Cleaning brushes after enamel paint

[derek]

Well lads, could someone tell me the best way to clean brushes. I began painting my recently acquired Jim Poots bus models. I used the red and cream paints supplied with kit. I assumed the paint was enamel and that meths would clean the brush . However no such luck. Brush is like a stick now. Maybe I am wrong about the paints being enamel? My next try will be to use commercial thinners, but said I would ask the question before I buy some.. Thanks in advance

Derek

[Mol_PMB]

White spirit will clean enamel from brushes. For the spirit, ideally use a glass jar (with metal lid) that is wider than it is tall, to reduce the risk of it being knocked over. You can re-use the same spirit many times.

Other options include enamel thinners (often more expensive, I use it for spraying enamels) or cellulose thinners (often contains more harmful ingredients).

As with all chemicals, read the label and obey the warnings as many of these are bad for your health and highly flammable.

[amdaley]

6 minutes ago, derek said:

Well lads, could someone tell me the best way to clean brushes. I began painting my recently acquired Jim Poots bus models. I used the red and cream paints supplied with kit. I assumed the paint was enamel and that meths would clean the brush . However no such luck. Brush is like a stick now. Maybe I am wrong about the paints being enamel? My next try will be to use commercial thinners, but said I would ask the question before I buy some.. Thanks in advance

Derek

Hi Derek 

Use white spirit if it's enamel. Use soap & water if it's acrylic.

It should say on the tin if it's acrylic.

Put up a photo of the labels & instructions & we'work out what it is.

Tony.

[Galteemore]

8 minutes ago, derek said:

Well lads, could someone tell me the best way to clean brushes. I began painting my recently acquired Jim Poots bus models. I used the red and cream paints supplied with kit. I assumed the paint was enamel and that meths would clean the brush . However no such luck. Brush is like a stick now. Maybe I am wrong about the paints being enamel? My next try will be to use commercial thinners, but said I would ask the question before I buy some.. Thanks in advance

Derek

Basic white spirit will sort enamel or use Humbrol/Revell enamel thinners. Meths won’t cut it

[derek]

5 hours ago, amdaley said:

Hi Derek 

Use white spirit if it's enamel. Use soap & water if it's acrylic.

It should say on the tin if it's acrylic.

Put up a photo of the labels & instructions & we'work out what it is.

Tony.

Thanks for the reply Tony. Unfortunately these paints came with the bus kits and are as blank as blank things. Don't think they are acrylic as I use acrylic all the time and I know they are water based. These came in blank tins without even the colour written on them. Nearly sure they are cellulose based as they have a strong smell.

5 hours ago, Galteemore said:

Basic white spirit will sort enamel or use Humbrol/Revell enamel thinners. Meths won’t cut it

Thanks @Galteemore. I have white spirits, so I will give that a go. I ignored white spirits as I always thought it was "lightweight" when it came to cleaning. I failed to clean BIN primer from brushes on a previous occasion using white spirits and was advised to get meths for the job. Horses for courses I suppose. Thanks again

[amdaley]

1 hour ago, derek said:

Thanks for the reply Tony. Unfortunately these paints came with the bus kits and are as blank as blank things. Don't think they are acrylic as I use acrylic all the time and I know they are water based. These came in blank tins without even the colour written on them. Nearly sure they are cellulose based as they have a strong smell.

Thanks @Galteemore. I have white spirits, so I will give that a go. I ignored white spirits as I always thought it was "lightweight" when it came to cleaning. I failed to clean BIN primer from brushes on a previous occasion using white spirits and was advised to get meths for the job. Horses for courses I suppose. Thanks again

White spirits would not clean up after Bin because Bin is similar to french polish with which you use meths.

Enamel paint is spirit based so white spirits or turpentine will thin that.

[derek]

22 hours ago, amdaley said:

White spirits would not clean up after Bin because Bin is similar to french polish with which you use meths.

Enamel paint is spirit based so white spirits or turpentine will thin that.

Every day is a school day. Final result anyway is that white spirits did the job. Brush is back as good as new. Thanks again for the helpful replies