Keeping brushes "fresh" and de-clogged while working....

[Krome10]

Hi all

I've found plenty of info on how to keep paint brushes clean and well maintained AFTER a days work. But I cannot find much about how to do this DURING a days work....

I often use two brushes, for example a small 18 or 25mm sash brush for fiddly bits, and a 1.5 or 2" for main sections. What I find often happening is that when I switch back to the other brush, it has started to dry out already - even after just 10 minutes or so, making it much harder to use.

And another problem...... I find that the brushes get gunkier and more clogged as the day goes on. I never put more than just the tips of the brush into the paint. And I am using good quality brushes (Purdy and Axus Decor). The paint is waterbased.

I wondered what I might be doing wrong? Or is it more a case of I need to be doing something to keep the brushes feeling as good as they do at the start of the day?

Many thanks

Max

 

[Benchwayze]

Just do what oil-painters do Max.

This link will explain.

http://emptyeasel.com/2008/02/13/how-to ... eaner-jar/

Simples. A splash and a quick scrub on the 'grille'. You'll need a piece of rag or kitchen roll to dry off the brush, but you can do this as often as you need whilst working. In your case use water instead of spirit.
HTH

 

[Harbo]

I wrap mine in cling film.

I've see a few videos where the Americans put them back into the solvent and then through a brush press to remove excess liquid.

Rod

 

[AndyT]

That's a good tip John.

Other approaches to the same problem:

1 Bore a hole through the handle so you can suspend a brush in a jar of solvent, using a stiff wire through the hole, across the top of the jar, or

2 Use two spring clothes pegs to hold the brush off the bottom of the jar, or

3 Wrap the bristles in cling film.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I use the cheap supermarket food bags if I'm only dropping the brush for a couple of hours - if you get used to putting the brush in a bag, even if only for a couple of minutes, it'll stay fresh and dirt free.

 

[billybuntus]

Have you tried a brush mate?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brushmate-Trade ... B003N29GA2

 

[Roughcut]

Yes wrap the brush in clingfilm or place in a clean freezerbag, this will stop it drying out and keep the brush clean and dust free.
Also don't forget to place the lid back on the paint tin or cover your paint tray in a plastic bag when not being used as otherwise it will start drying out and this will cause the paint to thicken up.

 

[Benchwayze]

All good tips... But the 'brush cleaner jar' is used mainly for cleaning a brush, between different colours, as an artist paints.

It just occurred to me that it would be useful as well, for cleaning out brushes as you work, to avoid the build up that does happen while painting window frames too!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The problem is that you cannot clean brushes as you go, because if you use them any less than bone dry you'll end up with paint around your elbows, it'll run so badly.

 

[Benchwayze]

Hence a piece of rag in the other hand Phil. It's used to dry the excess spirit, or water. (An old vest is good.)
Standard practice when painting in oils. It has to be, or we'd have a dozen brushes on the go, to facilitate switching colours.

With ordinary painting you're only going to use one colour at a time of course, but frequent swilling of the brush, would maybe help when the final clean-up comes after the job's done.

A tip I had from an old-time painter and decorator; for storage when the brush was not in use.

Drill a hole through the handle just above the ferrule.
Suspend the brush on something like a three inch nail, across the mouth of a jar, with the bristles submerged in linseed oil. It keeps the bristles soft and springy, and is just swilled out in white spirit before you use the brush.