Beginner Questions

Gavin

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Nov 11, 2003, 8:09:04 PM11/11/03

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I am excited to have bought the first model for my son and I to work on
together! We purchased a revell P-51D Mustang

I have a question already :)

We are painting parts first (after washing them). How do others clean their
brushes as they go? Do you use thinner in a cup and clean the brush between
each color? Is it actually thinner I should be using to clean the brush? The
stench is unbelievable!

Thanks,

Gavin

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Nov 11, 2003, 8:12:11 PM11/11/03

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P.S. I'm using acrylics : )

"Gavin" <ga...@interprom.com> wrote in message
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Gary Kato

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Nov 11, 2003, 8:58:02 PM11/11/03

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Acrylics are great. Don't use regular (enamel) paint thinner (mineral spirits).
With acrylics, you can use soap and water!

William H. Shuey

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Nov 11, 2003, 11:14:20 PM11/11/03

to Gavin

FWIW Places like Michael's which deal in arts and crafts supplies sell
a couple of brands of acrylic brush cleaner. It comes in a bottle and
you squeeze a little in a small cup and work the brush around in it and
then finish by swishing the brush around in a container of water. I have
a couple of old Olive or pickle jars that I keep water and thinners in
for brush cleaning. Cheap and handy.

Bill Shuey

Bill Banaszak

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Nov 11, 2003, 11:36:03 PM11/11/03

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Yes, clean the brushes thoroughly between colours. A little left on the
brush will alter the colour you're working with.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Mark Schynert

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Nov 12, 2003, 2:00:35 AM11/12/03

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In article <20031111205802...@mb-m11.aol.com>,
gary...@aol.com (Gary Kato) wrote:

The acrylic brush cleaners behave like extremely soapy water, and are
very effective at cleaning brushes with acrylic paint on them. I usually
rinse the brush in water first, then put it in the cleaner to clear the
last of the residue--this keeps the cleaner in the cup from getting
yukked-out too soon. The petroleum-based thinners are unnecessary unless
you have let the acrylic dry rock hard on the brush, and even then,
sometimes I have good luck just letting the brush soak in acrylic
cleaner for a day.

Mark Schynert

Cliff Davis

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Nov 12, 2003, 9:31:38 AM11/12/03

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Hello Gavin and Son,
Be sure to clean the brush(es) between changing colors, otherwise you might
get some very "exciting" colors!
Find a small glass jar with a metal top, preferably a
screw on type, and fill it with just plain old mineral
spirits or if you're using acrylics use some windshield
wiper fluid or Windex or just plain water, baby food
jars work well for this.
Dip the "dirty" brush in it and swirl it around and
wipe the bristles on the edge of the jar as you withdraw
it. Then use an old cotton cloth, such as an old much
laundered T-shirt and squeeze the brush dry with the
cloth. Do this as many times as it takes to clean the
brush. This ought to get your brush(es) clean enough
to reuse between paint changing sessions. Always clean each brush
thouroughly before putting them away.

Cliff Davis IPMS / USA 3687
Highlands Ranch , Colorado

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