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Hi,

I recently came across a YouTube video about the Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver, in which the author said to store the brushes upside down with the painting tip pointing down (in their protective plastic tubing), so as to not let water get to the glue binding the hair to the handle inside the ferrule. What do you guys think about this? The rationale seems reasonable enough, but this is the first time I've heard of storing paint brush, so I'm curious. Thanks.

Ideally? Tip down. How do I do it? Tip up.

I dry them tip down but store them tip up if I'm not using them.

Ideally tip down. Also prevents dust accumulation. Failing tip down, sideways if possible.

Tip up with the plastic cap in the bin.

Water won't run out of a brush so it is pointless to hang them upside down, the plastic cap prevents airflow and encourages mold - it is for transport only

kb_lock wrote:
... the plastic cap prevents airflow and encourages mold - it is for transport only

Thanks for that, I hadn't thought of it, have been using the plastic caps religiously all these years. Gaah.

Tip down or at worst, horizontal. Apply some brush soap before storing to aid in clearing the ferrule out (if you thin your paints to dirty water its unavoidable to get them up in it!). I have my cleaning and storage method in the hobby section of my blog, its worked keeping my series 7 in tip top condition for years.

Everyone has their own way of storing though and as long as you are happy with the longevity of your brushes go with what comes naturally

I store them tip up with the finest (20/0) of them with a protective cap on.. never had trouble with that, but then again the climate down here is usually quite hot and dry, so no worries about the moisture accumulation.

Scattered haphazardly across a dirty table where cats walk on them is my general method of brush storage.

I abuse my brushes in use too much to worry about storage. In my view, brushes are just another disposable resource like paint. I buy whatever mid level brushes are on sale at the hobby store knowing I will destroy them.

I actually have a few 10+ year old American Painter liner brushes that I love and that won't quit. I just trim off stray bristles and trim the tip with an exacto when need be.

There's only so much you can do to "preserve" your brush when using acrylic paints, especially your detail brushes.

I buy my 0's and 00' in bulk at Blick's (Scholastic Wonder White Round) - they end up like $1.00~$1.50 per brush. I use them until the tip starts to curve, then replace them - usually a 2 weeks for heavy, prolonged sessions (it lasts about average 30 models) and 5-6 months when painting hour or two a week. The old brush then gets used for dry brushing.

I have a set of good brushes for my watercolor - but because of the nature of acrylic paints, it's a bit of waste of good brush because dried up acrylic is almost semi-permanent, and the scrubbing required to get it completely out ruins the brush.

 skchsan wrote:

I buy my 0's and 00' in bulk at Blick's (Scholastic Wonder White Round) - they end up like $1.00~$1.50 per brush. I use them until the tip starts to curve, then replace them - usually a 2 weeks for heavy, prolonged sessions (it lasts about average 30 models) and 5-6 months when painting hour or two a week. The old brush then gets used for dry brushing.

Thanks for this, been looking for decent brushes that won't break the bank, and these seem perfect. The price is great, too. So thank you.

GamerSTGM wrote:

 skchsan wrote:

I buy my 0's and 00' in bulk at Blick's (Scholastic Wonder White Round) - they end up like $1.00~$1.50 per brush. I use them until the tip starts to curve, then replace them - usually a 2 weeks for heavy, prolonged sessions (it lasts about average 30 models) and 5-6 months when painting hour or two a week. The old brush then gets used for dry brushing.

Thanks for this, been looking for decent brushes that won't break the bank, and these seem perfect. The price is great, too. So thank you.

I hear you. GW already breaks my bank with the miniatures. Gotta off set it somehow

Dip in liquid Pink Soap, store upside-down. Get one of those hollow coffee stirrers as an impromptu paint brush protector!