If you’re anything like me, finding the perfect paintbrush for your miniatures can feel like a never-ending quest. If you’re also like me, you might go through paint brushes at an alarming rate! So you want something that holds paint well, gives you smooth strokes, and—most importantly—doesn’t shed bristles like an overexcited cat.
Chronicle Sable’s Kolinsky paint brushes promise mostly all of that at a reasonable price, but do they deliver? First off, the paint application is generally smooth and consistent, with acrylics. These brushes generally hold a pigment well and distribute it fairly evenly. For context, I use a mixture of Citadel paints and Army Paints with a wet palette, and I generally always try to water down my paints.
The brushes feel like they have a nice balance between flexibility and firmness, making them great for blending and layering. They don’t feel too stiff, which can be a problem with some budget brushes, but they also don’t go too soft, so you still have general control over your strokes. Although, that is caveated with the brushes do feel a little bit inconsistent in their application, some feel stiff whilst others are soft.
But I also have to add that comfort is another plus. The handles feel sturdy but lightweight, making long painting sessions easier on your hand and I’ve found these brushes easier to hold than some others I own. They have a nice balance—not too top-heavy or flimsy—and the ferrules (the metal part that holds the bristles) are well-secured. There’s nothing worse than a brush that starts wiggling at the base after a few uses, and thankfully, Chronicle brushes hold up well in that department.
Cleaning them is obviously a must, and with some brush soap, as long as you rinse them properly and reshape the bristles after cleaning, they are holding up fairly well over time (since June 2024). Although that is over me painting about 25/26 miniatures, what can I say, I’m a slow painter!
Of course, no brush set is perfect.
While Chronicle brushes are I think probably fantastic for general or the average hobbyist use, they’re not the best for ultra-fine detail work, and that is my biggest drawback. The smaller brushes can feel almost imprecise, which makes delicate linework and detail trickier than it should be. If you do a lot of intricate detailing—especially with miniatures—you might want to supplement your set with some softer, more finer detailed brushes. I found myself at times struggling to control the smaller brushes, as the brush feels like it almost lacks the ability to conform to the detail level.
Another minor drawback is that, over time, despite my brush soap cleaning, a few of the brushes have frayed slightly and I’m concerned for their longevity, as they’ve got me through 25/26 miniatures so far, which doesn’t feel like a whole lot. Which is potentially a dealbreaker, although proper cleaning can always help minimise it, but if you’re really particular about keeping brush tips pristine, it’s something to keep in mind. However, in comparison, I’ve got some citadel brushes, which have undertaken the same painting journey and they are a lot more frayed looking despite the same cleaning routine.
Also, while Chronicle offers a good variety of standard shapes, they don’t have as many specialty brushes like dry brushes, which I’ve struggled with. I recently took my set of Chronicle brushes with me on holiday and the lack of an ultra detail brush and dry brush was a big miss! So this set isn’t able to offer you a complete painting experience, and you might need to look elsewhere to round out your collection. That said, the price-to-quality ratio here is hard to beat.
Chronicle brushes look like they can perform and belong in a higher price bracket, but I think they fall a tiny bit short. However, they’re probably okay for hobbyists who want an array of fairly solid brushes without spending a fortune. Whether you’re a beginner hobbyist, or someone just looking to replace their general brushes, Chronicle brushes could be a fantastic choice for the price.
Final Verdict?
Again, like a component upgrade, it’s hard for me to use my usual rating. Are chronicle paint brushes the best I’ve ever used? No. But are they the worst? Definitely not.
Chronicle paint brushes offer fairly impressive quality and range of brushes for the price. They feel great to hold. While they might not be the best for extreme detail work or speciality brush needs, they’re a fantastic all-around option.
Would I recommend them to someone on a budget? Absolutely. If you’re in the market for top of the market brushes, then I would recommend looking elsewhere.
Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of Chess-a-tete for review, I wasn’t paid for this review and all opinions remain my own.