Old brushes

[john3m]

I have a collection of aged paint brushes that were destined for the bin. So today on a whim I gathered them up a dumped them in a container from the store. I soaked them all day in hair conditioner and was I shocked all the paint came out of the ferrule and bristles and settled to the bottom of the container. I didn’t think it would work but now I saved about 70% of the bunch and the bristles actually feel better and seem too be going back into shape. Or is this just common knowledge to all but me😳

[sharp]

Thanks John. I'm gonna have to give that a try.

[stikpusher]

Any particular brand of hair conditioner? Not all products are the same…

[john3m]

Something I did not know is the conditioner I used I purchased at Krogers has formaldehyde as an ingredient. So I’ll no longer be using it in my hair, what’s left of it…

[stikpusher]

ok... a couple more questions, did you put the brushes in 100% conditioner, or some thinned mixture of conditioner and water? And if a mixture, at what approximate ratio?

[john3m]

The container is a galvanized oblong metal container from Hobby Lobby about a gallon or so with about two quarts of water then I added about two tablespoons 
of conditioner the water was about 72 degrees f.  The container looks like a water trough for horses and such.Remember I didn’t really expect the results I got it was a last ditch to see if I could salvage the brushes. I’ve been painting sceneries and such for over fifty years and was having a hard time thinking I would dump these old friends. I wish I had the foresight to take a before picture but when I get off my butt I’ll take the after picture.
going on, I let the brushes soak well over 20 hours. I could not believe the debris in the container the paint was just floating around. The only problem paint was silver it took a little more time and some mentee rubbing to remove from the metal. about 30% of them are not salvageable. I’m wondering if the galvanized nature of the container had some kind of chemical reaction. Years ago I had worked as a carpenter to go through college and heard stories of guys smoking and holding galvanized nails in their mouth while framing resulting in some pretty sick guys with swollen lips.

[lyle]

John, I am assume these are s able or other real hair, not synthetic ( cheaper ones that I use). It would sort of makes sense that conditioner would help. I wonder if an ultrasonic bath would help things along?

[john3m]

they are synthetic which is why i did not think it would work

[lyle]

Jun 13, 2024 11:19:43 GMT -5 john3m said:

they are synthetic which is why i did not think it would work

That is interesting. May have to give it a try!

[stikpusher]

Jun 13, 2024 13:40:52 GMT -5 lyle said:

Jun 13, 2024 11:19:43 GMT -5 john3m said:

they are synthetic which is why i did not think it would work

That is interesting. May have to give it a try!

Exactly! You've got nothing to lose but some old paint brushes that are likely headed for the trash anyways...

[TJ]

I have a can of brush restore for my house paint brushes. When needed I use a little for my model brushes

[lyle]

Jun 13, 2024 19:39:18 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Jun 13, 2024 13:40:52 GMT -5 lyle said:

That is interesting. May have to give it a try!

Exactly! You've got nothing to lose but some old paint brushes that are likely headed for the trash anyways...

I gotta try it. … and with the ultrasonic cleaner.

[john3m]

One problem I found is the paint on the handles on some of the brush’s is coming off. I probably wont do this with my better ones. And I used this stuff in my hair wow…