Blakes Varnish - Cleaning brushes

[najsmith]

Started the sanding & varnishing a bit late but have noticed Meths is not getting the brushes clean, even after a good overnight soak.

Can anyone recomend something to get them clean. SPending a fortune on brushes and hate throwing things away :-D

 

[Evadne]

I usually use white spirit followed by rubbing in fairy liquid and washing it out a couple of times. For cleaning really expensive brushes (used for painting pictures with) I wouldn't use anything but real turpentine, followed by fairy.
Mind you, he says re-reading the question properly, I've not used Blakes varnish: are they using a funny solvent, and if so have you tried acetone?

 

[najsmith]

DOn't know... Also am rather put off with acetone... not sure how you're expected to safely dispose of it.

 

[Ecosse120]

Wrap in cling film between varnishing and then throw away. I wrapped one in cling film about 7 days ago and it is still fine. That was with Blakes varnish

 

[Keiron]

Blakes do specific thinners for varnishes. It should say on the varnish which they recommend, it does vary. Don't remember them being that expensive either. Just wash out with soapy water after that.

 

[richardandtracy]

Just prior to selling a house Tracy & I painted the house over a 2 week period without once washing the brushes or rollers. All the rooms had white ceilings, peach walls and white woodwork. On the woodwork we used separate rollers for the gloss and undercoat. Every wall surface was painted at least twice, and all woodwork three times.
In between times the rollers and trays were wrapped in plastic carrier bags, and brushes were left in large frankfurter jars, so we could close the whole brush in the jar. Worked very well. [And added about £10K to the value for an outlay of £100.]

Regards

Richard.

 

[johnalison]

After rinsing with white spirit (or whatever) massage fairy liquid into the brushes well up to the ferrule for a minute or two and rinse out with warm water. Should be as good as new.

 

[Malish]

considered the water-based varnish from Blakes? - just rinse brush under a tap.

 

[stephenh]

Don't clean them - buy the best you can and store them in linseed oil - hang them in it with a cross wire through the handle so that the bristles don't touch the bottom of the container, cover the whole caboodle with cling film for long term storage .
When required for use , knock or spin out as much oil as poss. then a quick rinse in a small amount of turps, knock this out and away you go......

good luck

 

[Billjratt]

About linseed oil - Raw or boiled? am I correct in saying one gives a matt finish to varnish while the other gives gloss, if so which is which? Thanks in anticipation,
Incidentally, doing the interior bits of the wheelhouse which were badly neglected, a few coats of teak oil, followed by danish oil give a nice "wipe maintained" finish (after stripping and sanding of course). danish gives the sheen.