Soap?

[chailey]

Hi all,
I have just read an article on getting the best out of your best sable's by using 'brush soap'?
I have looked on eBay and it's flippin expensive!
Having been painting with enamels and oils since God was a boy I have always been content to end my days modelling with a quick trip to the kitchen sink and use a small drop of Fairy liquid (other washing up products are available), then run the brush under a warm tap.
Have I been doing more harm than good all these years or is this just another cunning plot to extract a few more quid from the poor old hobbyist?

Steve

 

[Nap]

Steve ,

Go to the brokentoad web site mate they have some there

Good as well ....I did a review somewhere for it !

Nap

 

[kagemusha]

A much simpler....and far cheaper alternative....is to buy a bottle of 2 in 1 shampoo with conditioner...if in the UK....a 'pound' shop is the cheapest source
dip the brush in it when you have finished rinsing it out....and reform the point......just remember to rinse it before you use it again

Ron

 

[Nap]

A much simpler....and far cheaper alternative....is to buy a bottle of 2 in 1 shampoo with conditioner...if in the UK....a 'pound' shop is the cheapest source
dip the brush in it when you have finished rinsing it out....and reform the point......just remember to rinse it before you use it again

Ron

Nice one Ron..as you said rinse it again before use but an added bonus is .......the brush doesn't get dandruff!!

Nap

 

[kagemusha]

 

[DEL]

Really important topic and rightly regularly raised. Brushes if poorly cared for can easily become a major recurring expense in our hobby.
Everyone has, through convenience and trial and error, come up with their preferred method of brush care.
Below is Kansas Kids
I use mineral spirits to clean up the brushes. The wash them out in the palm of
my hand, with mild hand soap, at the end of the session. A
container of Mineral Spirits is also available in an "odorless"
version.
....... and here's mine
One small addition to Kansas Kids brush cleaning regime is when you've cleaned your brush and your hands and brushes are both still slightly damp do this.
Have a look at your hand and you'll see the palmistry lines, place your brush in the crease of the heart line, gently close your palm until the hairs are enclosed by the line and draw out towards your pinky whilst keeping palm closed. Repeat a few times until you're satisfied with the point then let the brush dry by hanging with hairs down ......it actually works. I think it's something traditional signwriters do.
One of the best sources of soap is to wash your already clean hands in mild hand soap, rinse the soap and place in one of those soap tray things that women put in the toilet.
The water dripping into the tray will contain just enough soap to dip your brush in before drawing it to a point.
See ..... painting wee figures is sexy how can women resist us with sparkling conversations like this like this ...... feel free to use

 

[Alex]

After an acrylic painting session, I take my Serie 7 brush to the sink.
Use hot water (not burning), rinse, than with my finger nail (yes my nail),
I remove the dry ring of paint at the base of the ferrule,
Then I use hand soap three times and shampoo the hair of the brush,
Then I gently split the hair while looking at dry paint and remove it with soap/water
Final rinse
And that's it..
Please note that the most important thing in all that is to remove all the dry paint at the base of the ferrule otherwise you will end up with a split brush

 

[DaddyO]

Like Alex I use the back of my finger nail to push the bristles away from the ferrule - it's suprising what paint comes out after you think it's clean.

Got my brush cleaner/restorer from the local art shop and it cost about £5 quid which I thought was expensive, but seems to be lasting very well. It's only showing a small depression in the middle after a few months worth of painting so well worth the expense IMO
Cheers
Paul

 

[Blind Pew]

In addition to the above advice, all good, I also use Tesco value hair conditioner. A normal sized bottle costs next to nothing and is probably a lifetime's supply.
Also I use Wilko own brand paint & varnish remover regularly on the brushes. I think it's about a fiver, and again, you'll have to really go some to run out of it in normal usage. I've been amazed at what it's gotten out of apparently clean brushes.

 

[Blind Pew]

I forgot to add, I leave brushes on their side to dry naturally. That way any crap or sludge left won't go down the ferrule and eventually turn the brush all turkey on you.

 

[John Bowery]

I use W/N brush cleaner and restorer after I have cleaned the brush. This will take out the stuff near the ferrule and condition the hairs drawing to a point. I let the brush dry laying flat and rinse the brush before using at the next paint session. The rinse could be water or Turps depending on what I am using to paint with next.
Cheers
John

 

[chailey]

So I take it everybody's saying Fairy liquid is kind on hands but buggers up brushes!
Next stop the baby counter at Boots for shampoo....I'm the wrong side of sixty and as bald as a billiard ball so that will give the assistant something to ponder...

 

[brian]

Really important topic and rightly regularly raised. Brushes if poorly cared for can easily become a major recurring expense in our hobby.
Everyone has, through convenience and trial and error, come up with their preferred method of brush care.
Below is Kansas Kids
I use mineral spirits to clean up the brushes. The wash them out in the palm of
my hand, with mild hand soap, at the end of the session. A
container of Mineral Spirits is also available in an "odorless"
version.
....... and here's mine
One small addition to Kansas Kids brush cleaning regime is when you've cleaned your brush and your hands and brushes are both still slightly damp do this.
Have a look at your hand and you'll see the palmistry lines, place your brush in the crease of the heart line, gently close your palm until the hairs are enclosed by the line and draw out towards your pinky whilst keeping palm closed. Repeat a few times until you're satisfied with the point then let the brush dry by hanging with hairs down ......it actually works. I think it's something traditional signwriters do.
One of the best sources of soap is to wash your already clean hands in mild hand soap, rinse the soap and place in one of those soap tray things that women put in the toilet.
The water dripping into the tray will contain just enough soap to dip your brush in before drawing it to a point.
See ..... painting wee figures is sexy how can women resist us with sparkling conversations like this like this ...... feel free to use

I use white spirits when i've finished ,using my mouth to form a perfect point.Later on, i use Fairy Liquid, and form the point again using my mouth.Now if that's not sexual,i don't know what is!
I use oil paints ,which are far kinder to the brush IMO,as the paint doesn't dry in the brush as easily as acrylics,and i happen to have grown an addiction to white spirit!