FOr decades ive been using brushes of variable qualitiy,
going thru gallons of acetone with poly resin.
Now Im using epoxy and Its harder to get off the brushes.
Ive been quickly squeezing any excess out with a cloth,
then agitating in turps,
and finishing with soapy water that seems to clean the last stickiness off.
ANyone got any tips on brush quality or cleaning techniques with epoxy ??
for me it has actually been easier to get clean brushes when using epoxy(at least the acetone last long with epoxy)
i just have two Spackle buckets filled with acetone
ill put the brush or squeegee in the first bucket and wipe it down and get all the resin off then i put it in the second bucket with clean acetone and leave it there until i need to use it again, i can keep my brushes for a long time by doing this
oh ya and i dont bother with any high quality brushes, just use the cheap ones, works good enough for me
I was pondering this myself just yesterday.
I know you can buy throw away brushes and use just once but maybe I’m just getting old, I hate unnecessay waste.
I have been using white vinegar as a solvent to clean spreaders and squeegies, it stops the chemical reaction and breaks down the epoxy to some extent, I then use an orange based hand cleaner to finish off.
I used this system yesterday with a brush but it still left a residue, I’m going to try a final clean with metho (denatured alcohol) and if that doesn’t work I’ll try acetone. This way at least you use very little acetone and keep the brush I hope.
Greg Loehr would say to stay away from solvents and just one-use the brush. Don't feel like you're ''wasting'' anything; there's more net waste/harm if you use a hydrocarbon solvent.
With epoxy I never use acetone, just cleanup with denatured alcohol, followed with soap and water. If you get it in time, it cleans easy. If the mix starts to gel, its harder to clean. I don't fight with it, if it doesn't want to clean up easy, I toss it. Although sometimes I can cut a little off the end and keep going a bit more.
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Greg Loehr would say to stay away from solvents and just one-use the brush. Don't feel like you're ''wasting'' anything; there's more net waste/harm if you use a hydrocarbon solvent.
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The goal is no solvents.....
...no solvents......no problems.....
One time use "chip" brushes....Yes...No solvents and.......
..... no threads started because crazy stuff happened......
after using the brush to hot coat your surfboard let it fully cure.... cut off the metal and epoxy part and throw the wood handle into the firewood box....reduce ...REUSE...recycle
i go to the 99cents stories and get some fair to good+ brushes.
use once and toss..............the price off sets the acetone use.
i also have a few quality brushes..............had them for years,
herb
Get some white vinegar and clean your brushes and squeegies in a bucket of the stuff. It takes a bit of time, but it works, and Harbor Freight or the 99 isn’t always open when you want it to be. That’s how I get drips off my skin also; and then a soap and water rinse. Idiots use acetone to clean the stuff; don’t be an idiot. I know a shop with an idiot who thinks he knows everything, and rinses his brushes in the stuff everyday, and he is such a dickhead, even if I told him this he wouldn’t do it. He’s such an idiot; perhaps because of that, but I suspect otherwise. He thinks he’s so smart, but he’s an idiot.
I’ll admit to using acetone for poly resin. But, I use very small quantities. The white vinegar idea seems like a good substitute. My method is as follows, and the initial solvent can be changed as needed.
I dip the brush in a small batch of acetone, then shake it out. Next, I soak it in a mix of hot water and Lestoil. Finally, hot water rinse and air dry. I also use Lestoil and a scrub brush to get uncured resin off my fingers, should I accidentally come in contact with the stuff while not wearing gloves.
I found that Lestoil really cleans a brush well. As opposed to the old school method of using a lot of acetone. My limited experience with epoxy resin is in woodworking. We always use DNA as a solvent for epoxy.
I haven’t built a board in quite a while, but I still do ding repair on a regular basis. Next time, I will try the white vinegar.
I remember when people didn’t use gloves and bathed in acetone to clean up. I guess it was some type of manly ritual of sorts. Even back then I knew it wasn’t good. I love acetone as a solvent, but not for epoxy.
Methylated spirits works the best for me. You can buy it anywhere, is relatively odor free and seems much kinder the the human body than acetone or epoxy thinners. Like all solvents it is flammable, but there are even those crazies who even drink the stuff to get off but that is not recommended
White vinegar for spreaders and the odd drip on the skin. As for brushes, I use the “disposable” ones, but try to line up several boards at a time and bang 'em out with one brush. Then I toss 'em. I have a good system that guarantees no fisheyes or other problems, and that system includes not re-using brushes, especially when doing sanded hotcoats only with no cheater. Like latex gloves, razor blades and tape, I just factor in the cost of the brushes and walk away knowing everything’s gonna be alright.
Never, ever, acetone. I honestly believe Dan Heritage Sr. died from that sh!t.
You can also get an extra time or two by taking the brush, putting in in a plastic bag and putting it in the freezer. Just thaw a bit and your ready.
Two pack polyurathane or epoxy thinners from car paint suppliers seems to work like acetone on poly,
rinse with small amount,in a well ventilated area and drain to a sealable jar for next first rinse,drop the brush in another large sealable jar with an 1/8" of clean,good quality brushes last a month or more,or until u leave the lid off,with no loss in quality…
From what I understand from reading here on Sways, acetone makes the epoxy molecules smaller so that they go through your skin into your body. Or, something to that effect. Unless you want epoxy sensitization, stay away from acetone and epoxy together… White vinegar does work really well to get it off your skin… I wonder if it is a similar effect to the acetone tho???
I use the chip brushes from HarborFreight… Every time I’m near the local store, I buy some chip brushes and rubber gloves. Cant’ have too many of either.
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Two pack polyurathane or epoxy thinners from car paint suppliers seems to work like acetone on poly,
rinse with small amount,in a well ventilated area and drain to a sealable jar for next first rinse,drop the brush in another large sealable jar with an 1/8" of clean,,good quality brushes last a month or more,or until u leave the lid off,with no loss in quality..
Those thinners would cost a lot more then acetone.
Here's one more vote for cleaning up Epoxy with white Vinager. Oxyclean is a good wash after useing the Vinager.
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In financial terms,your right artz,its a crazy price,
the right technique can save a little tho,and you can use a good brush…