Vallejo Acrylics and cleanup

[Evan August]

I decided to get some Vallejo paints, and I recieved them today. What do you guys use to clean your brushes when you're done painting for the day? Water, or any special thinner/cleaner? Thanks.

 

[megroot]

Hello Evan,

I use water with a soft soap. Make sure you clean the whole brush. Paint stays often close to the grip. (hope it is clear).
After cleaning with soap clean the brush again with water untill all the soap is gone, then set them with the hair to the sky for drying.
Better is to make a point to the brush and put them back into the plastic sheet that came with the brush.

marc

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Evan

As a precautionary measure, after doing as Marc said above every time I finish painting. I tend to also clean my sable brushes in cellulose thinners as this gets rid of any small amounts of paint right at the base of the hairs near the grip, this is done not very often. I do 5 at a time, then wash them in warm soapy water right away, the thinners will not affect the sable brushes but may affect the nylon brushes, if you use any......?

Hope this helps

Dave

 

[quang]

For years, I'm using MASTER'S BRUSH CLEANER.

It's a special mild soap designed just for that purpose. Some of the 'general purpose' household soaps contain abrasive elements which can harm and 'splay' the hair of your brushes.

It's cheap (2-3 USD/EUR) and it works!

MASTER'S BRUSH CLEANER


Our French members can also use the 'savon de Marseille' which is basically the same product.

HTH

Q.

 

[Roy]

Quang....that is really good cleaner, just add a drop of water...it's amazing how much comes out of your brushes...with oils too...and leaves them conditioned as well I think.

Roy.

 

[pgarri27]

This is a good topic. I do as Marc does, but after reading Quang's reply, I am going to try Master Brush Cleaner. Thanks for the info.
Pete

 

[quang]

Originally posted by Roy@Apr 12 2005, 05:17 AM
...and leaves them conditioned as well I think.

Roy,

I reckon that more than once, I've been tempted to use it on my own hair ... well, what's left of it. :lol:

Q.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Guys

I was told to try some of this stuff, is there anywhere you can get it in the UK...?

Dave

 

[Roy]

Dave...you can pick it up in all sizes from Atlantis in plumbers row, I think you know the place...near brick lane.

I reckon that more than once, I've been tempted to use it on my own hair ... well, what's left of it.

:lol:

All the best.

Roy.

 

[quang]

Hello Dave,

You should find it in every good artists' supplies shop.

Q.

 

[megroot]

Quang,

I think i gonna buy me this afternoon some of this stuff.

Marc

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Guy

I have just been to the Artists shop, just down the road from my place of work, I didn’t realise it would cost so much over here, that little tub was £9.80. But i suppose if you offset the price of all the knackered brushes I could end up with...... it mite make sense to buy it, I was just a bit shocked at the price.....

Dave

 

[Roy]

Blimey Dave....that was a bit over the top....what shop was it...?

Roy.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hey Roy

I think the name was, “Come in and buy something, we are very expensive”, I will try another shop just down the road from my house, that should be cheaper..... :lol:

Dave

 

[Alex M.]

Hey guys,

After a long hiatus, here i am, back again -

I use Windsor and Newton's Brush Cleaner and Restorer for dried acrylic and oil colour - works wonders. You can get it at any art supply store

-Alex

 

[Guayo]

Hi, I use my wifes shampo, I get this tip from my sister she just to paint in canvas, so she past me the tip, plus keep the cover that came with the brushes they help alot.

Eduardo.

 

[Evan August]

Thanks for the tips guys. I'll find the local art supply store and look for some of those products.

 

[Einion]

Hi Evan, here are some general tips that should help your brushes stay cleaner:

Use the largest brush you can to paint everything.
Don't mix paint with your brush as much as possible.
Always dampen a brush before loading with paint.
Rinse the brush out thoroughly during painting every now and then.
Use a double-bath system for brush cleaning - one large jar for washing the bulk of paint out of the bristles and the second for a final rinse, keeping this water for diluting your paint (it will remain clean for extended periods).
For both the jars it's often useful to add a little dishwashing liquid (just a couple of drops per litre) which helps cleaning and acts as a mild flow improver also.

I recommend that you aim to avoid needing to wash your brush with soap after every painting session and if you follow the above you shouldn't have to. The advice to wash a brush each time you use it comes from oil painting where it is much more important to remove the residue of drying oils; they usually use much tougher brushes as well which stand up to this kind of treatment better than sable or Kolinsky rounds.

Originally posted by Figure Mad@Apr 12 2005, 08:47 AM
I tend to also clean my sable brushes in cellulose thinners as this gets rid of any small amounts of paint right at the base of the hairs near the grip, this is done not very often. I do 5 at a time, then wash them in warm soapy water right away, the thinners will not affect the sable brushes but may affect the nylon brushes, if you use any......?

Dave, I wouldn't recommend using solvents this strong on high-quality rounds, it will dramatically shorten their useful life. For removing acrylic and vinyl paint residue methylated spirits, isopropyl alcohol, acetone or ammonia (sceen wash also works well apparenty) are strong enough and in addition to being a lot less damaging to the bristles they also aren't solvents for the lacquer - it's really annoying if any splashes onto the handle as it ruins the smooth finish!

After soaping or using solvents on any sable or Kolinsky brush rinse thoroughly in clean water, then work a little hair conditioner into the bristles, reshape them and leave them to dry. When you're ready to use the brush next time the conditioner will rinse out of the bristles when you wet it prior to loading with paint.

Einion

 

[garyjd]

Einion, Great information on brush cleaning. Nice punk rocker avatar! ~Gary

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by garyjd@Apr 14 2005, 04:29 PM
Nice punk rocker avatar! ~Gary

Hehe, it's supposed to be a Wyandot, guess I need to work on the nose and cheekbones a bit :lol:

Einion