Newbie questions

[SynShadowzz]

I was just curious as to what methods you guys use to clean your brushes? I feel like I'm burning through too much thinner cleaning the brushes.

Should I keep one brush dedicated to each color?

What method should I use for holding small parts while I brush-paint them?

Any tips for cementing?

Thank you in advance!

[62rebel]

get a tall bottle of thinner/brush cleaner and keep it just for cleaning brushes. don't use it for thinning ANY paint after that. keep a separate bottle of thinner for thinning purposes. lots of guys use small gator clips for holding parts, i use clothespins. cementing, i.e., takes on a lot of permutations. i'll confine myself to solvent-based "glue" and solvent "cement". red tube Testors has it's place, where it can't be seen or smeared on surfaces. the best way to use it is to place a small pool on an index card and transfer the amount needed with a toothpick. liquid cement is easiest to use with a brush; fit the parts together and let the solvent flow into the gaps. it sets quickly and won't shrink over time as red testor's tube glue will.

gator clips can be found at Radio Shack and in WalMart's automotive section. glue them onto bamboo skewers, and keep a block of styrofoam handy to stick them into while the paint on the part dries.

a brush dedicated to each color would get expensive and time consuming after a while; just keep them clean and the bristles straight.

once you've collected a bunch of brushes, you can start modifying them for specific purposes, like cutting down bristles for painting trim.

[VW Dave]

For enamel paints, my brush cleaner of choice for decades has been Ronsonol lighter fluid(in the blue & yellow container); it's as effective as thinner, but a fraction of the cost. Another key to making it last is keeping it closed unless you're cleaning brushes; evaporation is a major problem with any solvent. I have a 'rededicated' jelly jar for my brush cleaner vat that has served me well for many years so far. Don't leave brushes standing in your cleaner, as the bristles will quickly develop a 'hockey stick' bent appearance. Proper brush maintenance can save you money and yield many years of service; I have inexpensive Testors brushes that are more than old enough to vote.

For holding small parts for painting, IMO clothespins are the most versatile...and inexpensive....tool. I've modified many of them for specific jobs by cutting or shaping the ends with my Dremel or my mini cutoff saw.

Specific brushes for specific colors? Overkill. If you clean them properly after each use, you can avoid color contamination. I have fine-tipped brushes for specific detail jobs, but not for specific colors.

[crazyjim]

All the above for brush painting. I use the cheapo lacquer thinner from Wal-Mart for cleaning brushes no matter what paint I use.

[Art Anderson]

  On 2/1/2012 at 1:28 PM, VW Dave said:

For enamel paints, my brush cleaner of choice for decades has been Ronsonol lighter fluid(in the blue & yellow container); it's as effective as thinner, but a fraction of the cost. Another key to making it last is keeping it closed unless you're cleaning brushes; evaporation is a major problem with any solvent. I have a 'rededicated' jelly jar for my brush cleaner vat that has served me well for many years so far. Don't leave brushes standing in your cleaner, as the bristles will quickly develop a 'hockey stick' bent appearance. Proper brush maintenance can save you money and yield many years of service; I have inexpensive Testors brushes that are more than old enough to vote.

For holding small parts for painting, IMO clothespins are the most versatile...and inexpensive....tool. I've modified many of them for specific jobs by cutting or shaping the ends with my Dremel or my mini cutoff saw.

Specific brushes for specific colors? Overkill. If you clean them properly after each use, you can avoid color contamination. I have fine-tipped brushes for specific detail jobs, but not for specific colors.

If you like Ronsonol, you will love the price of it as its generic name: NAPTHA (seriously, that is what cigarette lighter fluid is, always has been!). You can get naptha in quarts or gallons at places such as Walmart, home improvement stores, even your friendly local paint stores (the ones that sell like, house paint).

Art