How to Varnish with a “pro.” Brush care

How I clean and take care of my brushes.

Step 1. Take the bush after use and work it in paint thinner or mineral spirits for a minute or two.
Step 2. to spin or flick the brush clean in a suitable container. Empty the cup of solvent into an appropriate container.
Step 3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 twice more.
Step 4. Fill the cup up one more time if coming back to do more work in the next day or so leave the brush in the thinner. Just spin it out and go back to work. If that was your last coat finish cleaning with the fourth cup of thinner.
Step 5. Empty your thinner cup and fill it with brush cleaner. Work the brush for about the same amount of time as you did with the thinner. This step only needs to be done once.
Step 6. Spin out the brush. Give it a few extra seconds of effort this time to speed up the next proses.
Step 7. Take the brush to a sink you’ll want to have running water. Put a drop of dish soap on the brush( about the size of a pea usually works). Get the brush wet with water and work the soap into the bristles with your palm. Once you have a good lather run water over the brush continuing to work it against your palm. When the water runs clear reapply soap, work it and rinse. two or three times usually works.
Step 8. Flick or spin the brush mostly dry and set it aside to totally dry.
Step 9. Rap that bad boy up in a paper towel and put it away.
Step 10. Grab your favorite refreshment and relax. I’d say go look at your work but it’s bad practice to disturb the space that you have just been varnishing in. If you want, step 10. can be done one day after brush cleaning in the company of your newly varnishes project.

  / oliverwoodcraft  

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