
For bigger things you can buy packs of about six different, cheapish synthetic brushes in Tesco for a couple of quid.

[Orctrader]

I use drybrushing on all of my bases.  I use cheap, flat synthetic brushes for this.  The same type I use for varnishing.  

New brush is cleaned and dried ready for use as a varnishing brush.  Once it begins to deteriorate it is relegated to drybrushing.

[revford]

I use flat brushes for drybrushing, I have a few in different sizes and they seem to last a while.

[Blackwolf]

I don't do much drybrushing these days. Most of what I do is large terrain pieces where I use household brushes anyway.

If I do need some on a miniature I have found that sable brushes are better for this as well. Not the most economical method using series 7's

The one tool I do insist on though is the correct kitchen roll. I only use ones emblazoned with cartoon characters, I am currently using Scooby Doo

  I agree with this man , only got plain kitchen roll however.
  Paint that is not so 'wet' is also a must as is strong pigment.And don't use white,tis' horrible.

[Hammers]

I use rather wide flat artist brushes with fine hairs. I tend to stay away from synthetic brushes, especially nylon, because they end feathers very quickly thus giving them a shorter life span than natural hairs. I don't use my Kolinskis for dry brushing though, that's for reckless people like Captain Blood.

[dbsubashi]

I am still a fan of GW's "tank brush", which they sadly no longer make. But mine have lasted for years. Their new "large drybrush" is also a fantastic brush, and has held up through all the abuse I have given it in the last 9 months. It is a flat wide brush, and i have abused it and it is still going. Perfect for large jobs where you still want control. For quick scenery jobs I use the cheap throwaway brushes. For bigger/more important pieces I use expensive house painting brushes. They can be cleaned of old dried paint and do a great job.

[former user]

Although drybrushing seems to be unpopular these days, I am a big fan of it, and I use a lot of tools.
It depends what kind of touch You want and of course the size.

for smaller objects I bought a cheap set of oil brushes, that are rather medium stiff.
for large objects (like Your building) I use either a baking brush (the brush You use for oiling the mould etc) or a makeup puff (usually discarded by my GF)

it depends whether I want hard edges (like wood boards - all the wood parts on my train are drybrushed as final touch) or a soft transition with more than one stage.
The harder the brush, the more power You can use.
The softer the hair, brush exclusively parallel to the surface and avoid pressure on it.
You can additionally soften up the colour edges by wiping with a slightly wet fine sponge after drybrushing.

Of course this does not work for small details

[Thunderchicken]

Thanks chaps, I'll give a flat brush a go and see how I get on.

[maxxon]

I have a separate section of crap brushes for drybrushing and terrain work.

These are:

- old worn brushes from regular painting, often cut to flat tip
- cheap and nasty watercolor brushes (even the really nasty synthetic ones from children's paint sets)
- hog hair brushes

Which one to use depends on the subject I'm painting and the effect I want.

The smaller the subject, the smaller the brush (generally).
The softer the effect, the softer the brush.

Size 12 watercolor brushes are great for giving an entire figure a light dusting all over (especially good for 15mm).

Hog hair is great for catching high points on rough texture like bases.

These days I find I tend not to drybrush very small details anymore, I'll just paint in the highlight.