the painted surface
Tool and Paint Brush Care
Good tools and paint brushes are investments, and when cared for, they will last a very long time. Cheap, one time use equipment is mostly a waste of money. Top quality tools and paint brushes will only cost a few dollars more, but will perform better and could last a lifetime. A quality paint brush or roller cover will paint many, many rooms and frames, putty knives and work pots can easily last your lifespan. Once bought they will be around for future jobs, no running out to buy them again. Quality tools and paint brushes have these advantages:
- They are cheaper in the long run
- Better performance
- Last longer
- Available to use again
- Easier to use
The care of your tools will determine how well and how long you enjoy the investment of buying quality tools and brushes. We hope the following tips will help:
How To Clean Paint Brushes
- Keep the paint on the brush wet. Stand the paint brush in the work pot during idle moments, not laid across the top. During long breaks, wrap the brush in a wet cloth or in aluminum foil if using oil-based paints.
- During cleaning use a wire brush or brush comb to loosen dried paint.
- Wash water-based paint using warm water, finish with clean soapy water and leave the brush moist with the soapy water. The soap helps to keep the paint brush soft and pliable.
- To clean oil-based paint use mineral spirits.
- Natural bristle brushes can be sprayed with WD-40 after cleaning to keep them from drying out.
- Water based paint may not completely wash out of a brush. A wash with alcohol will clean out the residue, then wash with soapy water.
- Comb out the bristles to straighten them and store the brush in it's cover or wrap in newspaper to retain the shape of the brush. See the photo to see a brush comb made for paint brushes.
- Hang the brush to allow water and solvents to drain down, out of the ferrule.
TIP!!! If you often paint with oils, you can save a lot of cleaning solution by reusing the mineral spirits. Here's how! Have three containers of mineral spirits, a first brush wash, a second and a third. The first container will be the dirtiest, the second, not so, and the third will be fairly clean. The brush is cleaned, using each solution in that order. After the third wash the brush should be ready to store. (Some paints or brushes may require a fourth cleaning, but three is usually enough.) This method works because after a day or so most of the paint will have separated from the solvent and settled to the bottom of each container and then it can be used again. Store solvents in a safe and secure place, they are harmful and flammable.
