Paintbrushes: clean and keep, or replace regularly?

[dwasifar]

I have a pair of Purdy brushes I've been using since the 1990s. Obviously I clean them thoroughly after each use, and make sure they're clean all the way up to the ferrules so they never get choked with paint. But sometimes I see Chinese knockoffs that look like Purdy or Wooster, with good reviews from people claiming to be pros, sold in bulk packs at prices that make them disposable. It makes me wonder if I've been wasting a lot of time and water preserving these.

Opinions?

 

[Stelzer]

My opinion is if you have a Purdy from the 90's you enjoy using, hold onto it like grim death. Around 2004 when Sherwin Williams bought Purdy they started going downhill and it's only worsened since then. In the 90's that's all I used. Now, I don't even own one. Brush selection depends upon the product used as well as specific application, but for the most part, I gravitated mostly to Wooster & Coronas with a few exceptions. E & J Gen X & Gen Y have been my favorites for years, but they're nearly impossible to source now. Wooster Alphas are the all around winner though. Excellent pickup & release, hold a ton of paint, and clean up crazy fast. Their Chinex bristles are amazing. Proform Picassos are about the only non-Chinex bristle I use nowadays.

As a Mod on PaintTalk, I get hundreds of painters trying to convince me that Purdy is still good, but it's mostly from old guys who've never tried anything else and can't accept the fact that something may be out that's better.

What you've got is the last of a bygone era. Consider insuring it and locking it up at night. There are no more.

 

[dwasifar]

My opinion is if you have a Purdy from the 90's you enjoy using, hold onto it like grim death. As a Mod on PaintTalk, I get hundreds of painters trying to convince me that Purdy is still good, but it's mostly from old guys who've never tried anything else and can't accept the fact that something may be out that's better. What you've got is the last of a bygone era. Consider insuring it and locking it up at night. There are no more.

Well, as you might have figured out, I am an Old Guy, and it's been sort of a point of pride for me that I've kept these in like-new condition through 30ish years and three houses. They're super nice. Maybe I'll try the knockoffs and report back, but I am certainly not planning to throw these away.

Part of this is that I'm fastidiously neat painter, and I don't typically dip them deep. When I was a kid, I worked in a factory loading ink into tubes by hand, and I learned how to carry an ink-loaded knife from vat to tube without drips. That skill carried over to painting, so I just dip about a third of the way and carry it to the wall without wiping the edge. So the bristles never get choked up at the ferrule.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

I get my painting supplies from a professional supplier and for the prices that I pay for brushes, rollers, (…) I’m not going to waste time and water (let alone thinner/solvents for the non water soluble stuff …) to clean them. For the duration of any given project they get wrapped in cling film after each use, and when the project is done they go into trash.

If you like what you have and want to hang onto them I wouldn’t exactly consider it wasted time (or water). I have some NOS brushes somewhere that my grandfather bought, in sizes I will never need, but that quality doesn’t exist anymore. Those would be maybe ‘worth’ cleaning if they ever got used.

But with today’s stuff, imho not worth it. You can have containers to keep brushes ‘fresh’ for some time, some pros invest into a ‘parts washer’ type sink/closed system to clean their painting tools. Many options available.

Personally, non of the painting stuff I buy is worth any of that - but still it’s all professional brand stuff. I don’t buy ‘Chinese knock offs’.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[dwasifar]

I get my painting supplies from a professional supplier and for the prices that I pay for brushes, rollers, (…) I’m not going to waste time and water (let alone thinner/solvents for the non water soluble stuff …) to clean them. For the duration of any given project they get wrapped in cling film after each use, and when the project is done they go into trash.

If you like what you have and want to hang onto them I wouldn’t exactly consider it wasted time (or water). I have some NOS brushes somewhere that my grandfather bought, in sizes I will never need, but that quality doesn’t exist anymore. Those would be maybe ‘worth’ cleaning if they ever got used.

But with today’s stuff, imho not worth it. You can have containers to keep brushes ‘fresh’ for some time, some pros invest into a ‘parts washer’ type sink/closed system to clean their painting tools. Many options available.

Personally, non of the painting stuff I buy is worth any of that - but still it’s all professional brand stuff. I don’t buy ‘Chinese knock offs’.

Kind regards,
Olli

What kind of prices are you paying?

 

[xjfish]

Good thread. I tend to treat them as somewhat disposable. Most of my painting with a brush seems to be exterior work on older buildings. I buy cheaper brushes, wrap in a plastic bag when pausing, and toss when project is done. For interior work I roll what I can and use higher quality brushes for trim. Those get cleaned.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

What kind of prices are you paying?

If I go with Storch’s top of the line product for water soluble paint, a 40mm flat brush will cost 14.70 EUR/ 15.38 USD (incl. VAT)

If I go with Storch’s classic/eco product for water soluble paint, a 40mm flat brush will cost 5.75 EUR/ 6.02 USD (incl. VAT)

If I go with my suppliers house brand I get a 35mm flat brush for 4.95 EUR/ 5.18 USD (incl. VAT)

Rolls start at 0.75 EUR/ 0.78 USD

(Storch is a German manufacturer for professional painting tools.)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Sumboodie]

I toss them, just factor it into the cost of the paint job.
Same with spray guns unless it's a very quick job. Usually it's a big job and the gun is caked in dried paint spray.
Made that mistake once with orange paint and just gloves, no "suit". I looked like an oompa loompa for several days.

Not spending 30+ mins cleaning a brush, then dealing with the mess everywhere else and paint infused solvent (which isn't that cheap either) over a $10 brush or $25 sprayer.

Had a painter do the interior of my house with water based paint and he washed the brushes and rollers in the sink.

It took me a few hours of cleaning specs of paint all over the sink and counter and unplugging the drain.
Had I known, I'd gladly have paid the $50 or even $100 for them to just get tossed.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I tend to buy decent quality brushes so tend to clean them for future use. In some cases depending on the material used for paint or staining a cheap synthetic $1 store brush is disposable. But a good brush when cutting in is worth the investment in the cleaning. The time you save applying material with a quality brush is easily offset the clean up.

 

[ohhimark]

No pics of the old brushes? I've been using Wooster, and recently got a Purdy, as that's what Menards had, and so far it seems good. I keep the ferrule clean, and the bristles, but the handles look like Jackson Pollock paintings. For oil based finishes I'll use an old brush or inexpensive new brush, or a rag/towel etc.

I have found that an old locked up solid brush can be rejuvenated if left out in the elements over time.

 

[Davefr]

I find old Woosters and Purdys at garage sales at give away prices and they're usually in great shape. Even if a few have dried up paint it's easy to restore them. Top shelf paint brushes are not cheap these days and no name brushes are ****.

 

[dr_clyde]

Paint brushes, roller covers, mixing cups, trays, and other materials are consumables, built into the cost of doing a job.

Determining whether or not something is worth doing is a simple math problem. Take your rate and divide it by the cost of doing the thing, then factor in the opportunity cost of doing something you don’t like vs something you do like.

I value my time at $100/hr, as that’s what I charge in my shop and there’s always paying work to be done in the shop, so I have a constant opportunity cost. Every minute of every day, I could be making my shop rate instead of whatever I’m doing instead. So, if I decide to watch tv instead of working, I’m actively choosing to spend my time doing that at the opportunity cost of $100/hr.

If it takes me 15 mins and some solvent to clean a $15 brush I'm money and time ahead to toss it and buy new. My time is far more valuable than a paintbrush at that price.

If paintbrushes were $50 or more, the equation changes. Suddenly 15 mins of my time and $5 worth of paint thinner saved me $20 by cleaning a brush, as I’d have to work 30 mins at shop rate to cover a $50 brush.

All tools and equipment need to pay for themselves and their replacements. For every hour of work, a percentage of the rate needs to go replacing whatever tool you’re using to make the money with. Nothing lasts forever and your tools wear out. Time is limited and you make more per hour on profitable work than trying to pinch every penny out of a consumable. The cost of the replacement is built into the rate, so don’t waste time trying to save it when it’s already paid for. You can’t save your way to prosperity, you earn it.

If you’re retired and have all the time in the world, you still have a rate. It’s still the same math, you’re just paying yourself vs a customer’s money. Ask yourself if you’d rather spend your time cleaning a $15 paintbrush or spend that time fishing, watching a movie, cooking with your wife or kids or whatever. The opportunity cost may not be strictly financial.

I worked for an old car painter who would spend a dollars worth of solvent and a few minutes of his time at $100/hr shop rate cleaning out the disposable mixing cups that the paint supply gave us with the paint. Never did understand how he made any money. He did spend most of his time working on something instead of enjoying the fruits of his labor.

 

[Steve_P]

My experience with cheap brushes is from years ago and they lost lots of bristles and made a mess. This was whatever HF or the big box stores were selling at that time.

If anyone has a suggestion on cheap disposable brushes that aren't junk, fire away.

I have some Purdy and Wooster brushes that are 10+ years old, maybe 20+, and I clean them. I don't think it takes more than five minutes to clean them if I do it right away, and you don't submerge the entire bristles when painting- like some people do. I clean the smaller foam rollers also as that only takes a few minutes and they're like new after washing clean. I don't bother cleaning the knap rollers as I could never get them clean and they're never as good the next time- those go in the trash at the end of the job. All of this is with your typical interior latex paint.

 

[demarpaint]

My opinion is if you have a Purdy from the 90's you enjoy using, hold onto it like grim death. Around 2004 when Sherwin Williams bought Purdy they started going downhill and it's only worsened since then. In the 90's that's all I used. Now, I don't even own one. Brush selection depends upon the product used as well as specific application, but for the most part, I gravitated mostly to Wooster & Coronas with a few exceptions. E & J Gen X & Gen Y have been my favorites for years, but they're nearly impossible to source now. Wooster Alphas are the all around winner though. Excellent pickup & release, hold a ton of paint, and clean up crazy fast. Their Chinex bristles are amazing. Proform Picassos are about the only non-Chinex bristle I use nowadays.

As a Mod on PaintTalk, I get hundreds of painters trying to convince me that Purdy is still good, but it's mostly from old guys who've never tried anything else and can't accept the fact that something may be out that's better.

What you've got is the last of a bygone era. Consider insuring it and locking it up at night. There are no more.

My feelings exactly, in fact I stopped buying them for my painting business as a result. I found Corona brushes to be very good, although since I retired about two years ago I haven't needed to buy any more.

 

[Notgrownup]

To me it depends what they look like after I’m done with the project.it also depends on the project to what quality tools I will use. I still have some Purdy and Wooster brushes I have managed to get very clean and salvage. I will use them until I can’t then they go in the trash can.

 

[RTM]

Most of the brushes I buy at Ace or a big box store have been **** and shed bristles like a golden retriever. If I’m doing fine work, I will use an expensive brush, and clean it as best possible.

I had a Purdy or two, not sure if they are still in the paint box..

 

[Stelzer]

I stopped having my guys clean roller covers years ago. Stock colors like black & white, we'll wrap 'em in plastic, but the rest get tossed. Paint cages/screens don't get cleaned, just left to dry out and use til they're too plugged up to be useful. We buy what we consider to be the "best" brushes by the cases, but ultimately it's still considered a consumable, but I like to try and get at least 5 good size projects out of brushes before tossing. I'd never read reviews on Amazon or HD when shopping for brushes though. Best to look on a forum for professional painters if you're really wanting to see what makes an optimum brush for whatever it is you're looking to paint.
About the only paint brush around here you can find at a big box store that's worth a **** is a Wooster Silver Tip, but I'd choose a Wooster FTP before that, (available at paint stores), and a Wooster Alpha before a FTP. HD's Purdys are garbage. They don't retain their shape, they take forever to clean, and the amount of paint they can hold & release efficiently is sub-optimal. Also not a big fan of paint stores branded brushes, and I've tried most of them.

 

[Just_Steve]

I have a bunch of Elder & Jenks brushes that have served me well as a home owner not a professional.

 

[Burt Shaver]

I’m a contractor and have a fair bit of experience, not a painter but have done a fair share of painting. If you have a brush that you like for cutting in, I would say do what you can to hold onto it, you will waste more time and money than you would think trying to find another brush that you like. Myself I’ve been using some of my brushes for around 20 years and I have a difficult time finding any that I like anymore. If it’s oil base paint I’m using a cheap brush and throwing it out

 

[Beerhippie]

My opinion is if you have a Purdy from the 90's you enjoy using, hold onto it like grim death. Around 2004 when Sherwin Williams bought Purdy they started going downhill and it's only worsened since then. In the 90's that's all I used. Now, I don't even own one. Brush selection depends upon the product used as well as specific application, but for the most part, I gravitated mostly to Wooster & Coronas with a few exceptions. E & J Gen X & Gen Y have been my favorites for years, but they're nearly impossible to source now. Wooster Alphas are the all around winner though. Excellent pickup & release, hold a ton of paint, and clean up crazy fast. Their Chinex bristles are amazing. Proform Picassos are about the only non-Chinex bristle I use nowadays.

As a Mod on PaintTalk, I get hundreds of painters trying to convince me that Purdy is still good, but it's mostly from old guys who've never tried anything else and can't accept the fact that something may be out that's better.

What you've got is the last of a bygone era. Consider insuring it and locking it up at night. There are no more.

Hear, hear!

I was taught to paint houses by the old guys whose motto was "Don't touch my Purdys if you value your hands!"

Now they're the second-tier brushes at the local hardware stores. Still worth it to me to clean them when I'm the one using them, but I was also taught useless things like how to keep the paint out of the ferrules and how to use a wire brush to clean a brush.

Roller cover, 'though--you gotta be kidding! I cleaned my last roller cover many years ago. Rollers take a few minutes under running water to clean, so those I do clean.

My younger coworkers, OTOH... everything is disposable. Paint in the ferrule? What's that? ****, they'll have paint up to the elbows after painting five feet of trim. As for tricks like painting to the edge to prevent runs... cutting in first (without masking) and maintaining a wet edge... don't get me started. I try, but it's just hardly worth it anymore.

 

[dnschmidt]

The best brushes I have used I get from Dunn-Edwards a West Coast paint supplier. I believe they are made by Corona. I also like Brestt-Liebco.

 

[dwasifar]

No pics of the old brushes?

If you like:

 

[Leon bee]

I'm with you 20 year guys. Don't even much like painting anymore, but last couple years I've had to say farewell to a couple of my favorite black bristle enamel brushes and kinda felt guilty.

 

[Nutria]

I don't think it takes more than five minutes to clean them if I do it right away, and you don't submerge the entire bristles when painting- like some people do.

All of this is with your typical interior latex paint.

Agree. And ditto for oil-based, but I spend a minute or two longer with those. I just keep a can of older turps and a can of fresher turps for cleaning. A couple of minutes in the old turps, a couple in the new turps, then spin briefly.