Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I've recently bought myself some Winsor and Newton Series 7 Kolinsky Sable brushes, and while I'm thrilled with the quality of the brushes (a #1 and a #2/0), I'm terrified of damaging them when I need to clean them. Mu original brushes, a set of Citadel ones, were decent enough, but finally bit the dust after heavy use and inexperienced cleaning. So, resolving to take care of my new brushes, having watched a brush cleaning video by Les Bursley, I bought myself some of 'The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver. My problem however, is that Les only detailed how to clean a drybrush using a more vigorous method suited to a drybrush. While the technique and video was useful, I can't use this vigorous technique on a fine detail brush without ruining it!

So, here's my current method for cleaning my new brushes:

1. Add a few drops of water to Masters brush soap and gather suds on my finger.
2. Massage suds into brush using a circular motion between thumb and index finger.
3. Leave brush to sit for a few minutes.
4. Rinse
5.Massage more suds into brush.
6. 'Flick' brush across finger mimicking painting strokes.
7. Rinse

So my question is - am I doing this right - or will I damage my brush/ineffectively clean it using this method?

I should clarify that I rinse all the heavy paint deposits from my brush regularly during painting, I never leave paint to dry on the brush if I get up and go somewhere else (unlike my poor old citadel ones! ), but only once I put away all my painting gear at the end of a session do I go through the above method.

Any help would be appreciated.

Your process is much more involved than mine. I just soap and lather up and rinse twice.

Then I very gently shape the bristles with my lips, then apply a coat of Masters to act as conditioner.

You're doing it fine.

Dipping the brush, past the ferule into natural turpinoid will also help keep paint out of the ferule and condition your brushes.

Also, a high quality hair conditioner, the kind your wife or girlfriend probably uses, is also something that can help form time to time.

A.