Natural bristle brushes are for oil based finishes. Wash the
brush out with solvent until clean. If you've gotten paint up
into the heel, use a steel wire brush to get the paint out - I
usually use one just a matter of course, brush only towards the
tips. A good warm water and soap helps get out any residues.
Flick as dry as possible. Rinse one last time in clean thinner,
wrap in paper ( I use masking paper because the masking machine is
hanging handy). Hang by the handle. I guess we all get an
occasional loose hair, but I've not ever had enough to call it a
problem. I think the oils in the thinner help keep the bristles
soft.

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______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Not@home" wrote in message
...
I have a collection of good brushes (natural bristle) that I keep
for fine painting, such as varnishing. I just finished
varnishing the new woodwork in a room we remodeled, and spent a
lot of time picking loose hairs out of the varnish. I had the
problem with both older and new brushes, so I'm thinking there
must be a problem with the way I clean or store them, that makes
the bristles brittle.

I clean them using thinner, then detergent, and finally fells
naptha soap. Then I let them dry and keep them on a shelf. I
recall seeing a device that suspended your brushes in, as I
recall, kerosene, to preserve them, but it never explained what
to do when you want to use one of these kerosene impregnated
brushes; I didn't think wiping them and then using them was a
good idea as I didn't want to get kerosene on my work, which
left the option of cleaning them, then waiting for them to dry
before using them, which could take a lot of time.

So what is the best way to preserve a good brush so it doesn't
leave bristles in your work?