Brush Washer trick

[Bongo]

The common way to clean a brush washer is to remove the strainer, and carefully pour out the clean solvent that is on top, leaving all the nasty paint residue at the bottom. But when you go to wipe up the residue you discover the opening is smaller than your hand, so you futz around wadding paper towels in, or digging around with your fingers, etc. Then there will still most likely be a fine film left that will have to settle once you refill the washer.

But there is another way. I saw this on youtube but can't remember where to give credit - but this is what you do.

Take out the strainer then securely fasten the top to the washer. Vigorously shake the brush washer so all the solvent and paint residue mix. Take off the top and pour the slurry into an empty mayonnaise jar (or something similar). The brush washer is now spotless and shiny inside. Replace the strainer and fill the washer with clean solvent and you're good to go.

The slurry you poured into the mayonnaise jar will settle, leaving clean solvent layer on top of paint residue - just as it did in the brush washer. Now you can re-use the solvent, and at some point when the mayonnaise jar is too full of paint residue - toss it and grab another (empty) one.

 

[Artyczar]

Ah ha! You are full of "solutions" ...get it???

 

[ntl]

How about THAT!

 

[Hermes2020]

Just don't put that jar on your dinner table.

 

[Bongo]

Ah ha! You are full of "solutions" ...get it???

too punny

 

[MrBungle]

I have a new tip for ya when cleaning…

 

[WFMartin]

As a caution, you need to realize that the clear liquid that you see at the top of the container, once all the pigment has settled is not not necessarily pure "solvent". Resins (as in varnishes), Linseed Oil, Walnut oil, and any other types of drying oils that may be contained within you oil paint are also clear, and they, too, are represented in that clear liquid at the top of the container.

Once in awhile, after a few months perhaps, it is usually a good practice to dump the entire lot of clear liquid, and start over with fresh solvent. Granted, it is an excellent way to extend the cleaning life of your solvent, But, after a period of time, it begins to smell bad, indicating that your clear stuff is not merely solve, any more.

 

[Bongo]

I tried this, and one time after the residue settled the "clean" solvent had a red-brown cast. So to avoid that potential problem I would suggest:

First take a paper towel and give one quick wipe of the strainer this will remove a lot of the residue then shake the washer as described and pour the slurry into a paper solo-type cup. Once the residue has settled pour the clean solvent from the paper cup into a glass jar for use. Use a new paper cup each time you clean the washer.

The red-brown cast in the solvent I think was caused by pouring the slurry into the jar that already had residue at the bottom from the previous use. Each time you do that some of that residue on the bottom gets mixed with the new batch of slurry and over time becomes fine enough to stay suspended with the clean solvent.

 

[Enyaw]

If you don’t wash your brushes you avoid all that slop and mess.

 

[Bongo]

I don't wash my brushes after I'm done painting, but while I'm painting I use the brush washer to clean the brush between colors so that gets it dirty.

 

[Enyaw]

I don’t mind tainted paint so I use a paper towel.

 

[Bongo]

you use a lot of wax, not sure how that would work out. Mineral spirits will dissolve the wax, but then where would it go? Would it stay as a liquid mixed with the mineral spirits?

 

[Enyaw]

Not sure on that as I have never used the two together. I don’t even have any type of mineral spirits in the studio. Anyway, I better shut up as I am leading your thread in another direction. Take care.