Brush cleaning?

[Sonnenschein]

I think I just ruined my brush. Acetone didn't work.

 

What do I use?

 

 

thanks,

Karin

[puro]

White spirit should do well. I use turpentine due to price and easy availability, works well enough.

[Sonnenschein]

Thanks!

 

I'll remember that when I buy a new brush.

[john danter]

Depends what type of paint it was but warm water and washing up liquid works with my humbrol. paints...?

 

Some of the paint brush bristles are plastic themselves, so acetone may eat away at some of them and cause them to fuse

[Sonnenschein]

The humbrol enamel. Water made it even worse,

[pandatrooper[TK]]

Humbrols are oil / solvent based, not water based. Never mix the two together.

 

You can buy enamel paint solvent from hobby / paint / home reno stores.

[john danter]

Ah, might explain why the washing up liquid helps a bit then? As that dissolves oil

[Sonnenschein]

Thanks everybody!

 

You know what? I thought it was ruined anyway, so I used the almighty Zippo lighter fluid - and it worked!

 

So I can still paint over the weekend - all shops are already closed.

[gh05ty]

Depends what type of paint it was but warm water and washing up liquid works with my humbrol. paints...?

 

I do this too use neat washing up liquid to clean most out then rinse with water & liquid.

[puro]

You can buy enamel paint solvent from hobby / paint / home reno stores.

 

Enamel paint solvent is white spirit to my understanding, you pay a lot of extra for the brand name and small packaging. Same with e.g. the plastic weld for Polystyrene model kits and ABS that is actually chemical called MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) and dirt cheap where available.

Edited February 5, 2011 by puro

[Locitus[Admin]]

I have one of these which has worked well for me. Costs about €2 from the same place you buy your local humbrol paints, so that's dirt cheap IMO.

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Edited December 5, 2020 by gmrhodes13
link not working, removed gmrhodes13 2020

[TK-4510[501st]]

Dont you guys have paint thinner?? Thats what you clean model paint brushes with.

[davej[TK]]

White Spirits, or Mineral Turps are the way to go. Both work fine with enamel paints.

Mineral turps is cheaper, about $3 /litre here in Australia. Much cheaper than the dinky little cans that Humbrol sell.