How to clean oil paint brushes

http://www.freepaintingproject.com

Get a free 55 minute video at my site!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• how
• to
• clean
• oil
• paint
• brushes
• bill
• alexander
• chad
• marshall
• baby
• bob
• ross

[FORMETOKNOWONLY]

Well, the bristles completely came out -in one solid clump (glad I used a trash brush) when I went to dry it...was soaking a little more than 24 hours. Needless to say I won't be soaking my good brushes.

[PandawdyBob]

@FORMETOKNOWONLY That's terrible. Why do you think that happened? My guess is the oil got into the wood and ruined it?

[FORMETOKNOWONLY]

@PandawdyBob My theory is that it soaked down into the ferrule and loosened the glue holding the hairs in it. I think the key is not letting the brushes soak up to the metal ferrule...but not going to be doing any "soaking" with this method anyway. It was only a ratty cheap brush, I had to know before using this method on my good brushes.

[PandawdyBob]

@FORMETOKNOWONLY I should have mentioned, if you have any brushes with very soft hair, you will want to avoid this method of cleaning. Alexander Art sells a hake brush that's used for blending. The bristles are very soft, and submerging it in baby oil would almost certainly ruin it. It would never be the same again.

[wildmindgirl]

Thank you so much for this tip. I really needed it. Odorless Turpenoid fumes really bother me even in a well ventilated space.

[moonlightgarden12am]

very cool.....how on earth did you know that baby oil would work....its like me just saying...hhhhmmmm i think i will just use crisco oil cus its cheaper.....well you are the artist....i have watched many of your videos and have learned an awful lot....i believe i might start ordering materials from you if that is possible...let me know....

[opcomment]

Where did you get the idea for baby oil? I've never seen that recommended. I use walnut oil for artists but it's not very cheap =)

[FORMETOKNOWONLY]

@PandawdyBob Then it's safe to assume hog hair bristles would be OK. I would think the softer synthetic brushes would get ruined by this method as well (not that I use many of those).

Again, thanks for the demonstration and thanks for the talk back on my replies...it has been helpful.

[PandawdyBob]

@FORMETOKNOWONLY Cool I would really like to know how that turns out. I don't think the bristles will flare out, but I think they could become weak and bend easily.

[FORMETOKNOWONLY]

@PandawdyBob I am conducting an experiment with some of my ratty brushes...(they have been soaking for 24 hours) Will let you know what happens to them--if hairs fall out or if there is any flaring.

[PandawdyBob]

@FORMETOKNOWONLY I am guessing that you do this as a means of conditioning the brush? With baby oil, it's not really necessary. The oil never really dries. So it's like cleaning and conditioning at the same time.

[FORMETOKNOWONLY]

@PandawdyBob I have a brush hanger that suspends the brush where it doesn't touch the bottom of the jar...i do this with turps and it works...but you think the baby oil would weaken the hairs if only soaking up to the ferrule?