I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several large
pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable. Is
there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
just have to use more paint thinner and time?
John
Paint thinner and running water are worthless if the urethane has either
partially or completely cured. You have to essentially use some form of
finish stripper. There are several brush cleaning liquids available. Try
one that indicates it can clean cured finishes like polyurethane. You can
also use finish stripper but it may be a bit harsh on the brush.
Some people make it a point to completely clean their brushes, minus
soapy water, between large pieces just to avoid partial curing.
Good Luck.
"John Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several
large
> pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
> clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
> successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable.
Is
> there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
> just have to use more paint thinner and time?
>
> John
>
>
>
Uncured urethane is best removed with xylene of toluene. After it cures
(polymerizes) it's difficult to remove but you might try NMP
(n-methylpyrrolidone) which I have found in HD on occasion.
RB
John Smith wrote:
> I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several large
> pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
> clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
> successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable. Is
> there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
> just have to use more paint thinner and time?
>
> John
>
>
>
Hmmm...I never would have used water, but that doesn't mean it's incorrect.
Unless you're using soap and water after really cleaning it out with the
thinner to get the thinner out of the brush (mineral spirits I assume when
you say thinner).
I've accidentally under cleaned a brush before and it was tacky the next day
(fortunately I caught the problem before it had cured fully). I recleaned
it in twice the amount of spirits and was able to get all the varnish (poly)
out.
I guess I'd try more mineral spirits is what I'm kind of rambling on
about...
Good luck,
Mike
"John Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several
large
> pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
> clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
> successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable.
Is
> there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
> just have to use more paint thinner and time?
>
> John
>
>
>
Try acetone. I use acetone to clean up Polyurethane glue.
"John Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several
large
> pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
> clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
> successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable.
Is
> there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
> just have to use more paint thinner and time?
>
> John
>
>
>
Two suggestions;
Preload the brush with the proper solvent, mineral spirits for oil
based and water for WB, prior to dipping in the finish. Stops the
drying of the finish near the ferrule which keeps bristles limber and
makes brush MUCH easier to clean.
I used CitriStrip to clean a stiffened brush based on a suggestion
from Jeff Jewitt and it worked. Soaked it overnight if memory serves.
On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 11:01:57 -0500, "John Smith"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I was doing a project with urathane, and after applying it to several large
>pieces, I had a very messy brush. I spent twenty minutes plus trying to
>clean it using paint thinner, and running water. I thought I was
>successful, but when the brush dried, it was hard enough to be unusable. Is
>there a trick to cleaning urathane off brushes that I'm missing, or do I
>just have to use more paint thinner and time?
>
>John
>
>