Keeping glue brush clean

Wings_of_Ambition

Hiya,

Having gone a bit artsy-fartsy recently, I need a bit of advice on glue. I've had a look at the other gluey threads on OS but they're more for emergencies (i.e. getting it off clothes, superglued fingers, etc!). My question is this. I'm using a pastry brush to spread glue on my masterpiece, but find that, unsurprisingly, the bristles get clumped together and make the brush a bit usless when the glue dries. Is there anything I can put the brush in when I'm not using it, that will perhaps dissolve the glue, or at least stop the bristles from sticking to each other!

Your ideas appreciated

WoA

Debt_Free_Chick

Depends on the glue. If it's water soluble, then simply soaking the brush in warm soapy water should do it. Otherwise, you'll need some kind of solvent (e.g. white spirit).

However, as you're using a pastry brush, remember that the bristles are glued into the brush - so anything you use to remove glue is likely to result in the bristles falling out completely!

[Deleted User]

When I have been using paint brushes I clean them under the tap (if emulsion) then wrap them in clingfilm .it keeps them soft and I ain't lost one yet in 40 odd years .They are too expensive to replace ,,it's my scots heritage, I'm just too mean to waste money.
I do the same with gloss paint ,but obviously I clean them with turps first.

SallyinWales

Depending on what you are working on, you may get even better results with a glue spreader (cut strips out of a dead washing up bottle for example), the flexible plastic 'spatula' applies a super even thin film of glue, and you can either bin them at the end of a session or peel the glue off once its dry.

Jay-Jay_4

JackieO wrote:

When I have been using paint brushes I clean them under the tap (if emulsion) then wrap them in clingfilm

That's what I do too.

For very fine brushes (pure sable etc) I always suck the end to get a nice point too, then put a protective tube on them.

I used to get really cross with people who left paint brushes in water.... it's still gets to me and woe betide my 6 yr old daughter if she dares do it