Any tips on brush cleaning for hard brushes? Oil soap? Bob Ross brush cleaner?
I use Ross thinner in a plastic pot with a wire mesh I cut and shaped. I also use a cheap metal cutlery rack as the pinsel rack in a plastic bin.
Any tips on brush cleaning for hard brushes? Oil soap? Bob Ross brush cleaner?
I use Ross thinner in a plastic pot with a wire mesh I cut and shaped. I also use a cheap metal cutlery rack as the pinsel rack in a plastic bin.
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Yes, i have been having brush cleaning issues since changing to water mixable oils, the paint washes out with water but the linseed oil does not despite also being water mixable ,it leaves the brushes clean but stiff,I have no desire to revert back to spirits but i have heard that regular household soap (sunlight) is good so will be picking some of this up from the supermarket next visit.
Did I mention before? you can use kitchen grease remover on synthetic brushes. For natural ones it may damage the bristles. I do it in my 1 inch Bob Ross brushes time to time, but super quick though, as I find it the best thing so far.
Here is the link and you can find something similar. Easy Off Specialty Kitchen Degreaser Cleaner, 16 fl oz Bottle (Pack of 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BMZXTHJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_H4A6QDH9DP43JRSSXAKT
I personally love using my homemade mix. It’s super simple, though takes some getting used to. I like to wipe my brushes on an old rag then in to my homemade cleaner. I have found it to even pull old dry paint out of my natural and synthetic brushes. I want to write an article on it soon but haven’t yet. My recipe is as follows:
In a ratio of water: vegetable oil, canola oil: soap.
I use filtered water to avoid calcium build up but distilled water has no minerals so it’s less advised, since the minerals do actually help in this case. For the vegetable oil, I have used standard vegetable oil as well as canola, no differences. And for the soap I actually use a 50/50 standard kitchen soap for hard grease buildup, and pure Castile soap of any brand. Citrus works best though it doesn’t matter much.
The ratio for water:oil:soap will be 4:2:1. Make as much or as little as you want and bask in your soapy scents! Much better than mineral spirits or odorless paint thinner and cheaper as well! It does take a little longer to scrub those brushes but they will be in much better shape than using the standalone paint thinner and no conditioner. Plus, now harmful chemicals, ever.
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Even I hate turpentine due to presence of hazard chemicals, i think it is the strongest and better solvent. You may search one in DIY stores in house paints department. This will be cheaper option. Use it outside though. Turpentine - is a substance made of trees not oil. Also if you search Jacksonsart website (awesome one) I posted a link on the forum, there are few other solvents that are offered for brush cleaning.
I would suggest to wipe your hard brush with a towel/rag/etc and soak overnight and then use glowes to massage bristles as paint is accumulated near ferrule and rinse few times and dry. Wrap the can with solvent and brush in it in plastic bag for overnight.