Maintaining paint brushes

Apr 19, 2022 Last reply: 4 years ago 12 Replies

I have just finished applying primer/undercoat to several doors. The brushes were easily cleaned with just water.



I am about to start on the top coat which is a gloss. The instructions say to clean the brushes with brush cleaner (which I have).



If the brushes have to be left, say overnight between operations, is there a recommended way of keeping them from drying out without having to clean them each time?



I wrap them in cling film.

John

Wrap them in clingfilm for overnight storage but I use cellulose thinners to clean brushes. It used to be possible to buy 5 litres of 'gunwash' which was recycled thinners and much cheaper but this is no longer available (where I live).

5 litres of normal thinners lasts ages and gets all the paint out of the brush, especially any that has worked its way up into the section under the handle.

My decorator always puts them in a jam jar of water. It seems to work perfectly.

Bill

With a layer of aluminium foil on top of it. Keeping oxygen out and the solvent in is crucial to not ending up with a rigid mess.

I'm guessing he uses oil based paint?

Yup, wrap them up in cling film... they will typically last several days between uses that way if required.

Thank you. The perfect solution.

For the water-based undercoat, I wrapped tyhem in wetted J-cloths and kept them in a cool place.

Regards, Alan

Tight fitting plastic bag, exclude as much air as possible. It's the same with rollers.

If it is a water based paint a brush cleaner is water!

pinnerite expressed precisely :

A sandwich bag wrapped tightly around, with an elastic band round the handle to keep it tight.

Once I'm convinced it's airtight I put it in the freezer. SWMBO hasn't spotted one yet ;)

Andy

Vir Campestris brought next idea :

Good idea, it makes opened tubes of superglue last longer too.

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