Pinstripe brushes--care and feeding questions...

Just got my first mack OO, wondering how to keep that clean, soft hair flowing, and how do you store and transport them? I'm an artist, but I'm rough on brushes and never care for them... Main thing is how do you keep them from getting messed up in a paint box when on the go?

 

back when i was trying to do some line work i was told by an old sign painter to clean em good, dip em in lindseed oil and store em in an old fineline bag. thats been 15 years ago and i still got em and after a thinner bath they still look and feel new. hope this helps.

 

Clean them w/ mineral spirit's or laq. thinner. Coat them w/trans. fluid,or mineral oil. Store flat. Small plastic snap case's work well. Old fishing lure plastic boxe's were popular w/ an 'striper from around here. Get good at it,so you won't have to punch a clock. Cash flow is great too. Study the 'master's' and be yourself.

 

I've got mineral oil,but what's a fineline bag??

 

Dont bother treating them well at all.Clean all the paint out of them in as abusive manor as possible than dont store them in any thing.This way a few hairs fall out and this will lend itself well to sharp crisp thin line work

 

its the little blue bag thats left over when you have laid out your flames and used all of the 1/8 0r 1/16 fine line blue tape.

 

you can clean them out with reducer also...it's less harsh than the thinner. Then dip it in motor oil ...preferably fresh...and work the oil in to the hairs real good...then lay it flat. A piece of 1/16 plexi with another smaller piece on it works well as a shelf of sorts ...so your brushes can lay flat.

 

If you ask 10 different Stripers,you will get 12 different answers. http://www.mackbrush.com/brushcare2.htm
I rinse mine in Odourless Mineral Spirits,the dip the hair in Neats Foot Oil.
My brushes fit in a Rubbermaid box originally intended for fishing lures,
a couple blocks of foam rubber hold the brushes very securely when the lid is closed.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Just got my first mack OO, wondering how to keep that clean, soft hair flowing, and how do you store and transport them? I'm an artist, but I'm rough on brushes and never care for them... Main thing is how do you keep them from getting messed up in a paint box when on the go?

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There are probably as many ideas on the proper care of brushes as there are brush users.Here are a few things I do to keep my brushes in good shape.I think I posted a reply to this before but here goes:
When you first receive a new striping brush,there is usually a,"sizing"in the hair to keep them in shape during transport.This may be removed by soaking them for a few minutes in a solution of warm water with a drop of dishwashing liquid.Rinse in clean warm water and dry thoroughly.Then immerse in oil for a minute,wipe off the excess,and store it VERTICALLY overnight.This allows the oil to penetrate into the ferrule and ***ist in keeping paint from entering.
As far as the choice of oil,I prefer the Wall Dog Brush Oil sold by Mack.It is essentially the same as the old Sapphire Brush Oil(sadly no longer available)and is mainly sunflower oil.It will not harden in the brush and is easily removed with brush cleaner.I've used a mix of Marvel Mystery Oil and A/C compressor oil(mineral base I believe)and it works fine but is harder to get out of the brush as are most automotive-based oils.I DO NOT recommend linseed oil or lard oil as they both harden and are difficult to remove.Lard oil also turns rancid after awhile(especially in hot weather)and smells horrible(sort of like rotting animal carc***es).
A good point to remember here is when you are cleaning the hair of paint,it is best to remove the majority of the paint by GENTLY squeezing the brush hair with a rag or paper towel starting at the ferrule(where the hair joins the handle)and slowly working toward the tip always being careful not to pull the hair while squeezing.This does more damage to a brush than you can imagine;it loosens the hair nearest the center causing the brush to shed.
After removing the excess,gently swirl it around in either 1-Shot Brush Cleaner or mineral spirits(paint thinner)and laying it flat on a hard surface(preferably metal or gl***)running an old tooth brush through the hair from heel to point flipping it from side to side.Repeat several times to make sure all the paint is out.Then oil as usual.
As to transporting brushes,I use an old-style brush box that is metal and has a couple of coiled springs running across the inside.The brush handles fit between the coils and it keeps the point from getting bent out of shape.The newer style boxes use foam sponge with cuts in them to achieve the same result.If you store them flat sometimes they will move around in the box when it gets jostled and the tips get deformed.That method is OK if you're storing them in a shop box that doesn't move around much.
As for brush cleaner,I don't like using lacquer thinner,MEK, or acetone based cleaners as they tend to remove the natural oils in the brush hair and drastically shorten their lifespan.The 1-Shot Brush Cleaner is gentle enough and removes paint slightly better than mineral spirits or regular odorless paint thinner.
In the shop,I store most of my brushes vertically with the hair up in a special brush/pencil holder.I use small alligator clips to hold the smaller ones in and clip the alligator clips to the top and put the end of the brush into the end of the clip where the wire is supposed to go.Most small brushes fit nicely although you might have to open it up slightly.
Just my take on the subject;hope it helps.
Ray

 

Oh yes;I almost forgot to mention:The reason I recommend a metal brush box over a plastic one is that some solvents will attack and soften the plastic to the point that the melted plastic will get into the brush hair and ruin it.

 

Ray pretty much covered it. Don't get any better than what he said.

Joel

 

Safari is da man, no subs***ute for experience!

 

I'll second that! Thanx Ray.

FWIW I've been using baby oil, since I figure it's mild enough that it shouldn't hurt and it smells nice too.

For storage I found a CD mailer was just right to hold the Mack brushes flat and it closes tight enough on the handles that they don't move around.

Thankfully I read some of Safarinut's previous stuff and took his advice on cleaning etc.

Any more hints you can give us Ray, will be most appreciated.