Brushes Recommendations

Phil_H

You may wish to use a sealable airtight container for long-term storage too, particularly if you use high-grade natural fibre sable brushes. Moths, cockroaches and lots of little creepy-crawly things love to eat them.

When you store your brushes like this (which seems like a good suggestion), do you store with them laying on their side?  What is the consensus on store flat on their side vs. store upright (brush end up)?

Thanks, Rick

You may wish to use a sealable airtight container for long-term storage too, particularly if you use high-grade natural fibre sable brushes. Moths, cockroaches and lots of little creepy-crawly things love to eat them.

Nothing pisses me off more than a errant hair sticking out from the rest. It always finds a way to smear paint onto a surface I didn't want it on. So the best way to remedy that is to trim them away. Scissors are too big so nipping tweezers are just the ticket. I also use them to trim the split or frayed ends of the bristles of the brush.

Store your brushes properly too. I keep mine in drawer because I can, this keeps them from getting dusty. You can store them in a brush rack too. Covered is not necessary but again it helps keep them clean. My methods have evolved just as my bench management and storage has.

I'm not sure how Gerald does his, but after using my brushes I "wash" them with some brush soap/conditioner that you can get in a little tin at the art store. A little  will last a long time for the size brushes we use. Some people use regular old shower-type hair conditioner instead .  Keeps the bristles from drying out from the solvents. Once they are clean, smooth out the bristles to a point and put them back in the little plastic tube that they are in when you buy them.

"Be sure to properly care for them"

What does this mean in relation to the picture of the brush with tweezers?

The best thing to do is visit your local craft store and look in the brush aisle. There you'll find brushes made to works specifically with certain paints. Find those that are suited for the paint you plan on using. Don't go cheap! A paint brush is a tool and you want a quality tool that will last.

Pick yourself out a selection of various shapes and sizes. Nothing too big! You're not painting a house or the walls inside one.  You can never have enough brushes!

Be sure to properly care for them too!