posted
Back in the late sixties one of my first duties as a floor sweepin' teen in the sign shop was to keep the brush tray clean once or twice a week. The tray we used was either homemade in a metal fab shop or manufactured in days gone by,I'm not too sure.Anyway I am curious how many of you brush folks out there keep a tray next to your easel to put wet brushes in when that elusive phone call or interuption to your lettering happens? I personally use a square metal can cut on the thin vertical side so that it will form a tray when layed on it's side at enough of an angle to let thinner fill the low side enough to lay brushes in & just have enough thinner to submerse only the hair portion of the brush.I have seen folks use metal roller trays but I personally don't like the acute angle at which the handle & hair tend to end up at in those.Either way the idea is to keep the hair of the brush wet & not the handle.The intent was to keep the brush ready to paint until cleaned,oiled & put away. My question is do any of you use a tray of sorts & or have alternatives to laying down a wet brush to dry when interupted? Now,...if I could only remember to use mine "all" the time,.........Maybe a rubber band glued to quill & tray????????
posted
I got one of the brush washer thingies... looks kinda like a tall tuna can with two holders on the sides to poke in the legs of a spring-looking thing... you put mineral spirits, or whatever, in the can part, then shove the handle of the brush in the springie-thingie part, so that the hairs of the brush are in the mineral spirits.
Geez, that sure sounded confusing... but what else do you expect from me??
------------------ Dana Aaron Sign-A-Saurus Nevis, MN (218)652-3839 ICQ# 37949659
Thought for the day: The more you cry, the less you have to pee.
posted
I've got a bunch of old refrigerator ice cube trays I use. They are handy when cleaning spray gun or air brush parts too. I've got a few really old ones with the handles on them which are really handy for the use you mentioned. You flip the handle under the tray and it holds that end of the tray up at just the right angle to keep the thinner at one end.
------------------ George Perkins Millington,TN. goatwell@ixlmemphis.com
"I started out with nothing and still have most of it left"
posted
I never liked the spring gizmo because the brush hangs at an angle, not straight down. And I don't like holding the brush against the side of the can with a clothespin, either. Picky, ain't I? well, if the pic doesn't come up see my post under one Shot 101.m
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com
[This message has been edited by Mike Languein (edited April 02, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Mike Languein (edited April 02, 2000).]
posted
Those springy thingy thangs are just a good way to ruin a good brush. If I know I'll be back to the brush within an hour I just swish well in thinner and lay the brush where I'll be sure to see it. I have a handmade wooden tray made especially for oil...it has a resevoir for the oil with a gentle slope to lay the brushes on....probably has 30-40 laying on it right now and I couldn't get along without it.
------------------ Terry Teague James River Signs Reeds Spring, MO tlteague@tri-lakes.net
Posts: 434 | From: Reeds Spring | Registered: May 1999
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Dana Aaron
unregistered
posted
Oh Oh... am I doing something wrong??
My brushes seem to hang straight.
Why would it ruin the brush?
------------------ Dana Aaron Sign-A-Saurus Nevis, MN (218)652-3839 ICQ# 37949659
Thought for the day: The more you cry, the less you have to pee.
posted
I like the can with the clothespin myself but here is a neat way to store your brushes in oil, take a one gallon metal sprits can, cut in half longways, get some screen door protector, it is a thin aluminum sheet with small holes and stuff in it, cut out an inch longer than the can, and bend it so you have a slope, put in your oil or whatever, then when you need oil tip up tray and oil your brushes, lay brushes in tray, the handles are always oil free.
------------------
Posts: 965 | From: Bonita Springs, Florida USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
oil brushes???? oh dang.. so THATS why my brushes don;t last.....
oh just kidding ......... no tray... always wanted one just havent found a way i like yet.... so i just swish in thinner and throw it on the deck until i'm finished for the day.... whew... brush abuse BIG time.....
------------------ Denise Carson Artful Enterprises Grandville, MI 616-532-2034
Carson Adventures "Anything worth doing, is worth OVER-doing!"
posted
I have a metal tray from a leak resovoir out of a small condendsing unit.Cut out V shapes on one end to keep the brushes seperated.I always keep my brushes wet when in use,and carry the unit with me in the back of the truck when window lettering while traveling to different locations.The shaking of the vehicle while driving really gets the paint out of the heels.I use the paint tray to keep my wall brushes wet as opposed to wrapping and sticking in a can. Good post Timi.For all our upcoming brush people.
------------------ PKing is Pat King of King Sign Design in McCalla,Alabama The Professor of SIGNOLOGY
Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dana, It's not bad that you use a brush holder like you describe unless you start the bad habit of leaving the brushes in it for extended times which will strip all the oil off the hair and make the brush start to behave badly in which case you'll have to take that bad boy and spank him with some fresh oil.
------------------ Terry Teague James River Signs Reeds Spring, MO tlteague@tri-lakes.net
Posts: 434 | From: Reeds Spring | Registered: May 1999
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Dana Aaron
unregistered
posted
Oh good. I feel better now. I use that springie-thingie for my brushes when I know I will come back to them on another color or something. Usually I don't leave them there for more than an hour or so. Otherwise I just oil them up and stick them back in my kit.
oh - I was gonna make some comment about the spanking and oil... better just leave that one alone... ------------------ Dana Aaron Sign-A-Saurus Nevis, MN (218)652-3839 ICQ# 37949659
Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?
[This message has been edited by Dana Aaron (edited April 03, 2000).]
posted
Be sure and use the right oil - one of the students in my sign class at LATT used Boiled Linseed Oil and ruined $300 worth of dead squirrels. 1975 money.
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com
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