Raphaël Softaqua 845 — Round Brush
Synthetic Squirrel • Watercolour & Water Media • Made in France 🇫🇷
💧 Why Softaqua?
The Softaqua 845 uses wavy synthetic fibres designed to mimic natural squirrel hair. These crimped filaments create tiny pockets that hold water — giving you roughly twice the water capacity of standard synthetics.
Unlike real squirrel, these fibres have spring and snap. The brush returns to a sharp point after every stroke and keeps its shape when dry. No shedding, no splitting.
🖌️ Brush Specifications
| Shape | Round — full belly with fine pointed tip |
| Fibre Type | Wavy synthetic (imitation squirrel) |
| Ferrule | Nickel-plated brass — seamless |
| Handle | Short, matte black lacquered wood |
| Origin | Made in France by Raphaël |
✏️ This is a classic round, not a rigger or liner. The belly gives you stroke variety while the tip handles precision work.
✅ Works Well With
| Watercolour | Primary use — exceptional water holding, soft edges, precise details |
| Gouache | Best with diluted consistency — smooth, even application |
| Ink & Indian Ink | Good for line work and washes — rinse frequently during use |
| Tempera | Thin layers recommended — per Raphaël specifications |
| Fluid Acrylics | Only when heavily diluted (watercolour consistency) |
| Silk Painting | Suitable for water-based textile dyes |
⚠️ Not Recommended For
| Oil Paints | Fibres are too soft for oil. Solvents damage synthetic quickly — use hog bristle instead |
| Heavy Acrylics | Thick acrylic from the tube will damage soft fibres — choose stiffer brushes |
🔍 Can you technically apply oil? Yes. Should you? No — you'd be wasting a brush optimised for water media.
🎯 What Can You Paint With It?
Size guide: Sizes 2-6 for micro-details and precision work. Sizes 8-12 are your everyday watercolour workhorses. Sizes 14-24 handle small backgrounds while still letting you pull fine lines from the tip.
🧼 How to Look After Your Brush
1. Rinse in lukewarm water immediately after painting — don't let paint dry
2. Use gentle soap (Marseille soap or dedicated brush cleaner)
3. Work the soap in your palm — never scrub bristles on hard surfaces
4. Rinse thoroughly, reshape the tip with your fingers
5. Dry flat or tip-down — never standing upright in a pot
🚫 What Damages These Brushes:
- Hot water — deforms synthetic fibres permanently
- Dried ink in bristles — hardens the tip beyond recovery
- Soaking past the ferrule — dissolves glue, bristles fall out
- Storing wet, tip-up — water seeps into ferrule, causes rust and glue failure
⏳ How Long Will It Last?
With proper care, the Softaqua 845 keeps its point for months of regular use. Users on watercolour forums consistently report these brushes outlasting cheaper synthetics by a significant margin. The key is cleaning them properly — don't let paint or ink dry in the fibres, and they'll reward you with a long working life.
🏠 Why Buy From Hobby Heaven?
- Official UK distributor stock — genuine Raphaël product, not grey market imports
- Family business — we actually use and understand what we sell
- Real advice available — not sure which size? Message us, we'll help
- Fast UK shipping — same-day dispatch on weekday orders
Hobby Heaven — UK Family Business
Authorised stockist for Raphaël, Da Vinci, Winsor & Newton, AK Interactive & more