Did I ruin my brush?

[MBerg]

This is how my brush looks most of the time. It was just cleaned. I noticed there's a bit of paint at the base of the bristles which may have caused this. I'm not sure how - I don't let paint dry on it, keep it wet, wash it immediately after. I only put paint on the very tip, but it quickly travelled up the bristles and always saturates the whole brush.

 

I feel way out of my element when painting like it's an entirely separate hobby with text books worth of information. I had a mental block when I got to painting this model, but am trying to push through it now.

[GrandpaPhil]

Brushes will stain.  Especially with a flat brush, that is just fine.

[Jack12477]

My son is a professional painter, when he cleans his brushes he also uses a wire brush to get the paint out of the bristles, brush from the handle straight towards the brush tip. Use the small brass brushes. The wire brush does not damage the bristles. You can also use Artists soap, it's like a saddle soap. See example below

 

 

Edited yesterday at 10:14 PM by Jack12477

[petervisser]

For a deep clean of your paint brushes, you might want to try TSP which you can purchase at Canadian Tire, seeing as you're in Canada. Give give the paint brushes a soak overnight using the recommendations on the container and rinse with water. I hope this is a help.

Cheers, Peter

[druxey]

You will need an appropriate solvent to clear the heel of the brush. If it is acrylic paint, soaking in isopropanol (rubbing alcohol) will do it. For oil-based paint, something like acetone - but only in a well ventilated space, please!

[MBerg]

Thank you all! Yes, acrylic so luckily the 'easiest' option. I'll try some of the solvents mentioned and soaking.

 

I have that brush soap and it's great, it just didn't save the deep stuff on this one (I think I got it after a few paintings). I'll check out some brass brushes to help down the road.

[Jack12477]

Make sure you clean the brush with soap/water/solvent as best you can before you wire brush it. The wire brush is used to remove any remaining paint build-up from the bristles and to straighten them.  

[wefalck]

I don't want to question the professionalism of Jack's son, but I would have doubts using a wire brush on an artist's hair-brush. The hairs are just too delicate.

 

It is quite normal that paint wicks into the hair inside the ferrule, even if you don't dip the brush down to the ferrule into the paint. As long as the solidified part does not extend beyond, this has no practical consequences.

 

The best advice for getting the paint out of the ferrule was already given above: the appropriate solvent.

 

It is also quite normal that a wet flat brush looks like in the picture above. Once clean and dry, the hairs will separate again.

 

Personally, I find brush-painting acrylics over larger surfaces quite difficult. Perhaps a 'retarder' can keep the paint longer workable, resulting in better surfaces. I normally use an air-brush.

 

[MBerg]

Appreciate the additional comments. I don't have a wire brush at the moment anyways. It's been soaking overnight, I'll clean it up and take a look shortly.

 

Good to know it's generally not a big concern.

 

3 hours ago, wefalck said:

Personally, I find brush-painting acrylics over larger surfaces quite difficult. Perhaps a 'retarder' can keep the paint longer workable, resulting in better surfaces. I normally use an air-brush.

I just ordered some proper thinner, retarder and some better paint (been using ME kit paint). I expect these to make things a bit easier, but thinking ahead, I keep wondering if investing in an airbrush would be worthwhile.

 

I'm only working on small boats so far and in already predicting some issues with larger projects.