Hi all.
Just wondering how you guys clean and care for re usable sable brushes.

I find those disposable ones to be such a waste. I do bunch or repairs and sometimes just need to coat couple guides. Hate having to toss out all these brushes and cups.
I have purchased some stainless mixing cups along with red sage brushes. Stainless pretty easy to care for. It’s the brushes that have me concerned.


Anyone using these? How do you clean after use?
Also i might need to use them same day or even couple hours later. So i cant keep in a solution... Or can i???

I use U-40 brush cleaner and/or Acetone to clean mine, being careful to clean them very thoroughly!

U-40 Brush Cleaner. Put some in a plastic cup. Wipe your brush on a paper towel to get most of the epoxy or whatever out of it. Dip it in the cup, wipe off and then put it back and leave it in the cup. when ready to use again, pull the brush out, wipe it off and go to work.

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

I reuse my Flexcoat disposable brushes, and have done so for a long time. The fibers of these brushes are molded into the plastic handle and do not come out. I now use a glass container, about the height of the brush, with a metal twist on cap I fill the bottom of the container with about an inch or two with acetone. When I’m finished with the brush I wipe off the excess epoxy and put it in the container, cap it, and leave it there to soak. If the brush is a little too tall for the jar, I just just trim back the brush handle a little bit. When the container has a bunch of brushes in it, I remove them and dry them off and put them back in my brush drawer for reuse. Acetone cleans the brushes very well, does not affect the handle, and evaporates very quickly leaving no residue. I will replace the acetone every once in a while. Been using the same brushes for years, with no ill effects.
I also reuse my aluminum epoxy mixing pans. After the epoxy cures I just mix a new batch on top of the old. When the pan become full I just throw it away and use a new mixing pan. I guess you can call me cheap, but I just hate wasting things that are still useful.
Norm

I’m worried the acetone will eat up the glue that hold the bristles. I’ll try some brush cleaner. It’s not being cheap. It’s the waste that bothers me. Ive used up to 4-6 brushes in one day Crazy.

i think most commercial builders use a spatula or even a popsicle stick..no brush issues.

Acetone will not loosen the fibers, which are molded into handle, of the Flexcoat brushes.;The fibers do not come out, ever. The U40 brush cleaner contains organic solvents to clean brushes, and it does work well. I use acetone because it is relatively inexpensive, is readily available, and works very well.
Norm

U-40 cleaner as outlined above. You need to be very thorough in soaking and wiping.

After cleaning the brush in U40 brush cleaner use a old school clothes pin to clamp the brush upright and barely touching a 1/4" of brush cleaner in the bottom of a tall thin jar or bottle. This will eliminate the brush bristles from taking a bend or set while stored for the next build. U40 doesn't evaporate much so I do not cover the jars.

Rog

Marcos,
No waste or expense really.

If you use disposable brushes that are 5 cents each - which I do, and then buy plastic or paper 2 oz mixing cups which cost $3 for 200, it is a very inexpensive proposition to use disposable brushes and cups.

Years ago, when I first started, I did as you do. i.e. a metal cup and a sable brush. But, then I had to clean the cup and the brush. I had the fumes and fuss and muss and expense of the cleaning products as well as buying another $10 brush from time to time, so the expense is less - for myself with the use of the disposable brush and disposable mixing cup.

This is also one of the reasons why I do not use a metal mixing cup on a power mixer. Rather, I use a craft wood stick to do my mixing and do frequent scraping of the sides of the cup and bottom with the slightly rounded edges of the wood craft stick. After mixing, I use a paper towel to wipe the wet finish off the craft stick and use it on the next batch of finish that I mix.

So, no expense with brush cleaner, No fumes from brush cleaner. No lost bristles from brushes. No cleaning of the cups nor the brushes and thus no time spent on that effort.

But, by all means, do what works for you and gives you the final finished rod - with which you are happy.

Best wishes.

U-40 and acetone. U-40 will soften the paint on painted brush handles when left to soak. Works great though.

Norman, I like it. Another great idea from the forum. i will definitely start doing this.

I've done both "clean the brush" and "throw the brush" and I agree with Roger about avoiding the additional contact with solvents.

I'm not sure from an environmental perspective what the trade-off is between using more solvents vs.disposable brushes, but from a health standpoint I'd much rather avoid the solvents.

lately i,ve been using a one part water soluble finish/CP which cleans with tap water from U-40..

Before I started to clean my brushes I kept all my handles and used them to fashion various tools that I use in painting fly's. Also use some to repair fishing tackle and and as handles on other tools I build for fishing tackle repair and creation.