Proper way to clean sable paint brush?

Hello!

I don't think I have too much authority here, but I'm afraid that bristle sticking out could have had an "accident" before - it often happens when you put that little "pipe" on the brush, meant to protect it - bristles often get caught between the handle and the "pipe" damaging it. I'm not sure if it can be repaired. You might try leaving some extra soap on the brush to dry to hold all the bristles together, to try to "teach them the correct shape. Wash the soap out before using the brush again. Hope it helps, good luck with your projects

Paweł

I don't know if I can be called an "authority" about paint brushes or not but I can tell you this; a natural bristle paint brush (often referred to as a "sable" brush) should NEVER be placed in water, or water-based paint.  I've been a painter for many years.  I started working for a painting contractor (my mom's brother) when I was in high school in the late 1960s.   I have cleaned literally thousands of paint brushes since then and can tell you that natural bristle brushes are made for 'oil"-based paints, or any paint that has to be cleaned with a solvent.

Polyester or nylon brushes can be used with oil-based paint but they are really made for water-based or acrylic paint.  A bristle brush placed in water or acrylic pant will start to have split bristles, spreading out from the brush.  That brush is ruined then.  Pawel is correct that a single bristle or maybe even a few can get caught when replacing the little tube to protect the brush.  I've had that happen several times.  The "offending" bristle can be cut away from the ferrule of the brush with a sharp knife and not really diminish its effectiveness.   But, using sable brushes in acrylic paint will do them in pretty quickly.  Oh, they may not be affected immediately, but it will happen.  If you are an acrylic paint user, please seek out brushes made for that paint if you want them to last.

Gary

Yeah,you can clip away the errant bristle. I normally put the brush in my mouth ( after it's clean) and draw it out to a point.and I never put those little tubes back on for that reason.

Interesting convo.  

No mater what kind of paint or brushes I use, I always clean my brushes with acetone. I've done this for the entire year that I have restarted my modeling hobby and so far have had no problems with any of my paint brushes. They're all still like brand new, even the sable ones.

I do have to pipe in here :

      Okay ,now ,if you spend money for good brushes ,you should try to know in advance what that brush or brushes are meant for .Sable , and in my case some mink and chinchilla brushed were inherited from my late wife .They were ONLY used in OIL paints or OIL based paints .I have some of my own that are almost twenty years old .Now , I do have newer brushes made for water based paints .

   You don't know this and few do .Nylon has come so far ,you can get a perfectly smooth paint job with one using acrylics. What most folks don't know is the mfgrs. of these latter brushes use a very cheap form of ferrule that is made of supposedly stainless  .Well a low grade anyway .Why? Well when you use it , I am sure you wouldn't want rust in the paint now ,would you?.This is the way they think .

      In cleaning Any brush , Don't put it in the bottom of the container ,pressing down on it to help clean the brush,while you twirl it .That is a No-No with any brush ! Gently rinse it alongside to side of the container near the top and keep moving it in the manner like you are trying to paint the inside of the container .When clear liquid ,Water ,or Thinner come out of the brush. You are ready.

       Now, gently stroke it on the paper towel you got for this, till no color comes out of it . If it is a round brush of whatever size, you may insert in your mouth and gently ( like you are trying to whistle ) draw it out getting a little fluid on it ,as you do this you will be shaping it . Take your flat brushes and Make sure the flat side of the ferrule matches the bristles and run between wetted fingers making sure you don't draw them together at the end of the bristle .You want them to spread the distance they are supposed to be .Let them dry Bristles up in a pen and pencil stand you can get at any office department or store . Good luck .      T.B.

Yup TB, I do all of the above, I actually learned these brush cleaning techniques from my sister way back when she was an art major.  (except for the acetone of course )

Is there a difference on the quality of acetone based on price or can the cheap ones be as good? Does cleaning using acetone (I'm assuming by soaking it and pressing it on the side of the container) keeps the round brush in shape? Do you still have to wash the brush with water to get the acetone off?

I'm no chemist, but I assume acetone is acetone. I would rinse it water after,especially if I was gonna put it in my mouth as mentioned above. On another note, I've found brushes ( if properly cared for )

Get better with age. You sort of have to train them..I might be behind the times,I've always used sable,sounds like synthetics have come a long way.

I use acetone bought fom Home Depot or Lowe's because it's the cheapest I've found in pint cans  I've found no difference in the chemical between brands, even finger nail polish remover ( it's the same stuff but pricier )

I don;t rinse with water or anything after cleaning brushes with it.  I never leave the brushes, especially synthetic in acetone.  Just swish around and against the sides of my container until clean and wipe them off.  So far, no probs, they're all still like new

Hey ;

       Unless you've just painted lacquer with it .This is a No-No with Natural Expensive brushes . Camel hair okay , Sable No . Never use acetone to clean a brush ! . You can clean them about once a year this way. Then Deeply and Carefully wash them with Mild Soap and water solution that is only slightly warm. Then Dry and shape them and put them bristle up , as I've said to finish air drying .

       You can keep a trained brush in good shape for years . When it ages ,You may have to change what you use it for and then you can modify or clip it to your needs . Two of my best Sable brushes from over twenty years ago are now pounce brushes for texturing flat paint ( like in a model car Vinyl top ) . That is why my brushes have lasted so long . I do try not to leave any chemical residue in them .     T.B.