DA VINCIOil & Acrylic Series 1610 Oil Paint Brush, Round Kolinsky Red Sable, Size 2/0 (1610-00)

I ordered a small flat brush for detailing on some of my smaller oil paintings. It is a better quality compared to my higher grade synthetic brushes, but the handle is noticeably warped from the wood being dried incorrectly, I'm not sure if they are kiln dried but I feel DaVinci could QA this given how much these brushes are. On a minor note to some budding painters out there working with oils, unless you won't be painting for a few months, do NOT use thinner/turps to clean these brushes (or any of your brushes for that matter), just dip your brush in safflower oil and let it sit. I've seen too many people destroy good sable brushes using turps/mineral spirits to clean their brushes after every session.So to summarize... these bristles are amazingly well made, but the handle is kind of crap, so I'm deducting a star for that unfortunately.

Once again a beautiful Kolisnsky sable brush by Da Vinci.Once again horrendous packing.This time,the box was perfectly intact,but upon opening the box,the SEALED bag containing the brush revealed an expensive brush with a COMPLETELY broken handle.As the box was in perfect condition and the brush bag sealed(again with NO protection to the brush head) I can only conclude that the item was packed and shipped in that broken condition.I paid for a new brush,not one with a broken handle and a bag full of wood fragments!I find that I can no longer afford to keep overlooking quality issues because of the great amazon deals.A deal is not a good one if the products are always damaged.Despite countless QC feedbacks,I get no responses and the shipping quality has gone from bad to worse! I will keep my prime membership for inexpensive and much less fragile items,but am DONE with amazon for artist materials and shall shop elsewhere for them.Furthermore, no packing slip or invoice was sent in the package to faciliate returns.A complete disappointment that I will not take the chance on repeating.So buyer beware! You can get great,great discount prices on high end materials at amazon.com to be sure.Just be aware that each order is an absolute crapshoot.If the order arrives perfectly,you are great.If it's a mess you have futile frustration.Make your own value determination and don't let me sway you.Just be informed.I'm done with it.

It seems like a lot to spend on one brush, but, it really makes a difference to do so. Retains its shape and isn't shedding bristles. Buy cheap brushes to find out what sizes you feel most comfortable working with, and then upgrade with these and buy those preferred sizes. With proper care, it's a good long run investment for great brush performance.

I've always loved the painting "feel" of the Kolinsky Sable brushes and this one is no exception. The brush holds paint well and does a great job of spreading paint evenly. I particularly like this one for glazing, but it is also handy for more detailed work. The sable hairs are soft and resilient and are firmly clamped into the metal ferrule.While I do also use rounds, flats, and brights, the filbert shape has remained one of my favorite and most frequently used. This particular filbert brush offers a much thicker collection of sable fiber in the well-clamped ferrule. Its width sizing is still consistent; but the extra hair allows a bit more "meaty" brush stroke and holds more paint.I can often find an excellent price for these brushes on Amazon.The price on Amazon is a huge savings over the regular cost.

I was really shocked by the performance of this brush. I used it once, very gently and cleaned it, very gently, after completing the painting (an hour later). When it dried, it fanned out. It can no longer be used for detail work as it did not hold it's point! I don't understand how such an expensive detail brush can do this after only one use? See pictures. I also am returning another Da Vinci brush I bought at the same time. Unlike this one (the 1210, size 1) the other is a 2103, size 0 and that one really fanned out horribly. This one wasn't quite as bad, but without holding a point, it's totally useless as a detail brush and cannot fulfill it's intended purpose. These are supposed to be excellent quality brushes. What's going on with them? Why are these brushes fanning out like this? They're either fakes, or something is going on at the company that significantly reduced the quality. Is there some kind of special cleaning technique these brushes require to hold their point? If so, then cleaning instructions should be included with each brush. I have not had this issue before with so-called quality brushes.

Outstanding quality brush at a great price.Was terriffied when I opened the box to see this expensive brush wrapped and sealed in shrink plastic in such a way that the brush hairs were jammed into the corner of the bag all the way up to the ferrule (so that the hairs were at a complete 45 degree angle from the ferrule!) There was no sleeve on the ferrule.Fortunately the quality of the brush is such that the hairs have come back to shape for the most part, but I still cannot comprehend such wreckless packing of such an expensive item.There seems to be no rhyme or reason to packing methods. One dollar items are packed like gold, hundred dollar items are sometimes treated like rubbish.All in all I have been very fortunate with only the occaisonal residual damage,but who needs the drama?

I got some Escoda and Da Vinci brushes to compare.(Escoda brushes: Reserva, Prado, Versatil. Da Vinci: Maestro, Marder (oil brush), Harbin, Nova)(Mine came with the protective cap, but the Harbin I got around the same time did not.)The Kolinsky Marder seems like it is close to the Maestro, at least out of the brushes I have. It might be a little softer, but it has a nice sharp point. I like all of the Da Vinci brushes. The prices on Amazon are great too. :)When the brushes start to wear out, or "break in" more, I'll come back to update my reviews.

Work as advertised

Great brushes I just love them?.?..?

Ok

Brush was not well pointed, could not use.

some of the fibers stick out at the edges and not with the whole group of the brush

there is no even a protection for the brush