" wrote in message
...
I have a woodworking project I'm starting but don't know how to clean
the brush after applying coats of polyurethane. Any recommendations?

Thanks.


Cleaning a brush actually starts with preparation before using it.
Saturate the bristles with the appropriate solvent for your finish before
starting to use it. In the case of oil based polyurethane, that would be
mineral spirits. Make sure you get the solvent all the way up to the
ferrule. Shake out the excess solvent. When you are using the brush, dip
the bristles into the finish no more than half way up the brush. These two
procedures keep the finish from getting up into the ferrule where it is hard
to clean.

To clean the brush after you are done with it:

1) Wipe off the excess polyurethane from the brush onto some newspaper or
equivalent.
2) Swish the brush in some mineral spirits three times using fresh mineral
spirits each time. Really work the solvent into the bristles on the last
rinse.
3) Squeeze out the remaining mineral spirits using your hands and some rags
or paper towels or swish the brush in some lacquer thinner to help remove
the mineral spirits and replace it with something a bit more water soluble.
I do not use the lacquer thinner method.
4) Clean the bristles using water and something like LESTOIL or PINESOL.
Make sure you rinse out all the cleaning agent. I have started using
MASTERS BRUSH CLEANER instead. It is like a soap / shampoo made for
brushes. It does a great job and conditions the bristles, especially
natural bristles. Just follow the directions on the container.
5) Spin the brush or whip it to remove the remaining water.
6) Wrap the brush with paper to preserve the desired shape.

Good Luck.