They were used with exterior paint (Behr) and were left out to dry up or else just dropped in a pail of water to rot! As they are Purdy's, I can't afford to lose them. I have cleaned them out best I could with soapy water and a paint comb...but they are still gunky!! Any suggestions??
2007-10-24 02:45:31 · 8 answers · asked by red_heded_rebel 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
Oh boy that was stoopid....label says clean-up with soap & water. I think someone tried to clean them with Brush Cleaner..roll-up time came and they just walked away. It rained that night so I think that caused the gunk. Plus 2 were left to dry out altho I got them before they got hard. I have gotten most of the paint out, now they are just sticky! How do I use the vinegar? If they are a total loss, rest assured I will take it up with the boss as I bought ALL materials! And Doc, If you DO have brushes older than me <
2007-10-24 03:24:35 · update #1
If it was oil-based paint you need some mild thinner like lacquer or mineral spirits or the like.If it was water based the cleaning you described should have been sufficient,although no soap was needed,just water.You may have been too late however.It sounds like it was oil-based.The brushes may be a loss.
2007-10-24 02:53:11 · answer #1 · answered by henny455 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really hope no to offend anyone here; but it might have helped if you'd detailed the TYPE of paint; rather than the brushes. Obvious answers will question OIL or Latex.
After applying multiple thousands of gallons of paint; and wearing out more PURDY brushes that I can calculate; I have a suggestion.
IF....the paint; BEHR or otherwise; is/was latex, I use White Vinegar, and HANG the brushes in a plastic bucket or cleaned out paint can. Let them soak for as long as I feel they need in testing; then WASH after, and do also use a comb. I no longer use Oil based paint for anything, unless a customer insists.
Vinegar truly is a Miracle/natural substance; and I have brushes likely older than you are (no offense) that I use every day.
A greater concern for you at this point will be the degradation in the HEEL, and the shield that may be rusted.
At $30 plus, per brush, and with all due respect; I can't imagine anyone worth their weight in the trades; treating tools (Source of income) with such disregard. SIGH.
Steven Wolf
2007-10-24 03:15:31 · answer #2 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I use Behr also. I believe it is water soluble until it dries. The problem is it becomes like vinyl siding once it dries and water, just like the rain on the outside of your house, won't help. I would first soak them with Mineral spirits to see if the paint softens it up a bit. If it does then purchase a metal comb used for brushes and spend a lot of time attempting to work it out from the bottom up. You will need to evaluate how much YOUR time is worth before proceeding.
Best bet might be to call Home Depot during the day when they have trained professionals working at the desk. I am sure they hear this question a lot.
2007-10-24 03:26:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it was a latex paint you can try using some Goof Off. The Goof Off will break down the dried film and make it water soluable once again. Laquer thinner for oil-based or denatured alcohol for latex. Let the brushes soak for a day and it should break up the dried paint. There are also brush cleaning solutions available commercially for just such a situation. You let the brush sit in the solution for a day or two it should remove all the paint.
2007-10-24 03:41:54 · answer #4 · answered by J B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok-obviously no one here paints their fingernails :)
Pure acetone will take it off and will not damage the brush. Soak them for several hours, swishing them around in the acetone occasionally. You shouldn't need to use a paint comb-just soak longer. Just make sure you use pure acetone. Once the paint is off, use a brush conditioner.
2007-10-24 07:04:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, my answer won't be 'purdy.' To wit, once the paint has dried on the brush, they will not be salvageable. Chalk it up to experience. Paint thinner will not help much, if at all.
2007-10-24 02:56:22 · answer #6 · answered by Volusian 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
don't know how good this really works, but you can heat lemon juice to a boil then insert brushes in them to soak, if i remember correctly they don' t have to soak a real long time also enviromentally safe
2007-10-26 03:10:19 · answer #7 · answered by missourian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you'll need either paint thinner or mineral spirits to do any better
2007-10-24 02:50:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋