Back again folks! I want to use some Vallejo masking fluid for fairly large areas. I assume I can use an ordinary paint brush to apply it, but how on Earth do I clean my brushes afterwards?
Cleaning masking fluid from paint brushes.
- Thread starter Gern
- Start date
slupanter
SMF Supporter
Watching
David Lovell
SMF Supporter
Ditto really ,Dave I got masking fluid from two or three manufacturers and found them very awkward to use they clag your brush up within minuets and have yet to find anything that cleans them ,must admit I used brushes i no longer loved but just showed them the bin ,have seen it applied with tooth pics on YouTube but what ever way find it pools probably doing something wrong. Where poss now I mask with science putty same as panzer putty but a fraction of the price ,0lease keep us in the loop with how you get on. Dave
I've used cocktail sticks to apply it when masking canopies and have usually been successful, but I want to use it to help mark out camo patterns. I've looked at some videos but most of them are art based and they either use a different sort of masking fluid or rely on specific art special chemicals - or even waiting until the fluid dries and then pick it out of the brush using their fingernails! There's gotta be a better way.
Most "art" masking fluid seems to be liquid latex based - the stuff I use is the own brand from "Hobbycraft". Brushes can be easily washed out in warm water with a drop of detergent as long as they haven't totally dried out. For large areas I tend to outline with a reasonably fine brush and then use a bigger cheaper brush to infill.
So a drop of Fairy liquid will work as long as it hasn't dried? Off to give that a try with an old brush!
A tip from an art world site from ages ago is to use a drop of hair conditioner in the final cleaning water for natural hair brushes to preserve the bristles. I've tried it on some very fine sable brushes and it seems to keep them more supple.
Nope! Wouldn't touch it!
rtfoe
SMF Supporter
If it dries I usually soak them in commercial solvent based thinners which usually stiffens the substance and becomes powdery and I just rub it off. Hate using masking fluid as you might as well paint freehand and do away with masking.
Cheers,
Richard
Cheers,
Richard
maybe the vallejo stuff is a different composition
Xylene (C8H10) cleans just about anything off anything. Very nasty stuff. Breathing in the fumes is not a wise idea. Insert "Warning of Death" here.!
Personally I would not use masking fluid to mask out camouflage areas but rather thin rolls of blue-tac then paper or tape over the larger areas.
there are also several "specialist" jobbies from the likes of AK that cost a fortune, Or silly putty that can the same but is a lot cheaper.
Personally I would not use masking fluid to mask out camouflage areas but rather thin rolls of blue-tac then paper or tape over the larger areas.
there are also several "specialist" jobbies from the likes of AK that cost a fortune, Or silly putty that can the same but is a lot cheaper.
So maybe cellulose thinners then?
Well that Xylene is a no no. I had to stop using enamels 'cos I couldn't cope with the fumes.
It's actually PJ who is doing the masking and he's not happy with the idea of Blu Tac and tape. My thought was to run a band of liquid mask - say about 1/2 cm wide, the same as you would do with Blu Tac, - at the demarcation line, then fill in behind that with tape.
I wet the brush with clean water before trying to apply the masking fluid, then immediately after finishing, clean the brush with washing up liquid, using your fingers to rub the soap well in & rinsing.
Having said that I only use nylon brushes - the really cheap ones - like kids' brushes 6 for a quid. That way I don't risk any of my expensive brushes!
Dave
Having said that I only use nylon brushes - the really cheap ones - like kids' brushes 6 for a quid. That way I don't risk any of my expensive brushes!
Dave
I got a couple of tins of Clever Putty which I think is the same. I'll see what PJ thinks.
David Lovell
SMF Supporter
At the risk of repeating myself
Cellulose thinners.
Pete
boatman
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how about white spirt ?
chrisb
chrisb
therapy
SMF Supporter
I usually just use one of those throw-away micro brushes for masking fluid.....
Nick
Nick