Cleaning up - Cleaning Brushes

[Guest]

Hi

Just wondering what things people use for clean up etc.

I know that Tamiya Acrylic thinner for Tamiya Paints works best etc etc, but what other things do people use or find works well for Acrylics, Enamels etc etc

Thanks

Greig

[Guest]

Daft as it sounds a good rule of thumb is the right cleaner for the right paint.

Acrylic paint can actually be washed off with water but you are quite correct in saying that Tamiya thinners is better. That is a very good example to prove to yourself that the right stuff is worth it. As an experiment put some Tamiya acrylic paint on a brush, wipe it off then wash it with water. You will be quite happy it is clean enough then dip the brush in Tamiya thinners and see how much more paint you can get out of the brush.

Generally I use the manufacturers thinners for thier own paints although, of course for certain paints such as enamels basic white spirit is basically as good.

You will also find that some manufacturers make thinners and cleaner which may sound a bit daft but the two are differrent. It is importnat for thinners that the rate of evaporation of the thinners is the same as that of the paint otherwise the paint density will vary with time as one evaporates faster than the other. Cleaner on the other hand is an aggresive a solvent as can be made to remove all the paint from the brush so it should not be used as a thinners.

[Guest]

Thanks for the quick detailed reply.

I realised that i had forgotten what i had done in the dim distant past on this subject! I will place an order i think for a decent selection of thinners and cleaners and stop trying to adapt things!

Greig

[wonwinglo]

Now a tip for longevity of brushes which has been used by practising artists for years,by all means use the appropiate thinners depending on what type of paint you are using,but do not think that will clean your bruses in a sound fashion,it will not ! you see paint wriggles its way down to the ferrule of the brush no mater how good a quality or make,after a while it builds up so much that the hairs become caked at the ferrule and no matter how much you soak the brush it will not shift the debris.

There is a very simple solution to all of this,after painting rub some ordinary soap into the palm of your hand,now swish the bristles around and just see the amount of colour still within the brush that the thinners has left,this is the paint that does the damage,rinse through a few times repeating the procedure and finally shape up the bristles by hand,place the brush bristles upwards into a container such as a jam jar etc,all ready for next time you want to paint.

Forget the brush cleaners on the market,they are ok for a quick removal of some paint,but do the job properly and your valuable brushes will last for years.

PS-Dont forget this also applies to those expensive household brushes and paint rollers as well,use the same technique.

[Guest]

Now that i didn't know! :music_too

Thanks for that!! Will try it.

Greig