How to Care for your Brushes

[@TANEM315]

omg this was so helpful! thanks so much! honestly, there isn't anywhere else in the internet that has more detailed information on how to care for your brushes than here!

[@rampager89]

Very nice Christopher! I was wondering what size, type, bristle of brushes you recommend for a beginner? Thx!

[@JamesBrowningII]

Very cool! I usually buy the W&N brush solution but in the smaller bottles (I have limited storage space @ home) but I didn't know about that particular brush soap. I'll have to look for it and see if my local Michael's has it in stock. Where'd you buy the cool looking paint brush cleaner slinky thing? I agree that pink soap sucks. :)

[@Hamun002]

I really appreciated this video. I paint minis and I didn't even know how to store the brushes. Seeing this video a year or two ago would have saved me some brush money to go towards beer money. Thanks!

[@AGProductionsInc]

Well, this won't keep them forever, but it will help to keep the glue in place for longer than storing them sideways or handle down will.

[@keenanmcneely232]

Do I need the brush cleaner and restorer solution or can I just use the Masters brush cleaner and this video was also very helpful

[@jerseyj2]

Great info here. I found all the products you show in this video for cleaning/preserving my brushes at my local Michaels Crafts store, even the nice washing/drying rack!

[@RSfan4lif3]

Hey, Christopher. What would you use as a substitute for those little plastic brush tops if they didn't come with any to begin with?

[@SuPaRaTt]

Thanks alot for this. I was "ignorant" of how to keep my brushes, i was stupid and thought soaking them tip down would be smart, and ofcourse runied. I learned my lesson, but this really helps me with tips I never would had thought of.

[@Soulreclaimer65]

This is a super video on the topic of brush cleaning. My only comment about the brush pan spring thing :) is since the brush absorbs and you stated its glued to the wood, won't the cleaner or any solution for that matter, still make it to the wood? Granted it certainly is FAR less than soaking the brush up to the wood but I feel you could get away with a lot less solution and maybe even re-use some for a few more cleanings. But one of the best videos I have seen on cleaning. BTW my W/N Series 7 is going on two years old and it still has a decent point. I have since replaced it but I still use it a lot for different things. High Five dude.

[@crazymaniac100]

Hey Christopher, Thanks for making this wonderful video and really appreciate your time to make these videos.

[@Devstro]

That was a great video! Very informative. I've never invested in nice brushes. Now that I know how to clean them properly, I think I will. If I wanted to get 3-4 nice brushes, what brand and sizes would you suggest?

[@rethonn]

Chris i was just wondering what are them portable freestanding lights and where did you get them?

[@da-madmodler4692]

Good info! What type of brush do you use not really brand, but do you find oil brushes last longer than water color or other types?

[@Silfy]

where might I find the brush covers? the set of w&n brushes I bought only came with one on one of the brushes.

[@AGProductionsInc]

@timothemad That's super :) I'm glad you found a brush company that works for you.

[@daisy3690]

Thank you for showing your old brush - it gives me hope that knowledge really does change how things go. :) Excellent video. bye now

[@sellersgarner]

What about storing your larger brushes that dont come with a "cap"? (my cheap brushes from hobby lobby $4 pack asorted only have caps for the very small detail brushes) ALSO - is it even worth the trouble to use cleaner on cheap brushes? I use cheap brushes and replace often (way many pro painters do) and wonder if it's even worth using products on them other than warm water cleaning with touch of soap. Thanks as always - keep it up

[@AGProductionsInc]

@Ydouneed2nomyname You actually can't dilute the W&N cleaner. If you put water into it, the water and the cleaner just end up separating, sort of like Italian Salad Dressing.

[@crazymaniac100]

Oh and by the way. How often do you clean your brushes like the proper way?

[@Jedijim252]

Great video Christopher, With my resources (cash), I need to take care of my less expensive brushes as well...I had not considered the impact of storing brushes point up, but it makes complete sense...thanks again for sharing your experience...Jim (never too old to learn)...

[@segamwkaikles]

I have a brush restorer and they've told me that i just have to put my brushes in it and then put them out and wait for it to dry ! but 2 of the brushes haven't been fixed ! do i have to throw them away or i can do something differernt to make them ok again ?

[@ChiefCustodianValdor]

Great tips, will definetely change the way I store them! I always stored them with the tip up!

[@Astropath]

Does this work for synthetic brushes or only natural hair?

[@Scherdnr]

Ditto. I seem to lose these things like nobody's business. I've tried pieces of different sized drinking straws but they aren't as tough as the actual protectors. I also got some small aquarium tubing but it's too flexy and very difficult to keep straightened out. The local big craft store looks at me like I'm crazy when I ask if they have extras that they sell...and they don't seem to have them on their brushes in the racks any longer either. There's gotta be a decent substitute I'm sure.

[@UseVisine]

Chris, try buying the smaller bottle. Just uncap it and place it in your brush rack, then insert your brush into the bottle while it's being held by the spring. Downside is you can only soak probably 3 brushes at a time per session but you don't waste any cleaner. Anyway the gunk that comes out the brushes isn't that much, not enough to really ruin the cleaner for future sessions. And the brush soap is the finisher anyway... Hmm, I guess all you need is right now is just a small bottle.=)

[@thomasmulligan1064]

Interesting. Good tip on placing the brush facing down with the plastic cover to get rid of excess water, nice one.

[@Launchpad05]

Hello. I have another question. After I emptied my brush holder, It got sticky on the bottom. Resulting in my pulling it off my dresser. Why did it do that? Should I place the holder someplace else before putting it back to it's usual resting place?

[@glavislohzh]

Hi,is it ok to clean brushes just by using water?

[@steveisaak4320]

Thank you. I am new to the hobby and you answered come serious questions. I had lost some plastic things and now realize how important they are. I am on a teacher's salary and using the hobby brushes. What will a good brusashes cost me? Where did you find the brush cleaner?

[@AGProductionsInc]

Hey there. A good set of brushes will cost you about $50 to $60. I buy mine from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff in Boone, NC. They've got a great website and offer the Winsor and Newton Series 7 Brushes (best brushes in the world in my opinion) for less than retail. As far as brush cleaner, any good art supply store should carry it.

[@steveisaak4320]

What sizes? I ordered from Dick Blick, size 000, 00,0 and maybe one (not sure) what sizes do you recommend?

[@AGProductionsInc]

Those are good sizes. I wouldn't go larger than a size 2 brush unless you're going to be painting something incredibly large. My go-to brush is a size 1 for and I'll occasionally step down to a smaller one to do more fine detail work.

[@UnityCZ]

Ok, I've got some Da Vinci grush soap. But when you run the brush full of soap in your hand to clean it, I can ruin your brush? I am pointing at the way you did this in the video.

[@AGProductionsInc]

@MegaWackyJackie If they have somewhat "hard" bristles, I would take a paper towel and place it on your table and then put a book next to it. Place the bristles on the paper towel and elevate the handle of the brush onto the book so they brushes are slightly tilted and the water can drain down the bristles into the paper towel. If the bristles are soft, try picking up one of the metal spring things shown in this video and just use that to store your brushes in the upside down position.

[@urbanesmala]

Whats the brush holder called? I cant find one anywhere.

[@CypressJoker]

How often should a brush be cleaned this thoroughly?

[@ThankfulSC]

just to add to my question before, they are brand new brushes. today it was the first tiem i uesd them. thank you.

[@grimebear]

thanks for posting this, big help.

[@bernieborsten32]

Hi Chris, Thanks for making this wonderful video and really appreciate your time to make these videos. Just one question. I read all the comments from several years and saw some really interesting questions but no answers on any of them. That is sad. I am a professional fine art painter and use to clean my brushes after every session, Following some of your suggestions wouldl take too must time for reuse of my sets. I use the finest brushes on the market and carry a few hundred of them. Of course they wear out but i am using a lot of them for years. Still I would like to improve on my method. Any suggestion are welcome. Great job on your video!

[@DaveMartinCanuck]

@figureshobby2010 if you are on a budget and only using water based / soluble paint ,water will do fine.

[@rethonn]

i found that the tubing that acupuncture needles come in are perfect for replacement protectors

[@Wilson_AI]

Hey, uhh, when I realized that I'd be wasting (which I did once) the Winsor and Newton brush cleaner and restorer I actually have it in a small jar with a top that fits perfectly inside of that uhh... I'll call it a bowl under the coil and all I do is open it up, brushes go in, then brushes come out and I put the cap back on and I can re-use it for later use.

[@sellersgarner]

what is the thinking behind the VERY pushed (by some) HORIZONTAL storage, on a rack? Are they just trying to sell racks?

[@chadashton7029]

Hang them upside down in a shot glass filled with like 1 ounce of cleaner rather than 8 ounces. You'll get WAY more out of that bottle.

[@sellersgarner]

sounds good - would you chime in on this idea AGP?

[@junglelands9119]

Christopher is cleaning your brushes with IPA Isopropyl alcohol 99%.9 good or bad, i can't seem to Keep mine clean untill now that is now that i have watch your video thanks. Great video mate

[@indigodande7542]

what are the best watercolor brushes for holding water? squirrel, camel, russian blue squirrel, or sable and if so by which company?

[@AGProductionsInc]

Good evening Rebecca. My personal recommendation is Winsor and Newton Series 7 Red Sable brushes. They're all handmade even to this day, and I've never had a better brush, whether I'm using them for acrylics or actual watercolor work.

[@michaeltruhett4170]

I had no idea there was so much involved in properly cleaning paint brushes. Like most folks I'm guessing, I clean them in either acetone, lacquer thinner or methyl ethyl ketone, then I swish them around in windex. After that I wipe the bristles dry with a paper towel and shove them into a jar bristles side up. Obviously that's incorrect. I build plastic models and fine details such as cockpit buttons, eyes on the figures, things like that aren't very easy to do, but they're pretty much impossible if your brushes aren't any good. I've got one old brush that looks like Don Kings hairdo. 😬 Anyway, great video on how to keep your brushes clean and in good working condition. My last thing is someone else asked the same question I was going to ask and that is what about the flat brushes? Same thing I'm guessing? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks again for the tutorial and have a great day!

[@AGProductionsInc]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I actually don't have any flat brushes for my miniatures other than the one I use to dust with. For all my standard acryllic brushes for non-mininature painting (I do have some larger flats for that purpose), I usually just purchase cheaper brushes as I don't use them that frequently. I'll wash them thoroughly with water after each painting session and lay them flat to dry. When they start losing bristles, I'll just pitch them and buy new ones.

[@twinwankel]

For larger brushes you can drill a small hole on the top of handle with a Dremel tool so that they can be hung brush down for drying. This also prevents rusting of the ferrule.

[@sellersgarner]

If you would - what's the name/maker of the "spiral spring looking top metal brush holder"?

[@TheClassicWorld]

Oh, that thing, well, it looks like some kind of bathroom soap holder thing, you know? Maybe look for something to get the job done on IKEA or Amazon. Happy hunting.

[@robcox123]

does this help with enamel paints

[@Launchpad05]

I have a question about the brush cleaner. If I want to pop it back into the bottle, is there a safe way to do that without spilling any of it on the bottle? I tried using a eye dropper, but it takes too long to fill it back up.

[@AGProductionsInc]

I'd take a small paper cup and cut the bottom out of it so you have a tube instead of a cup. Then cut a slit from the bottom to the top so you've basically got a tube that you can unroll. Roll it so the bottom end has a smaller diameter opening than the top, tape the sides back together and you've got an inexpensive funnel.

[@JamesBrowningII]

I'd love to see tips like this on a DVD!

[@ivantheterrible6959]

I wish I had these sort of videos when I was painting models I went through so many brushes as I did not know how to maintain them properly

[@TheClassicWorld]

What are those lights and are they daylight/natural light for painting or are they just for camera work?

[@AGProductionsInc]

Just basic florescent lights. These were manufactured by by a company called Tensor, but it's a bit of an off brand. Most people that buy these kind of lights buy from a company called Ottlite.

[@AGProductionsInc]

@Genryu17 I honestly do not recall what the name of them is. Try going to a craft store and see if they have any there. You'll probably have more luck than trying to filter through all the junk the internet will give you as search results.

[@sun9hope]

Thanks so much. Good instructions

[@RubbishInRubbishOut]

Awesome tutorials Chris, excellent explanation and easy to follow! Thanks.

[@lukesharkey1]

to be honest I have found shampoo for normal hair works very well and is cheap too

[@PilgrimofMatter]

AGProductionsInc, where did you get the brush holder shown in this video?

[@AGProductionsInc]

I believe I purchased mine from a local art supply store. Most art supply stores should carry them.

[@PilgrimofMatter]

@@AGProductionsInc Thanks. I found one at the local Blick art store.

[@SophiaPoliglota]

God bless you too! Thanks!

[@keenanmcneely232]

Do I need the brush cleaner and restorer solution or can I just use the masters brush cleaner?

[@AGProductionsInc]

If I had to pick just one of the 2, I'd pick the restorer solution and leave out the masters brush cleaner. Think of the them like shampoo and conditioner. One actually cleans really well, the other just leaves things smooth and silky.

[@fujikamifl91]

ivory soap does the job..it is really nice..

[@ninjamaxi]

thank you so much!

[@DeepaGeorge]

What about flat brushes? They don't come with cover.

[@FelipeBudinich]

Deepa George plastic drinking straws and a scissors. For large brushes go to a McDonald's get a large coke and keep the fat straw :)

[@electroncreations5724]

Use plastic tubing, available at any hardware store in various sizes. Buy a foot of each size you need, bring it home and cut it to size.

[@JamesBrowningII]

I'd love to buy stuff from the local art supply store but they don't put the brushes out with the caps on either. They won't even order me some with the caps on.(and I'm talking about a $50-$90 order each time not just one brush) They tell me that either they don't come with them on or that they toss the caps. I've started buying my brushes online because of this.

[@TheClassicWorld]

Since I'm not an artist, I don't need Newton and thus I don't need to go through all of this. I just buy GW brushes. After months, they die, at which point, I keep them for dry brushing and rough work. I then simply buy new ones. GW brushes are £4 each. If it costs me £5 to wash my brushes, I might as well buy a new one for £4 instead. I love the new GW brushes. I mainly use three to four brushes, and I don't paint much, so I spend £50 or so a year on brushes. I suggest this if you don't use Newtons.

[@FeyScribe]

I found one called "Pro Art Aluminum Brush Washer" at amazon for $14.00. Apparently they are generally called "brush washers" so I would search for that.

[@vk24288]

Sir, Thank you so much for the detailed video.Iam a beginner in painting. Could you please show the painter 80 storage product because can't find the photo of the same in the link. Sir, could you please tell where to buy the spring holder while cleaning brushes which you showed in the video? Thank you.

[@AGProductionsInc]

I tend to soak my brushes once per week and then after they're done soaking for 24 hours or so, I'll come in and use the brush cleaner to give them a nice point. then let them dry for another 12 hours or so. Needless to say, I've learned that I need to have 2 sets of brushes. One gets used one week, the other the next. That way, I never have to wait on a brush to be cleaned in order to paint something.

[@AGProductionsInc]

I usually clean my brushes like this about once a month. I need to do it more frequently though, probably about once every 2 weeks, or even 1 week if I do a LOT of painting.

[@bennethos]

wauw great thank you

[@jadedsky]

where do I get that brush tub with the slinky on top?

[@ChristianKong37]

I got one at Hobby Lobby.

[@jadedsky]

+Chris Klekaw Thanks. It came today from Amazon 🙂

[@jadedsky]

+Chris Klekaw i wish i knew about those plastic things....I've been throwing them all out 😞

[@positive_error5141]

Since I've been painting for 30 plus years I've just used water and I store them tip up and don't have too many issues so this seems a little over the top considering most of us do hobby painting for fun, not as a job. If I spent a ton of money on brushes or worked as a commission painter I'd be more tempted to follow these tips but seems like a waste of time and energy. Good video though and I'm sure many will benefit from it.

[@ThankfulSC]

why do my bob ross brushes look uncombed after i wash them?

[@AGProductionsInc]

Stay tuned. We're working on a "special project" that should be ready in October. It pertains HIGHLY to your comment (hint hint).

[@bugisami]

Storing brushes on an incline, with the head slightly lower than the handle, is sufficient.

[@AGProductionsInc]

I'd advise against buying a size 3. Unless you're going to be painting REALLY big tanks, you'll almost never use it. To give you an idea of the size of the brush, a size 3 is about as big around and about as long as a space marine's leg.

[@TheJhaley12]

so that's the reason Hake brushes shed so much even though they're brand new, the glue is weak, oh. What if not every one buys Winsor and Newton brushes? I do believe I know how to clean and store my brushes. I've used the same brushes for 8 years now.

[@DaMimikyugorl_]

I was a freshman when you made this video 😭😭

[@charlizesims5931]

I had the container with the spring and the yellow thing and I didn't know what they were for so I left them in my grandparents garage Intel I knew what they were for and the garage caught on fire so now ik but I lost it lol

[@kennyb0y1597]

what if I lost the plastic covers....

[@ualuuanie]

I use drinking straws to replace those that I damaged or lost :)

[@hethdavid]

If I ever lose the protective cover for one of my brushes I make another one by cutting off a small length of aquarium air hose. You can a roll of it at any pet store for a few dollars.

[@Visigoth_]

lol, I guess its better to look befor you ask...

[@EclipsePainting]

upside down..... :| This is a nice vid. Couldn't have treated my brushes better.

[@jimeronimo]

Smart....Thanks bud. Great "tip"..LoL

[@w0mblemania]

I think you seriously have to question the value of any cleaning procedure that costs $5 per clean.

[@JulieHiltbrunner]

35 years- never occurred to me. Thank you!

[@AGProductionsInc]

Sure thing. Glad you liked the vid.

[@carlosnunez5513]

KZbin

[@AGProductionsInc]

MYSPACE