Brush conditioning fluid, is it worth bothering?

[pjgtech]

Been watching yet more YT vids and came across a couple on paint brush conditioning fluid.
Seems to be some debate whether its worth using or not.
Some other vids advocate just using soapy water and then vinegar to clean/condition your brushes.
Saw another YT vid where the guy recommended plain hair gel, (after washing the brush first) which I suppose might work if the brush is natural hair, not synthetic.

Anyway, just wondered what the general opinion is regarding conditioning your brushes, do people bother or not?

[Geoffers]

I don’t to be honest but I only use cheap brushes as I do the majority of my painting with an airbrush.

If I invested in some quality brushes I probably would so will be interested to see what the response is ?

Geoff.

[pjgtech]

I started off with just cheap brushes, but I do now have some nice quality brushes, so would like to look after them as best I can.
I tend to just clean them using thinners atm.

[Tim Marlow]

Depends what you are cleaning off. Best stuff for cleaning brushes (especially acrylics) in my opinion is Masters brush cleaner. This stuff….it is what it’s formulated to do. I get literally years out of my brushes, and this stuff certainly helps. I would clean using thinners, rinse, then larger them up in this stuff. Rinse it out, then repoint them, put the protective cover back on, and store them point downwards (important, stops any minor traces of residual paint migrating to the ferrule and splaying the point)

I certainly wouldn’t use hair gel, or vinegar, on my best sable brushes. Good manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to get them to point properly so why risk something that could soften the bristles and change their shape, or leach out the natural oils and make them brittle.

Synthetic brushes are another matter. Hair gel etc won’t affect them anyway, so I would (and do) just use Masters soap if they’ve been in acrylics, or washing up liquid if they’ve been in enamels or oils. Still go with the repointing and storing downwards though.

Never used conditioning fluid, by the way…..never needed to.

[Steven000]

("...and store them point downwards..."), Tim how do you store them downwards, with clips or something sticky? Cheers

[Jim R]

I echo Tim's post. Master's Brush Cleaner is good stuff. I clean as Tim says and then to "point" the brush I wipe the damp brush across the cleaner surface and store it without further rinsing.

[Tim Marlow]

("...and store them point downwards..."), Tim how do you store them downwards, with clips or something sticky? Cheers

Like this Steve…..very important you keep the plastic tip covers though…..

[Steven000]

Thanks for the picture Tim, yes I forgot about those tip covers, it's been a while since I bought new brushes, will keep them next time

[Tim Marlow]

I echo Tim's post. Master's Brush Cleaner is good stuff. I clean as Tim says and then to "point" the brush I wipe the damp brush across the cleaner surface and store it without further rinsing.

I point mine by using my mouth and lips Jim…..not all that hygienic really, so I’m not sure Id recommend it ?. Forgot to say I rinse the masters out with running water under the cold tap ?

[pjgtech]

I echo Tim's post. Master's Brush Cleaner is good stuff. I clean as Tim says and then to "point" the brush I wipe the damp brush across the cleaner surface and store it without further rinsing.

Just bought some, another hobby purchase!!! ???

[Tim Marlow]

Thanks for the picture Tim, yes I forgot about those tip covers, it's been a while since I bought new brushes, will keep them next time

If they are in good condition, I keep them even if I throw the brush away…..you never know when you might need one….

[Tim Marlow]

Just bought some, another hobby purchase!!! ???

I should’ve bought shares in that stuff years ago. I’ve been responsible for quite a few purchases over the years……

[Valeron]

Yup. I certainty bought it based on your advice Tim.

[Jim R]

Me too!

[PaulinKendal]

And me!

[Tim Marlow]

Yup. I certainty bought it based on your advice Tim.

Hope you find it as good as I do…..

[Valeron]

Absolutely. And it lasts a long time