I have always used Flood "Brush Conditioner" on my latex brushes.
The product is no longer available, so I am looking for a replacement. I have seriously considered making my own, but I don't know what was in the orginal conditioner. Also considered a diluted hair conditioner.
What suggestions do you have?
I found if I used soap with shea butter it works well to clean and condition the brush. Makes it easier for the paint to come off next time too. I have also used fabric softner to bring brushes back to life after abusing them. Just soak them in it.
I pre wet the brush and will clean it the minute I see any dry paint on it so that doesnt end up back in the can when working inside. After painting, the brush is rinsed fairly good and then placed in Krud Kutter for a few minutes while I get other things together. Then I make that final rinse. I keep my acrylic brushes out of the forms because I do not want them tight. They lay tight when wet.
Afraid to use krudd kutter for brushes. Onetime soaked painted and papered (with sprayed adhesive) metal switchplates in straight krudd kutter for couple hours and melted paint and glue off like paint stripper. I know you said a few minutes though, right?
Havnt used brush conditioner, but soap and krud cutter(thanks JP, saw that a while back) works really well. If the conditioner is harsh I think it would abrade and rough up the bristles. Back in the day I wire brushed, looking back, I no longer have any of those brushes....I use a little plastic fingernail scrubber or paint strainer to get dried paint off from the bristle/ferrule line.
I wouldnt put a brush in undiluted KK for more than a few minutes, but a 70/30 or so water/kk mix (I throw a little liquid laundry soap in, seems to "condition" and clean too) for a while seems to be fine. I spaced out one night and left 5 nice brushes in a 5'er w/ that mix and everything was ok the next morning. I also reuse KK like I did w/ thinner.
Thank you. Brushes are getting more attention at my place of employment. I owned my hand tools where I used to work. So we owned that problem. Now, you better be a good team player or you will get blamed for brush failure of other peebles brushes ha haaa.
Krud Kutter works nice - full strength or diuted. I also use Dawn dish detergent. Been going through stuff lately and found a few 25+yo brushes......still in good shape. That was back in the day when Purdy's were Purdy's.
Lately I stumbled on a ridiculously simple idea. I comb my brushes with one of those cheap black plastic combs. Works great and doesn't destroy the brush like wire does.
One thing to be conscious of is to use the same set of brushes for outside Ben Moore if your a fan of his. No way I am thinner rinsing any more, to me it seems they get worse if you do.You will get you a stiffy. Maybe with the new line of paints it won't be as much of an issue?:no::yes::no:
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