Chip brushes come in sizes from 1/4" to 6 or more inches.  I rarely buy bigger than 4" chip brushes, because at that point the cost starts to rise and they are too big to fit in a normal sized paint can.  At 4" you have a choice between two thicknesses of bristles.  They don't always tell you that very clearly in catalogues, but the price makes the difference known.   

When I work with inexperienced people, I buy a lot of chip brushes.  Learning to wash a brush properly takes practice.  Chip brushes are cheap enough that if they don't always get washed perfectly, it's not a tragedy.  Also, chip brushes aren't as thick, so they are easier to wash thouroughly and easier to learn with.  They do have a little wood block or chip in the middle of the bristles that "real" brushes don't have, so when washing that needs a little attention from a finger nail.

Inexperienced people also have the tendency to lay paint on too thick with a "real" brush, so a chip brush helps control that tendancy.   

They are also the perfect tool to use the few times you have a need to use oil based paint.  Oil based paint is a pain to work with and a pain to clean up after.  If I have to use it for a few days, I don't bother washing the brush.  I store it in a plastic bag to keep it from drying.  Then, when I'm done with that sticky, messy goo, I throw the brush away.  

There have been times I have used chip brushes to paint entire sets.  While better brushes are, well, better and more fun to use, knowing how to manipulate a chip brush into doing what you want is a good thing.  You never know when it might come in handy. 

Here are some good deals on Chip brushes. The first is a variety case of 50 different brushes ranging from 1/2" to 3". The second is for a case of 12 4" brushes.

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