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paint brush cleaning
I recently purchased a very expensive paint brush (hoping it would paint the boat for me!) Anyway, I realized I don't really know how to clean a paint brush.... I dip it in solvent a few times and use a 'brush spinner' - but don't really know if I am doing it right. No big deal with cheap brushes, but the $ ones need to last a while. paul |
I use a "three wash system." I use the solvent (such as acetone,
xylene, or tolulene) recommended by the paint manufacturer. I pour solvent into three sealable containers, large enough to hold the brush, clean up to the feral (pun intended). I wash a new brush the first bath before using the brush the first time, or if its been laying around collecting dust. When I want to clean the brush after use, I was it in the first bath to get the worst cleaned off. I also have a dog grooming comb (small) to work out any dried bits. Once it is reasonably clean, I squeeze it out and pat it dry. Next I wash it in the second bath. This cleans the remaining residue out of the bristles. Squeeze and pat dry. Inspect and if it is clean enough, I rinse it thoroughly in the third bath and spin dry and hang it from the rafters. This is probably not a good place to hang them, but its the only place I have. I also use to use Paly-Solve sometimes, then I would use warm soapy water and a brush conditioner. Save your dirty solvent in a seperate container, allow it to settle for a few days then pour off the clean thinner on top and save for another day to use as bath one and two. The remaining sludge in the bottom can be left open to dry out and then properly disposed of. I evaporate everything, never flash it. "Paul Oman" wrote in message hlink.net... | | | I recently purchased a very expensive paint brush (hoping it would paint | the boat for me!) | | Anyway, I realized I don't really know how to clean a paint brush.... | | I dip it in solvent a few times and use a 'brush spinner' - but don't | really know if I am doing it right. No big deal with cheap brushes, but | the $ ones need to last a while. | | paul |
On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:19:13 GMT, Paul Oman
wrote: I recently purchased a very expensive paint brush (hoping it would paint the boat for me!) Anyway, I realized I don't really know how to clean a paint brush.... I dip it in solvent a few times and use a 'brush spinner' - but don't really know if I am doing it right. No big deal with cheap brushes, but the $ ones need to last a while. paul It is very instructive to clean up a brush used for water-based paint. Washing it under running water brings on the realization that a brush can release pigment for a good while after solvent (water) starts flowing. The same principle applies to oil-base or resin-base paint: it takes an awful lot of solvent to lose the last vesitiges of pigment. Better to hold a brush in suspended animation if at all possible - people have used water-submersion for oil-based paint brshes - or kept them in a fridge. Brian Whatcott Altus OK |
One more thing: always hang your brushes to store them, never in a
drawer. And always putthe cardboard wrapper back on 'em after you've cleaned 'em. Don't wait till the brush is dry to put the wrapper back on...it needs to dry IN the wrapper...'cuz that's what keeps the bristles "organized" so you don't have strays sticking out next time you want to use it. I've owned several GOOD paint brushes in assorted sizes for years, for both oil and latex paints....they're expensive, but definitely a worthwhile investment (so is the best quality paint). If I can't finish a job in one "sitting," it's not necessary to clean the brush...the important thing is to keep it from drying out. So I just wrap the bristles in wet rag (latex) or a rag soaked in paint thinner (oil or varnish)--not dripping wet, just damp--and put it in a ziplock till the next day, or even the next...clean it when the job is done. -- Peggie ---------- Peggie Hall Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987 Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor" http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1 |
I like to put the brushes upside down after cleaning to dry. This way any
residual paint in the thinner will drain down the handle and not collect on the bristle tips and harden. Also when doing epoxy I just put the brush in a heavy duty ziplock with acetone, mushed the bristles a bit and left it until I needed it again. It never dried, just shake out the acetone before using. "Peggie Hall" wrote in message ... One more thing: always hang your brushes to store them, never in a drawer. And always putthe cardboard wrapper back on 'em after you've cleaned 'em. Don't wait till the brush is dry to put the wrapper back on...it needs to dry IN the wrapper...'cuz that's what keeps the bristles "organized" so you don't have strays sticking out next time you want to use it. I've owned several GOOD paint brushes in assorted sizes for years, for both oil and latex paints....they're expensive, but definitely a worthwhile investment (so is the best quality paint). If I can't finish a job in one "sitting," it's not necessary to clean the brush...the important thing is to keep it from drying out. So I just wrap the bristles in wet rag (latex) or a rag soaked in paint thinner (oil or varnish)--not dripping wet, just damp--and put it in a ziplock till the next day, or even the next...clean it when the job is done. -- Peggie ---------- Peggie Hall Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987 Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor" http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1 |
"Peggie Hall" wrote in message ... it. I've owned several GOOD paint brushes in assorted sizes for years, for both oil and latex paints....they're expensive, but definitely a worthwhile investment (so is the best quality paint). If I can't finish a job in one "sitting," it's not necessary to clean the brush...the important thing is to keep it from drying out. So I just wrap the bristles in wet rag (latex) or a rag soaked in paint thinner (oil or varnish)--not dripping wet, just damp--and put it in a ziplock till the next day, or even the next...clean it when the job is done. expired lung air has worked for me to keep a brush for a few days, sometimes buy just leaving in the pot and putting the pot in a plastic bag full of expired lung air. I always breath into paint tins before sealing since I read about it here. |
barry lawson wrote:
expired lung air has worked for me to keep a brush for a few days, sometimes buy just leaving in the pot and putting the pot in a plastic bag full of expired lung air. I always breath into paint tins before sealing since I read about it here. Next timw try propane from a torch. It is heavier than air thus driving out the air in the can. Just don't be smoking or have an open flame around when you do itG. Lew |
I've also used the same paint brushes over and over for years. They can be wrapped in plastic and left overnight. To start cleaning I wipe on newspaper, then squeeze between newspaper. Water based brushes are just cleaned in the sink under running water. I press them on the bottom of the sink to squeeze out the paint and hold them upside down under the tap to get the water right up into the base while massaging the bristles. Paint thinner is dribbled onto the bristles of oil based brushes held upside down a few drops at a time, to load the brush, then the bristles are massaged. The brush is wiped on newspaper. All brushes are cleaned and wiped dry with a rag. The rag is worked in and around the bristles to clean and dry the interior of the bistles as well as the outer surface. It's important to get right down to the base of the brush, but not hard enough to spread the bristles permanantly. If the brush is stiff I use a fork to separate the bristles. The brushes are all stored togehter in a plastic bag. I read that natural hair brushes should not be used with water based paint because the water swells the hairs. I don't make a distincion for small fast jobs, but for big jobs where the brush will be wet for a long time I tend to stick with nylon bristles for water based paint. Naturally I buy only the cheapest brushes but they last when taken care of. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ William R Watt National Capital FreeNet Ottawa's free community network homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm warning: non-FreeNet email must have "notspam" in subject or it's returned |
On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:19:13 GMT, Paul Oman
wrote: I recently purchased a very expensive paint brush (hoping it would paint the boat for me!) Anyway, I realized I don't really know how to clean a paint brush.... I dip it in solvent a few times and use a 'brush spinner' - but don't really know if I am doing it right. No big deal with cheap brushes, but the $ ones need to last a while. paul Hi, I found that a pressure washer with the nozzle at a low angle pointing away from the handle works quite well. cheers, Pete. |
Pete C wrote:
I found that a pressure washer with the nozzle at a low angle pointing away from the handle works quite well. I like it, thank you. Lew |
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