Lettering Brush

I have been pinstriping for a while and i am ready to try lettering. I only have enough dough for one brush. What is the most versatile? Should I get a flat or a quill? What size?

Thanks,
Tim

 

I know there is somebody who knows!

 

Anybody?

 

What size letterin are you wanting to do for starters?

 

I'm not sure. probably small signs and some car stuff, a friend suggested I start with a 1/2 inch or 5/8 straight. which of those sizes do you reccomend to start with? what about quills?

P.S.-I will get more brushes latter when i get a job, but right know i need something versatile to get started with.

 

A swirly Q works good for small lettering for bigger stuff i like mack quills. I started by buying smaller sizes and worked my way up as I had the cash becouse its easier to build up letters with a small brush than it is to do small letters with a big brush. But the swirley Q can always be used for small stuff and out linning big stuff thats why it was my first

 

Thats cool, I know the basic differences between flats and quils, but what are each best used for?

 

For most small lettering jobs(and script capitals up to about 2" high)I like the Swirly-Q.They're reasonable in price(about $7 from Mack)and are very versatile.
For larger letters I prefer 1" to 1 1/4" long quills(up to about 6" high).I like the way grey quills work better than brown but the greys are almost impossible to find now.
For anything larger than 6"(which I rarely get into)I like the 1198 series(I'll have to double check that number)flats from Mack although I've had problems with shedding on some of the smaller sizes.Sizes above 5/8" don't seem to exhibit the shedding problem for some reason.
For any lettering brush when I first get it,I have a procedure I go through to prolong the life of the brush:
After washing out the sizing(used to keep the form after being made)with warm soapy water,I thoroughly dry the brush.Then I dip it in brush oil and work the oil up into the ferrule(I use WallDog Brush Oil available from Mack for about $7.50/quart)and then store the brush hair side up vertically for a couple days.This lets the oil wick into the ferrule and helps keep paint from collecting inside and drying and then the hair breaks off.The oil washes out of the hair outside the ferrule readily with mineral spirits or brush cleaner.I try to avoid using lacquer thinner or acetone to clean brushes as it really dries the natural oils in the hair badly leading to premature brush failure(similar to another kind of premature failure! LOL)
Anyway that's my take on lettering brushes.

 

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