Cleaning Ferrules

[Maron]

Despite my best attempts to avoid it happening I have ended up getting some paint in the ferrule of my new Series 7 :~(. I was painting late last night and must not have cleaned the brush well enough and it is visible around the rim of the ferule now.

My question is how to remedy the situation as I don\'t want the bristles to start spreading...

Is it a really stupid idea to use some white spirit or turps on the brush? Or will repeated soap and water washes help it out?

I was never really sure even having read the articles of brush cleaning how aggressive to be in the cleaning.

 

[Friar]

I don\'t have anything above a $4 brush but I give em periodic cleanings using a liquid brush soap I have, I just gently massage the bristles always working inline with the brush so I don\'t frazzle it while cleaning. I prefer a gentle approach kinda firm but not ruff I figure I\'d rather spend a few extra moments cleaning then beat em up. It takes a few minutes and a couple rinse and resoap but I\'ll start seeing lil chunks of paint come out on my fingers. Just remember cool water, hot water will soften the glue holdin the brush and cause issues. Hope this helps

 

[mattrock]

I use master\'s brush soap and actually work it into my brushes with my fingers. Even on really munged up brushes where the bristles have all split I can get them back to close to new condition with a few cleanings with this stuff.

Just lather it up really nicely and then roll the brush back and forth with your thumb and index finger right at the ferrule. You don\'t really want to bend the bristles too drastically, but rolling it between your fingers seems to do the trick.

 

[freakinacage]

brush soap. clean then rinse. then clean and leave ti all lathered up for a day. should get most of it out. if not, you\'re screwed (And not in the good way)

 

[Dragonsreach]

If it\'s really bad (and I mean really really really bad) there is the Last Choice recovery of Acetone wash followed by brush soap.

Only had to do that once due to an over enthusiastic young lad in GW store while doing a demo. Bless him he\'s a reasonable painter now, so I hold no grudges.
(Oh and if you do go down that road be Bl***y careful of the Acetone. Don\'t try to brush lick until at least a week after you\'ve cleaned it.
The voice of bitter experience)

 

[airhead]

Winsor & Newtons brush cleaning fluid. Put a clip on the brush and set it so the metal of the furrel just is in the liquid.

Let is soak for a couple of hours, then give it a good rinse and some brush soap.

Do not let it go below touching the furrel. That stuff will take the chrome plating off will take the black laquer off the handle.

 

[Maron]

Originally posted by Dragonsreach
If it\'s really bad (and I mean really really really bad) there is the Last Choice recovery of Acetone wash followed by brush soap.
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It is not so bad. Only really slightly there. I am just being over protective of the new brush maybe but perhaps that is a good thing.

I know it is so often spouted it must be a cliche by now but the difference a good brush makes! I can\'t believe I got by with my three year old GW brushes for so long.

I bought a 1, a 0 and a 00 as I had to mail order them and wasn\'t sure of the sizes and the 1 is just amazing. I can pretty much do all the details with just that because the tip is so good. Don\'t think I will ever use the 00.

Once again thanks to you all for your advice. I will make a trip to the stationary store tomorrow to see if I can find some decent brush soap.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Maron
Despite my best attempts to avoid it happening I have ended up getting some paint in the ferrule of my new Series 7 :~(. I was painting late last night and must not have cleaned the brush well enough and it is visible around the rim of the ferule now.

Just to be clear, this is at the base of the hairs, right where they meet the ferrule?

Because if you get any paint on the ferrule itself you can just scrape it off with a fingernail

Originally posted by Maron
Is it a really stupid idea to use some white spirit or turps on the brush?

Neither is a solvent for acrylic or vinyl paints. Alcohols of all types (even strong vodka will work) or acetone will soften or dissolve the dried paint.

Remember for the future: rinse thoroughly and often during painting. This really helps prevent buildup.

Also use a double-bath system and put a squirt of dishwashing liquid in at least the first container (you might or might not want it in the second one as it acts as a flow improver/flow release).

Einion