Do's and don'ts

Chopper_Read

Leif wrote: »

Yeah, I used to dip my hair in paint, then drag it along the walls, until I discovered brushes.

You can Google BrushMate. Basically it is a plastic box with a lid, containing a vapour pad which stops the oil paint from drying. So you store the brush overnight in the box, ready for use the next day/week/month. I recently opened mine to find a brush still there, months after I last did some painting, and it was fine. It is so much easier than washing in white spirits each day. Obviously you do eventually have to wash the brush the conventional way, and the pads have a limited lifetime. They are ~£4 each, so not cheap, but worth it. A lot of pros use them.

You just need to be careful what brushes you use in them.

Leif

Chopper_Read wrote: »

You just need to be careful what brushes you use in them.

According to the maker, brushes with copper and brass components are to be avoided. Works fine with my Purdys.

pandora205

I've found a Dandy Pro brush and roller cleaner very useful (but you need a drill to use it).

Chopper_Read

Leif wrote: »

According to the maker, brushes with copper and brass components are to be avoided. Works fine with my Purdys.

Unfinished handles are advised too.

Leif

Chopper_Read wrote: »

Unfinished handles are advised too.

Didn't see that said. What is your experience?

cyclonebri1

Leif wrote: »

According to the maker, brushes with copper and brass components are to be avoided. Works fine with my Purdys.

Not cleaning my shotguns in one ;)


Ok, never used any cleaning gadget, obviously useful to some, but I just avoid any brushes that don't have S/S ferrules, leave them in water overnight if painting the same paint next day, (non S/S will rust even in that short time), then spirit clean after.

Again like lots of other instances there is no correct answer, mainly personal preference dependant on priorities.

flashnazia

Don't use 'silk' paint.

Leif

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Not cleaning my shotguns in one

You'd best hang on to your shot gun given your recent comments on scratching cars.

As an aside, what would you recommend to clean small bitumen stains from plastic storage boxes? I think white spirit does the job, but I was hoping for something less unpleasant e.g. meths.

jee

Use good quality brushes and rollers. I think screwfix might have offers.
Fabric conditioner is good for restoring dry horrible brushes. add a drop to water and soak.

anotherbaldrick

If the wife wants to help suggest she does the insides of cupboards etc . If you use a water based paint you can stand her in the shower afterwards.