Can a $10 fancy-pantsy bar of specialized soap make your brush live near forever? Yes it can. Come take a look at this great hobby tool!
Today Hellfire Painting is going over Masters Brush Cleaner, something every painter should have!
The Master’s Brush Cleaner & Preserver-1oz
YES. IT. CAN.
As with most things I know about miniature painting, I found out and tried this thing by accident. One use and I was hooked. This was about 6 years ago, and I’m still quite fond of the stuff.
In last week’s Toolsday post, we covered the importance of getting decent quality brushes. Now spending a small fortune on brushes is only worth it if you can make these last.
I’ve found that my Raphael’s were lasting me 2 to 3 times longer when I used the soap. Mind you, this is over the course of 6 months to a year of me painting like a raving maniac, so above and beyond normal wear and tear.
Master’s Brush Cleaner: How to Use
Seems pretty straightforward, but might as well get into it, as I don’t feel like getting PM’ed at 4 in the morning with complaints on how I destroyed brushes and ruined lives because the soap literraly exploded your brush (It won’t.)
Step 1: Clean your brush in water like you usually do.
Step 2: Before wiping it on a paper towel, roll it around the bar of soap like you would on a miniature you were painting. Unlike paint, don’t be afraid to get soap everywhere on the bristles of the brush, not just the tip.
Step 3: Give it a good whirl in water and dry it on a paper towel.
I do these 3 steps when I’m done painting for the day, not between every color, that is unnecessary.
There is also an optional 4th step, which I’ve never done but was recommended by great painters: add a little bit of soap to the tip of your brush at the very end and make it into a fine point. Without cleaning it, this extra bit of soap helps your brush keep it’s tip longer. Once again, so I’ve heard, I never did, I’ve been pretty happy using only steps one to three.
And there you have it, quality brushes deserve extra love.
Until next time,
