Brush rest / soaker

Why? It makes no sense what you're trying to achieve. Simply clean and shape as it dries by standing your brushes upright. You can make your own by taking a simple 2 x 4 drilling holes for your brushes.

That's what I've been doing.  But I'd like to just churn through brushes as necessary and then clean them all at the end of the session.  And yes, I have an upright brush stand.

There are doo-dads with a spring thingy where the brushes can be dandled in or above the thinner of your choice

Another option is a wet palette   to lay your brushes on...

I have a 1 x 3 border around the perfboard on the back of my bench. I drilled a series of 1/8 inch holes in the top piece, and I stick the handles into one of those holes when I am done cleaning a brush.  That is the storage for my brushes, and keeps them off of the bench and the bristles free and open.

JohnMatt

Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered the little tray, it was only $6. If it doesn't work out I can always try something less 'home-made'.

 

Less "homemade"? I'd rather grab a scrap 2 x 4 and drill holes for my brushes than spend money on a brush holder. LOL!

BlackSheepTwoOneFour

Less "homemade"? I'd rather grab a scrap 2 x 4 and drill holes for my brushes than spend money on a brush holder. LOL!

I am in the fortunate position of having an extra six dollars.

Yes, your method will certainly hold brushes upright, but it would fail to help me soak them in cleaner.  But I'm glad it works for you.

Interesting idea, I wonder if extended soaking in ammonia does anything to the quality of the bristles or the binder that holdes them together in the handle?

Personally, I think it's just better for one's health to get up from the work bench and go wash the brushes.  Long sessions of sitting aren't good, at least not for me.

regards,

Jack

Hi

What you need is called a "brush keeper" as a Coach painter I used these for years, they are essentially a container with the paint thinner that has a rod that sits over the top, the brushes would have a hole drilled into the handle which allowed the brushes to hang suspended from the rod into the thinner,  some keepers even hand lids.

Obviously, you can't drill holes in your brushes but you could attach them to the rod with pegs / bluetack / tape / clips, whatever, hope this helps.

jgeratic

Interesting idea, I wonder if extended soaking in ammonia does anything to the quality of the bristles or the binder that holdes them together in the handle?

Personally, I think it's just better for one's health to get up from the work bench and go wash the brushes.  Long sessions of sitting aren't good, at least not for me.

regards,

Jack

 

Yeah that...

I would never leave brushes sitting in thinner for extended time. My guess, it may break down the bristles and make them coarse. Personally, I wouldn't leave it in cleaning solvent for any long period of time. Just clean, shape and let dry. I'm not sure why or what you're trying to achieve by leaving the brushes in solvent until next brush session. It just seem strange to me or you're overthinking in taking good care of your brushes. I don't know.

Apparently, I've been misunderstood.  The brushes will sit in windex for an hour or so at most, the duration of the session.  Then I clean them all up at the end.

I thought I stated that plainly enough, but it would appear not.

How about using a small jar (I use a fig spread jar) and lay something like a popsicle stick across the top. Then use a clothespin to attach the brush at the correct height, suspending it in the appropriate cleaning solution? If you want to get fancy, create a cross of upright sticks with notches to lock it in place on the top of the jar.

Your original picture looks a lot like a soap dish.  You could probably pick one up at a dollar store.  I have a small Tupperware container that looks similar and it has an air tight lid so you could leave Windex in it between uses.

Don

In that case, I think you need to find some silicon gripper thing, similar to what we have for our shower squeegee, except small. 

I finally found something that I think will work around Amazon 

Cable Clips, Magnetic Data Line Cable Management Suitable for Home & Desk & Car - Charging Storage Hub 

if you have a place to mount it over the container of cleaning solution.