R/Brush Series 8404 Size 1

I've had a nightmare trying to find a decent Sable hair brush, I tried cheaper brushes with no luck, more expensive ones from leading brands with even worse luck with splaying.So I was truly delighted with this Raphael No1 brush, it instantly raised my game with painting miniatures, I often blamed myself for bodged detailing work with short fine point nylon brushes but I know know I was capable and most of the mistakes wouldn't happen with this brush.I could prattle on for ages about how good this brush is and how well it keeps its shape (as long as you clean it regular and properly), it has become my workhorse and brought a lot more enjoyment to painting.The only strange thing is the truly awful packaging, for such a high-end brush it comes in no box/pack/sleeve, just the brush with a plastic tip sleeve and that universally hated barcode sticker on the end.It sounds expensive for just one brush, but it is superb value for money compared to the time and frustration with using non-sable brushes.

An impressive brush and would definetely recommend it!I was impressed by the grip, the perfect tension of the bristles, it's point and the fact that this is the first time I hold a brush and the guide is at perfect length whilst with all my other brushes the guide is too long and it needs some trimming. Also the belly size is just perfect. For comparison, it has the same size as an Artis opus size 3 or a W&N series 7 size 2.Love it!

The media could not be loaded. Raphael 8404 is made from kolinsky red sable and is an excellent brush for painting models.The bristles hold together well and they snap back well.Easy to control and guide.The Handle I would like to be thicker but that’s just personal taste.Over all a great brush.Highly recommended

The Raphael 8404, is a brilliant brush. Great design and functionality. BUT the barcode self adhesive sticker left behind a sticky residue that proved very difficult to remove, detergent, friction, heat, cold, and solvents all proved ineffective. In the end the paint came off! Whilst this doesn’t affect the performance of an excellent brush, it ruins the overall aesthetics which, in an investment such as this is important. To summarise 5* brush. 1* barcode application.

Wow. That was my genuine reaction when I started using this brush. It hasn't lost shape and it holds paint well. While Games Workshop has some good brushes as does War Painter, the bristles on this are made of animal hair and last far longer than those.Would you rather spend 10+ on an inferior brush that's going to need replacing in a few weeks or months? Or would you rather spend a little more on a brush that isn't going to let you down? Get this brush

Bought it on a whim, and glad I did.It knocks spots off the winsor and Newton series 7 #1 round I have, as well as my old favourite silver black velvet #1.It has a better point — great for thin lines and details. It holds loads (I tend to use mostly inks) and it goes back to shape better than all my other brushes.It won’t be my last Raphael :)

I’ve been using a Raphael 8404 size 1 for about a year and a half and decided it was time for a new one. First of all these are easily my favourite sable hair brushes, not too soft not to firm perfectly in the middle.BUT I won’t be buying from Amazon again, it arrived with no brush protector meaning the bristles were somewhat frayed and bent where it had been pressed inside the packaging.Now not overly an issue as has been fixed with brush conditioner and a brush protector, but if it’s your first sable hair brushes I would recommend ordering from an art shop

The Rolls-Royce of sable brushes. What I like most about this brush is the variation of detail you can get. Size 1 is perfect for me (which is about the size of a #2 in a W&N series 7 brush) as I tried size 2 and it was slightly heavier to hold - but I suggest trying both