I’m getting back into plastic modeling after many years away[
], and I’m wondering how to best take care of my brushes[?] I intend to use mainly acrylic paints (MM & Tamiya). I went to LHS today and bought some Floquil detail brushes. Is water enough to clean acryl or is something more needed?
HEY,
Water works, but ive heard of using things like laquer thinner and rubbing alcohol. Im not sue bout the laquer thinner, but if it does work guys, ell me and TJace cuz we dont know.lol Welcome to the forum man, and remember to just have fun.
Randy
imo…best stuff for most acrylic paints i’ve had the pleasure to work with is de-natured alcohol…but, H2O workks…the thinner of the brand you’re using works…[2c]
i don’t believe there’s a need to use any oil based solvent / thinner unless you’re using their brand of paint…
[2c][2c]
i’ve a 3 1/2" clear top from a floopy disk case about 1/4 filled with a mix of de-natured alcohol / H2O with some metal screen mat’l on the bottom to “paint” the brush along…coupla strokes along the screen & voila’…air dry and ready to use again…the screen helps remove any paint that’s started to dry and doesn’t harm the bristles…works good and lasts a long time[;)]
HEY,
Doesnt the water and denatured alchohol evaporate? Can you get he denatured alchohol at the supermarket? Thanks for the tip man, thanks alot, even though im not the one who started this topic.lol
Randy
I use the same MM and Tamiya paints, and use 70% isopropyl alcohol to clean the brushes and 91% denatured alcohol to thin the paints for the a/b. I haven’t had any problems using alcohol, and yes, the alcohol will evaporate, but using it with water will slow the evap process. I also use the alcohol with Q Tips to remove old dried paint. Works quite well…
Nothing special but this is what i do…
I take thinner, put it in extra airbrush jars, jam my brush down to the bottom and spin it around in the corner removing all the paint then I let the brush sit upside down so as the bristles will spread apart and dry nicely. If the brushes get a little hard no biggie, dip them back in clear thinner, and flick them on the edge of a piece of card board, it will soften them right back up… I have 2 seperate bottles one for earth toned paints and one for more like auto paints (ie;purple, reds, etc etc)…
Then, because I work on armour alot, after you have cleaned your brushes enough using earth tone paints, I let the bottle sit over night, then siphon off a little over half of the portion of the thinner, and use that as a wash on my tanks… to simulate dirt and mud build up in the seams… Hope this helps
To really get your brushes clean, clean them in lacquer thinner. This will remove even dried paint from deep within the brush, stuff you didn’t even know was in there!