The Poet Creek Express - Foamie Hybrid

[S. Heisley]

You're doing a beautiful job; but, we all knew you would.
I'm still sticking my head in, now and again, and reading/viewing.

[KCStudly]

Thanks Sharon!

[grantstew8]

It's looking fabulous!

[GPW]

KC, having had some experience with paint , a really Good brush makes all the difference in ease of application and finish ... and they don’t shed hairs as readily either (I hate that)... That and a good brush well maintained , will last many many years ... Each type of finish requires a different brush ...
I almost never buy a brush, just keep using the old ones over and over. Except for Oil painting “flats" which due to my unusual technique , which quickly turns them into filberts..
Spraying is really Nice if you have a vented and filtered booth , but can be a long term mess in a shop (overspray)

[KCStudly]

I have learned that soaking poly hardened paint brushes in either lacquer thinner or acetone will bring the brushes back to life. you may have to soak them for a couple of hours. I also found out that cleaning poly brushes in lacquer or acetone eliminates the hardening.

Your cabinet and wall color is great. What stain did you use? and the contrast between the darker wall and lighter trim is great.

Thanks for the tip, Slug, and the kind words. The stain for the Okoume (which tends to be a little pink or red itself) is Minwax Red Chestnut. The maple has Minwax "Natural" oil. The oil and poly makes the maple look a little yellow, which I think works good with the red in the chestnut.

[KCStudly]

It's looking fabulous!

Thanks Grant!

[KCStudly]

Thanks GPW. What is your procedure for cleaning brushes after poly? It says on the brush packet to rinse with the solvent, wash in hot soapy water, dry and store in the original cardboard cover. DO NOT SOAK! Having no ready source of hot soapy water in the loft I had been skipping that part. Guess the mineral spirits doesn't cut as well as lacquer or acetone.

To be honest, with regular use I had no problem leaving a brush to soak overnight, but if left for a while it seems that the goo tends to fall out of solution and migrate back to the brush.

I thought I had these rinsed out well and shook out, but they still got stiff. and the natural bristle brush (the 1 inch) had stuck to the paper sleeve. Maybe I can save them with acetone?

[GPW]

KC , I pretty much always stick them in a jar of whatever solvent is not too strong for the fibers ... for a couple minutes and then clean/wipe them against a paper towel or rag . Once they “seem” clean we just use soap and water , wash then well , making sure to get everything out that you reasonably can, and then we soap em’ up again , squeeze out the extra water and shape the tips with my fingers , and place it back in that cardboard thingie’ it came in (soap and all) . Or fold up something similar to hold the bristles into shape .. a recent purpose for all the leftover chipboard scraps ... When I’m ready to use them , just rinse them under water a couple times to remove the soap , and the bristles have remembered the shape of a well pointed brush , and not turned into a mop.

Extended soaking of a brush can weaken the hairs up in the ferrule where they’re glued together, and then shed... Unsupported, as stuck in a jar , they turn into a mop ... but even mop brushes find a use around here...

Basically , cleaning and simple care is the life of the brush .. Not many brushes I’ve actually wore out ...save the oil painting ones .. I still have watercolor brushes from when I first started professionally ..44 years .. still using them ..

[SLUG36]

Thanks GPW. What is your procedure for cleaning brushes after poly? It says on the brush packet to rinse with the solvent, wash in hot soapy water, dry and store in the original cardboard cover. DO NOT SOAK! Having no ready source of hot soapy water in the loft I had been skipping that part. Guess the mineral spirits doesn't cut as well as lacquer or acetone.

To be honest, with regular use I had no problem leaving a brush to soak overnight, but if left for a while it seems that the goo tends to fall out of solution and migrate back to the brush.

I thought I had these rinsed out well and shook out, but they still got stiff. and the natural bristle brush (the 1 inch) had stuck to the paper sleeve. Maybe I can save them with acetone?

I usually leave them sit over night. with just the bristles submerged on the hardened ones. and on natural fiber brushes. to clean, I will kinda work the brush in the thinner, shake out. repeat if necessary, and hang to dry. I have had the same problem with the poly and letting brushes sit in mineral spirits or leaving mineral spirits in my paint gun after using to poly. I have a used 1 gallon glass pickle jar with lid I use to soak the brushes in. It helps keep the acetone/lacquer from evaporating in the hotter months. I recently had to throw out a brush I have been using for 2 years because I didn't have any Lacquer thinner or Acetone to clean the brush, and left it sitting in mineral spirits. this again only works with natural fiber brushes.

[GPW]

KC ,Slug, I’ve recently had super luck cleaning accidentally paint or glue encrusted brushes... Hand sanitizer gel ... a dab of that rubbed on the brush all over , and especially around the ferrule .. Then a soak it in hand sanitizer and water 50-50, and a couple hours later it’s all mysteriously freed up and clean ... and we put that on out hands ???

[KCStudly]

Got it. I have been using a plastic DD ice coffee cup with the handle of the brush stuck up into the straw hole of the lid to keep the brush suspended in the cup, but I doubt if these plastic cups will hold up to acetone. I'll have to save a glass jar.

Pickle, anyone?

Not sure, but I think the active ingredient in hand sanitizer is usually IPA (isopropyl alcohol).

[GPW]

Acetone and other Strong solvents may damage the bristles and loosen the glue at the handle ... just sayin’, we’ve literally melted brushes in some of the solvents at my brothers shop ... I’m sure a quick Google will give you 10,000 opinions on what the best thinner is for which bristle type ... Mineral spirits works well for most my needs, and is “relatively” safe to use ... and for many years now , we have and use a "Safety can” just for oily/solvent rags / paper towels which may self combust ... just not in a sealed locked metal can ... hopefully

I don’t know about the hand sanitizer composition , but luckily it has worked several times for me recently ... worth a try eh , it’s everywhere...usually free

[cpinetree]

Put your poly brushes in the freezer after wrapping them tightly in saran wrap.
When ready to use the next day, let it thaw for a few minutes brush a scrap of wood with it and get to work on your next coat of poly.

I did all of my oak kitchen cabinets, 4 coats, over the course of 2 - 3 months using ONE high quality brush that never touched thinner, acetone etc.

I swore I will never wet sand and poly another thing in my life after the kitchen project. They came out really well (could probably still use another couple of coats, for that super thick mirror finish, but I don't have it in me)

Amazing build! you have way more patience then I do, keep it up!

[Wolffarmer]

I don’t know about the hand sanitizer composition , but luckily it has worked several times for me recently ... worth a try eh , it’s everywhere...usually free

I have visions of GPW toting a bunch of crusty old brushes into the local hospital.

Randy

[oakinteriors1]

KC ,

I still have watercolor brushes from when I first started professionally ..44 years .. still using them ..

WOW I thought I was alone in that... I have some of my Acrylic paint brushes from high school, Class of 1971 and they are still good... One of them I have spar urethane coated several SOF kayaks with! I clean with mineral spirits.. Acetone acts like paint remover with the helmsman spar urethane I use.
I like spraying with an HVLP gun with the air pressure turned down for hardly any overspray...This cedar cabinet has held up, so far, for a couple yrs. Being outside with 4 coats on it...
http://s147.photobucket.com/user/scrawf ... t=3&page=1