I didn't realize this thread would reactivate when I posted a link in the other PollyS replacement thread, but no matter, the more info the better.
Anyway, I more or less follow NP2626's methods except I don't currently wash with soap after a painting session (it seems soap is more or less an equivalent of the pink craft store stuff mentioned in previous posts). Sounds like I should try, since I just purchased some new brushes.
rrebell
Brushs are cheap at many places including the good ones. You can get cheap sable brushs (not realy sable). Last you don't need the very best brushes, you are proubly not a master watercolor artist
Now, the brushes I tend to use are not the super top-of-the line $18.00+ ones you can get, but more in the range of 4.00-5.00, which is still rather pricey, so I don't want to waste them. However, I still haven't found cheap Michael's economy brush sets (with the pale blue transculent handles) - which actually work surprizing well - in sizes 000 and below - I require such a fine size when painting figures or repairing small "tics" (as Dr. Cranky would say) in a air-brushed finish. If I could get a six-pack of 5/0 in economy style (6.00 a pack), that would be cool. And no, I'm not going to be skinning any cats to make fine brushes like a certain monk we know does.
To update this thread with one last relevant post from the PollyS replacment thread:
I use lacquer thinner outside (maximum ventilation) when airbrushing, but not inside when brush painting - there I use mineral spirits. I guess because the ventilation at the work bench is good, but not incredible, and I worry some about fumes. Another reason why acrylics are looking better to me...That's the right way to do it. It's worked for me for a long time. Works on the big brushes I use to paint the house and the small brushes I use on HO models. "Mineral Spirits" is sold under the name "Paint Thinner" in hardware stores, and under the name "Charcoal Lighter Fluid" in grocery stores.
One other minor point. You need lacquer thinner to clean lacquer (Floquil for example) out of brushes. Mineral spirits isn't active enough to dissolve lacquer, Lacquer thinner is much more active than mineral spirits.
Sadly, paint is darn-near guarenteed to get near the base of the bristle whenever I use an artist brush.rrebell
The main thing to do is to not get paint near the base of the hairs, you can never compleatly clean there.
