Hi
Im using U-40 Brush cleaning but Im looking for an alternative product here in AUS. The bottle doesnt say what the active incredients are so I dont know what I shoud be looking for as an alternative.

Any product that will help clean expoxy fo I can re-use some of the more expensive brushes that I have.

Cheers.

I keep a brush suspended in DNA . Keeps it fresh and clean for multiple rods. I use a baby food size jar with a hole in the middle just large enough to allow the brush to sit 1/2 way into the bottle. That way the solids settle to the bottom but the brush stays out of the muck.

The advantage to the U-4- product is that it does not require any "cleaning" on your part and it does not rapidly evaporate - what you pour into a cup today will be about the same amount left in the cup a week or more later. I just leave my brushes in a small cup of the U-40 cleaner and only remove them when I'm ready to finish another rod.

If you simply wish to clean and rinse your brushes off, and have no plans to leave them soaking, the DNA (denatured/solvent) alcohol recommended above is fine.


.................

I clean all my brushes in Medium Temperature lacquer thinner. When i am done with epoxy I ( in a small mayonnaise jar ) i put it in let it sit, and have not had any problems on how clean it is

Bill - willierods.com

Tom,
Are you saying that you just epoxy...lower you brush in the U-40 and then pull your brush out when you are epoxying again? No drying?

Which in my case maybe a couple of days or even a week before I need to epoxy. I have always used Acetone to clean my brushes and thoroughly dry them...ie let them sit for awhile to air dry.

Are there any issues with the U-40 residue "contaminating' the epoxy?

Wouldn't this be an issue also with DNA?

If there are no issues this would save me from using the acetone

Thanks,

Larry

You can't really leave DNA nor Acetone out in the open with brushes soaking - they'll evaporate almost overnight. The U-40 product don't do that. I let mine sit in the stuff until I'm ready to use it again, then pull it out and wipe with a paper towel and allow to air dry for about 10 minutes (while I prepare the rod and mix the finish).

If you feel better about it, just remove and rinse in cold, clear water and allow to air dry about 10 minutes before using it.

................

Thanks for the reply guys.

Some useful tips there.

Im with tom on this one. I too would like to know if there are any contamination issues.

I too have acetone but generally use it for cleaning up epoxy on overspills on eva grips. Always wonder if using acetone to clean brushes would contaminate future epoxies.

No, it won't. The thing is, any time you clean with a solvent the best course of action is always to then wash with warm water and common soap, followed by a cold water rinse. More than anything, this restores the softness and fullness of the brush bristles.

..............

Thanks Tom.

I've been doing the same thing as Tom for the past 4 or 5 years, leaving my brush in the U40 Crush solvent forever. I never have contamination issues, and I've gone 3-4 months between uses. One thing to be careful about, the first itme oyu put a brush in there if there is a finish on the wood it will come off. I cut my brushes short enouhg to fit inside the bottle so I can put the cap on. A LOT of people keep their brushes stored in the $40 product, zero issues.

[en.wikipedia.org]

Xylene can be used with care and proper ventilation. A very good solvent and cleaner and thinner for epoxy of various sorts.

Roger

P.S.
Note the caution statemens on the above definition if you decide to use it.