Howdo you clean your epoxy brushes ?

For both epoxy and two pack, you need a very special and obscure cleaner than most men should not know about.

Fairy Liquid.

It helps to get the worst off with rags or kitchen roll first, then add a bit of meths or IPA, the plenty of fairy liquid brushed in with an old toothbrush, wash in hot water.
 
BobPrell said:
I am a bit surprised nobody has mentioned white vinegar. If there is some strong reason not to do this I have not yet heard it.

It is very cheap and seems to dissolve most of the epoxy, or at least some components of it. Acetone or thinners will then take care of the the rest.

Throwing brushes away is probably the most economic way to do it, but I just can't drop the old attitude that tools should be cleaned and re-used.

Also cheap brushes can lose bristles into the work or fall apart.
Click to expand...

Agree, White vinegar, I suspect the OP is leaving brushed out too long allowing the epoxy to start to cure.

Warm soapy water will also work, epoxy is soluble in water unlike poly resins.

Dirty Acetone can be put in glass jar and allow the sediment to settle out and reuse as many tiles as you like.

When working with epoxy have 3 or 4 brushes and drop them into Acetone after about 30 minutes and grab another clean one, same with rollers and scrapers etc. I also put two latex gloves on each hand so I can just peel one off if things get a bit sticky or hairy.

Because I use a lot of Acetone I buy in bulk (205 litre drum) just over one dollar per litre in Ozzie dollars.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
 
oldsaltoz said:
Agree, White vinegar, I suspect the OP is leaving brushed out too long allowing the epoxy to start to cure.

Warm soapy water will also work, epoxy is soluble in water unlike poly resins.

Dirty Acetone can be put in glass jar and allow the sediment to settle out and reuse as many tiles as you like.

When working with epoxy have 3 or 4 brushes and drop them into Acetone after about 30 minutes and grab another clean one, same with rollers and scrapers etc. I also put two latex gloves on each hand so I can just peel one off if things get a bit sticky or hairy.

Because I use a lot of Acetone I buy in bulk (205 litre drum) just over one dollar per litre in Ozzie dollars.

Good luck and fair winds. :)
Click to expand...


Well got a few tips to try there, will be trying the three jars as I have seen my one jar turn quite jelly like and it sounds like I was leaving the brushes too long before rinsing them out and letting them dry. Cheers
 
I've almost finish building a stitch and glue dinghy - it goes outside today! Early on I was using some jenny brushes to apply the epoxy but then I changed to using pieces of the large cheap sponges sold for car washing. I cut the sponge into chunks (about 1inch cubed to 2 inch cubed) and then use these directly to apply the epoxy. Initially I used a bit of wire to hold the sponge on the end of a wooden tongue depressor stick but seeing as I always have latex gloves on I don't mind holding the sponge but I try to keep one hand 'dry'.

After a while or especially when applying a first coat to bare wood the sponge does tend to break up. For coating large areas of bare wood I used a disposable foam roller but for smaller areas and applying all the glass tapes the sponges work fine. By now I know when to change to a new bit but even so any bits are easily picked out and/or sanded off afterwards. Once finished they set and go into the bin along with the gloves.

Some pics here
 
After either acetone or meths, wash in enzymic Surf. Acetone tends to kill cheap brushes though. I buy the synthetic brushes from pound shop and chuck em. one brush per day is not expensive compared to the cheapest acetone or meths.

Now hands up what mini rollers you use with 2 pack poly :rolleyes:
 
So there I was in the shower this morning, minding my own business, and then it suddenly struck me ... "steel boat", "epoxy" ?

Dunno about anyone else, but I was talking about epoxy RESIN, used as glue - not paint.

So there may have been some talking at cross-purposes earlier-on in this thread.

Vinegar, Washing-up Liquid etc will NOT work with epoxy RESIN (at least, not in my experience - you just end up with a greasy gunge, which still knackers the brush), dunno about 2-part epoxy paint - never tried it.
 
electrosys said:
So there I was in the shower this morning, minding my own business, and then it suddenly struck me ... "steel boat", "epoxy" ?

Dunno about anyone else, but I was talking about epoxy RESIN, used as glue - not paint.

So there may have been some talking at cross-purposes earlier-on in this thread.

Vinegar, Washing-up Liquid etc will NOT work with epoxy RESIN (at least, not in my experience - you just end up with a greasy gunge, which still knackers the brush), dunno about 2-part epoxy paint - never tried it.
Click to expand...

To make epoxy resin into glue, just add Micro-fibres. Epoxy resin alone will be brittle and very thin, adding the Micro-fibres and making a joint not less than 3mm will make a stronger bond.

Adding Micro spheres makes a very good bog for fairing, a little harder to sand tham Micro Balloons but stronger and better water resistance.

The use of vinegar is to remove the bulk of the resin, they need a rinse in Acetone. For 2 pack paint just use Acetone.

Good luck and fair winds.
 
electrosys said:
So there I was in the shower this morning, minding my own business, and then it suddenly struck me ... "steel boat", "epoxy" ?

Dunno about anyone else, but I was talking about epoxy RESIN, used as glue - not paint.

So there may have been some talking at cross-purposes earlier-on in this thread.

Vinegar, Washing-up Liquid etc will NOT work with epoxy RESIN (at least, not in my experience - you just end up with a greasy gunge, which still knackers the brush), dunno about 2-part epoxy paint - never tried it.
Click to expand...

Sorry, my fault for diluting ( :D ) the thread a bit. But the 3 pot thing works well for paint as well :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top