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Theres a Better Way


Keep a Paintbrush From Drying Out Between Coats

comments (16) July 1st, 2010 in Blogs
grateful.ed Chuck Miller, editor at large

Video Length: 2:13
Produced by: John Ross

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Wet paintbrush storage


Don R. Simon, Jr., from Bremerton, Washington writes:

For years I have used plastic sandwich bags to store my wet paint brush till the next coat was ready or till the next workday. I would just open the bag and stuff the brush inside. The problem with this method is that it’s messy. Paint gets all over the opening of the bag, and the brush’s handle.


Here’s a method that I’ve devised that allows me to minimize the mess while still achieving a virtually air-tight seal. As shown in the drawing (location), I cut a small wedge out of the side of the bag about 1 1/2 in. above its corner. Now I can insert the wet brush handle first, with the opening of the bag wide enough to keep the wet bristles from making contact with the self-sealing strip. Once the brush is in the bag I pull the handle down until the brush neatly tucks into the corner against the bottom of the bag. Next, I wrap the bag around the brush, seal its ziplock strip and wrap a piece of tape around the whole thing to keep it tightly bound. The wet brush will stay fresh for days.


This also works great for clean brushes that are dry and ready to store. Just wrap the excess part of the bag around the brush and secure with some tape or rubber band. Your clean brush now has the bristles protected and the bag is ready if you wish to reuse it to store that brush when it is full of paint.

 

posted in: Blogs, painting, brush, cleaning
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Comments (16)

friskypainter friskypainter writes: The new Paint Brush Storage Lid by Gadgetry is now available. Store your brush anytime needed. Just put in the lid and place on can. Press down to seal for overnight. It's available on Amazon. Here's another good one. Store an oil brush suspended in a gallon can of water. Use the lid to keep a sharp tip. Works every time. I've gone 3 days with success. Wipe off the water on a rag and go.
Posted: 11:18 am on December 18th

TLeonard328 TLeonard328 writes: For many years I've used a simple technique of folding two sheets of paper towel, running them under water, wringing out the excess and folding over and around my brush bristles - with care you can use the same paper towel multiple times during the day. When done just discard into the trash, simple cheap, no mess.
Posted: 9:52 am on July 4th

friskypainter friskypainter writes: Hi to all,

All I've read are very useful solutions to the dilemma of paint brush storage, however I am the inventor of a new paint accessory, the ECO Prazi Paint Brush Storage Lid. It is a lid that stores your brush for a quick break, phone call, lunch, overnight, and even multiple days on end. If you have a second google it or go to praziusa.com for a video demonstration and price. I am a full time painter and it was born out of necessity. Hope you enjoy!

friskypainter

Posted: 12:27 am on July 29th

chipkip chipkip writes: Forget various wrappers, leave it in water. Easiest way is to use any fast-food cup with lid. Push the handle up through the straw hole in the lid and fill cup with water. Make sure the bristles are submerged but not touching the bottom. I use this method throughout the day as well.
Posted: 11:18 am on July 18th

emilymoe emilymoe writes: I usually use plastic wrap and it works great. I wrap the brush and put it in the refrigerator, and it lasts a good week.
Posted: 4:36 pm on July 6th

nvman nvman writes: Cling wrap is the way to go.
i always keep a roll in my workshop.
I wrap about 3 times around a roller, finishing it off by giving the cling wrap a diagonal twist to get out all the air and then tucking in the ends.
I have kept a roller from one weekend to the next.
I only keep paint brushes for a few hours because the paint will always begin to dry near the top of the bristles.
Posted: 12:38 am on July 6th

ron.taunton ron.taunton writes: I second Gough's idea. I've used aluminum foil for years. It will keep a brush or roller (with the handle) from drying out for several days. Just make sure you wrap it tight.
Posted: 10:23 pm on July 5th

NevSolarLiving NevSolarLiving writes: The other reason to not wash it is the environmental impact paint has on the water supply. I know it must be done but doing it fewer times really helps. Paint is very difficult to get out of water, so the less that is in it the less your sewage company has to work to make that water useable again.
Posted: 4:55 pm on July 5th

mc_brockman mc_brockman writes: cling wrap or saran wrap work best...your brush or roller good to be used even after 3 - 5 days...no need refrigeration.

Proven!!!
Posted: 4:22 pm on July 5th

808Dave 808Dave writes: For oil-based paint, what could be easier than immersing brush or roller in a bucket of water? Oil and water don't mix, and water keeps the solvents from evaporating, so the paint virtually never dries. Using oil primer, I've done this for up to several weeks without a problem. After removing from the water, a light shake of the brush flings off any water droplets. As for the roller, on removing from the water, you might or might not want to roll out the remaining wet paint on a scrap surface, depending on the project.

For water-based stuff, I usually will put a brush in any handy plastic bag and freeze it for use the next day or so, but I have found some paints get 'gritty' from freezing, so I don't think I would use this method for other than a primer.
Posted: 1:34 pm on July 5th

Gough Gough writes: For years, we've used alumuninum foil. At a minimun, this let's us get the brushes and rollers back to the shop for cleaning, rather than having to do it on the jobsite. Brushes and roller covers for oil-based paint can go in the freezer for long-term storage, since it won't freeze. If we've been using water-based/latex paint and won't need the gear again for a few days, we use the 'fridge.

We have a used mini-fridge that we use for this.
Posted: 9:38 am on July 5th

tbw tbw writes: I like cling wrap too, which also works great for paint rollers.
Posted: 9:08 am on July 5th

tpaul tpaul writes: Forget about the bag. Just use cling wrap film. A few twists around the head of the brush ensuring all the wet paint bristles are covered and you're good to go
Posted: 7:37 am on July 5th

sephillips sephillips writes: My tip keeps the paint brush good for a few days and it's EAZY! Just use "Glad Press & Seal". I wrap the paint brush with a piece a little bigger than the bottom part of the brush. The great thing about this product is that you can get a good air seal. Just unwrap when you are ready to reuse.

This method is good for hours, but if I am not going to use it again that day I'll put it in the refrigerator...It will be good the next day!
Posted: 7:36 am on July 5th

jyang949 jyang949 writes: (Continued)
To bag the wet brush:

Turn the bag inside out
Put your hand into the bag
Use your "gloved" hand to grab the bristle end of the brush
Keep holding the bristle end. Use your other hand to pull the bag over the brush, rightside out.

Twist the excess plastic around the handle of the brush. No need to further secure the bag if the brush is going straight into the fridge. The bristles stay wet and pliable for days.
Posted: 6:29 am on July 5th

jyang949 jyang949 writes: I have a method that is free and takes less time: "Repurpose" the plastic handled bags from a trip to the grocery store--a different bag each time, although you can re-use the bag.
Posted: 6:17 am on July 5th

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