Brush cleaning

[Rob J]

Ok, this may sound kinda dumb but how do you guys clean your brushes? I use regular old poly cleans to get rid of enamels but if I don�t let them soak long enough they get dried up and hard, but if I let them soak for a while the brush part bends from being left in a jar so I have a choice of curved brushed or hard ones!!! Any tips?

[ddp]

suspend the brush so it doesn't curve!!

[Timmy C]

Try putting saran wrap over the mouth of the jar, and jamming the brush handle between the wrap and the rim of the jar. The griping property of the wrap should be enough to keep your brush from falling.

[Cadman]

You can make a brush clip by taking an old spring and placing it across the rim of your cleaning container. The brushes can be clipped in the spring to keep them off the bottom. That way the bristles don't touch bottom and bend.

[Anonymous]

best way i found is to rub some hand cleaner as used by auto repairmen, this removes the paint then swish the brush in some thinners , i have always done this and most of my brushes are "oaps"

[Rob J]

You can make a brush clip by taking an old spring and placing it across the rim of your cleaning container. The brushes can be clipped in the spring to keep them off the bottom. That way the bristles don't touch bottom and bend.

Thanks cadman I guess you do know a little something about modeling.

[Vlad]

I wipe as much paint off as I can on a paper towel, then dip it in white spirit, then wipe again. I repeat this many times and effectively "paint" the paper towel in white spirit until no more colour comes out of the brush. I wipe it dry by squeezing the tip in more paper towel and then store it tip up.

[richter111]

Something else that works WONDERS on brushes.

Wash them once a month in a high quality shampoo and then rinse with cool water, then shape. The cool water helps the bristles stay in alignment. The first time I tried the shampoo idea, it save several of my brushes that had split and I was able to reshape them and continue thier usage.

Thanks for the brush cleaner idea Cadman, Ill have to try that

Should I use a brake spring off a old Ford??

Ric

[les]

I use three Testors thinner bottles taped together. They are filled with laquer thinner. The caps are numbered 1,2& 3. I swirl the dirty brush in bottle #1 and wipe it on a paper towel continuing to do so until I can't see any paint coming out of the brush when it's pressed against the side of the bottle. I then go through the same process in bottle #2. I repeat the process again in bottle #3. By this time the brush should be clean and no paint should come out of it. I then rinse the brush in a little water before I store it in a bottle with the handle down.

If you have brushes that are dried, check the art supply store. There is a very good soap brush cleaner that they sell. It takes comes in a small container. It works very well at cleaning bristles of dried paint.

[Neptune]

Rick, do you wash it in clear champoo? Or do you put the shampoo in some water first? and then put your brush into it? Sounds like a good idea, I can use!!! thank you!

[AndrexP]

No SHAMpoo. I use only real poo...

[patiens]

Micro Mark in NJ sells a self-closing (self-sealing) container the size of a giant coffee cup that can hold up to 4 or 5 brushes suspended from clip-type holders so they can soak without bending. Use a high-grade turpentine and the brushes will last. Also, use a good grade brush to begin with: Windsor & Newton. Lowe, Grumbacher.