What do people use to clean their brushes after after they have applied their finishes. I would like to use quality brushes instead of desposible ones.

Thank You

Scott,

I use Flex Coat High Build epoxy. If I'm working with it, I have a bottle of alcohol there to clean up any slop. I don't use good brushes for epoxy. I throw them out. Flex Coat is "self leveling" and I find a stiff brush is easier to use than a soft one. Some builders don't even use a brush. They use a flytying bodkin. When done, they just wipe it off. But for Flex Coat, I would use alcohol. Trondak U-40 sells a brush cleaner for their products. I use Trondak Rod Bond for rod construction. To clean up any Rod Bond on components I use the same alcohol. I use throw away mixing sticks to mix and apply it. I do use a good artist's brush for putting on color preserver. I use Flex Coat CP which is water soluble. Just rinse it out good over the sink and it's good to go.

Bill Doherty

Hi Scott:
I use the small disposable brushes from Cabela's, approx. $2.70 for 10 I think. Clean with acetone and 1 brush can be used a dozen times. Best brushes I have ever used.

I use a natural bristle brush. To clean, I wipe off the brush to get as much of the finish off it and soak it in denatured alcohol until I'm ready to use it again.

The disposable brush idea is a good one. We can supply these as a distributor for Flex Coat and available in packs of ten or in bulk of 85. Very reasably priced adding just a few cents per rod. But you can even make these last longer with several uses by cleaning them.

Brush cleaner products availble for rodbuilders with low flash point and will do a good job is the Flex Coat Brush Cleaner.
Denatured alcohol will work, and also U-40 brush cleaner. For less waste, squeeze and wipebrush between disposable towel and then dip in a small amount of solvent, squeezing out the excess.
Okay to leave the brush soaking in the cleaner when not in use.

Acetone also is a versatile cleaner, I still use, but it is highly volatile and in this case it's probably better to do as I 'recommend' (with the flex coat or U-40 brush cleaners) and not as I do.

Rich G.
Richard's Rod & Reel

p.s. we've expanded the range of U-40 and Flex Coat full line of products. Many useful items for the custom rodbuilder.