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What do I do with my brushes once I'm done using them but i'm not done painting?
Do I put them back in the water (without the tips touching the bottom?) I heard it's bad for the brush glue.

The only way the tips don't touch the bottom would be if you had magic floating paintbrushes or your brushes are put into the water upside down... can't see why you would want to do that.

I just clean my brushes and put them on the table beside me (e.g. when I am switching to airbrush or another brush size).

Plenty of ways to make brushes "float" without magic.

Even so, I only see call for doing so if you're planning an extended soak in a liquid brush cleaner. Personally, I just rinse them and lay them back on the table. When I'm completely done, they get a more thorough clean with Master's, if they need it, and the plastic tip guards go back on. Got a jar full of junkers and very task-specific brushes stood up on end, but all of my regular use brushes just lay on their sides.

I rarely use more than 1 brush at a time but on the rare occasion i do I just attach blu tac to the rim of the glass and stick the brush to it

Your best bet is to clean the brush thoroughly and then store it as you usually would (flat, in a shot glass like I do, whatever).

Most model paints (acrylics) dry awfully quickly, and once you've destroyed your brush there's no bringing it back.

Im not so sure that extended soaking is good if the handles are wood, they will wick up the water and warp. I use this brush cleaner after each use.

Waterlogged handles are definitely something to be avoided - there's a reason nearly all manufacturers paint or stain them (beyond aesthetics/brand recognition, that is). Liquids shouldn't ever reach the wood through the bristles, though, as the ferrule is sealed off by the adhesive (generally wax based) that holds them. The handle finish is enough to protect from minor splashes. The real danger is an extended dip beyond the upper (handle side) edge of the ferrule. The underlying wood isn't as well protected - especially with a simple crimped ferrule - and will swell with moisture, leaving the ferrule loose once it has dried and shrunk back down. If you keep it to the bristles and corrosion-resistant ferrule, you can soak a brush until its bath evaporates away.

wtnind wrote:
The only way the tips don't touch the bottom would be if you had magic floating paintbrushes or your brushes are put into the water upside down... can't see why you would want to do that.

I just clean my brushes and put them on the table beside me (e.g. when I am switching to airbrush or another brush size).

Try the GW brush holder or make your own. There are holes in the lid of my water pot that is made of a yogurt container which can hold my brushes off the floor.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Kelly502 wrote:
Im not so sure that extended soaking is good if the handles are wood, they will wick up the water and warp. I use this brush cleaner after each use.

Well I'm not soaking them overnight, only just for the time that I'm painting.

Sorcery!

well seriously though, why not take the time to clean them properly between paints/uses it hardly like it takes a long time.

I usually just give them a good rinse in clean water and then store it flat on the bench or standing with the bristles facing upwards.

To always have clean water I use one of these. It's just one more gadget to keep me happy. Once you have made a rinse you press the button and and it switches the water for fresh.


When I am done I use a brush soap to recondition the brush and to make sure it is properly clean.

If you think the brush soap is to fiddly there are a number of liquid cleaner that you can have in a small cup beside you when you paint.

 granander wrote:
I usually just give them a good rinse in clean water and then store it flat on the bench or standing with the bristles facing upwards.

To always have clean water I use one of these. It's just one more gadget to keep me happy. Once you have made a rinse you press the button and and it switches the water for fresh.


When I am done I use a brush soap to recondition the brush and to make sure it is properly clean.

If you think the brush soap is to fiddly there are a number of liquid cleaner that you can have in a small cup beside you when you paint.

I think that device reminds me a little bit of a toilet. Just saying. Also, the people at GW were adamant about not putting the brushes on the table (for brush care?)

SirSertile wrote:
Also, the people at GW were adamant about not putting the brushes on the table (for brush care?)

For brush care? Are you sure it's not just their way of trying to sell you their brush holder?

Are we talking "on the table" as in just laying flat next to you? If they say this is bad they are talking nonsense. As long as the bristles don't lay against anything you can pretty much store them how you want.

They were talking about laying them on the table when I was still painting. Apparently it was bad for the brush. They said that I should leave them in the water pot when i'm painting (of course the ends don't touch the bottom) However, this could be bad for the brush so that GW makes you spend ;more money on their brushes.
Thanks for the replies!

Definitely get some of the brush soap.
I've also heard that once done with painting, brushes should be stored horizontally not upright. Don't know why or if true - try google for confirmation (I keep mine upright).
I would never leave them in water as the ferrules are steel & can start to go rusty. This will split the hairs & taint your colours. It's fine for during a painting session while swapping brushes though.

When I switch brushes give them a quick rinse in the water the. Put it on it's side, usually on some kitchen roll to stop anything getting wet. At the end of the session I clean the brushes I have used properly with brush cleaner.

I can't possibly see how laying brushes on their side between uses would do any damage whatsoever. Sounds like the guys at GW were talking utter nonsense

Obviously a tactic to get him to buy the mixing pot.
BTW it's actually quite good!

The thing is, does the GW waterpot work with non GW brushes. Probably not.

They might, the holders are slightly conical i belive and most brushes are of similar size.

They do, but more often than not I had a hard time telling if the brush actually DID fall through and touch the bottom.
Killed a brush or two that way.. Besides it's not good treatment of a brush to soak the wooden handle.