Storing/preserving Mack 70 series brushes

[sped17]

I finally got myself one of these Mack 70 series brushes that are made for water-based paints--I plan on using it for striping gold leaf work mostly, using E'tac paint with their Jellee thickener. My question is what should I use for preserving the brush and storing it? Tranny fluid like for other pinstriping brushes or would that be incompatible with the water based paint?

[Whit]

Nix on the tranny fluid,,,
Oil and Water Don't Mix !!!
All mine are oilbased,, I could'nt
tell you other than DON'T on the
tranny fluid,, someone here will prob
chime in as well and have your solution !!!

[knucklehead]

Sped, I did the same thing, got a series 70, and used with E-tac and Jell-e, what I did was clean good, and coated it in jell-e, put it back on the card, then put the card in a zip-lock bag and squished as much air out as I could. It's been in there a couple of weeks, I'll check on it and get back. But, like Whit said, you really don't want to get any petroleum products in that brush. This sounds like a good question for E-tac

[JimmyG]

I am also a oil paint brusher and use tranny fluid and brush oil for oil brushes.....

I have red sables, taklons and such that I keep for water based paint....
I clean those well with water and palette those on a bar of white ivory soap....I soften up a side of the bar first with water so that I get a heavy coating of soap when I palette the brush.....

When the brush is good and loaded with soap, I shape the hairs to a chisel or point between my thumb and finger and let dry.....
The soap will semi-harden and hold the shape of the hairs.....I store the long ones flat and shorter ones standing up in cup.....
Wash out and go when ready to paint.....

I also use this method to "re-train" brush hairs when they want to splay out or "crow foot"......
Even for re-trains on my oil brushes.....

The series 70 Mack striper is a mix of squirrel and synthetic Taklon, series 75 mack striper is all taklon....

Don't know if this is the professional way, but it has worked well for me for many moons.....

[sped17]

Thanks a lot JimmyG! It would seem that soap in one form or another is the recommended choice--I posted the same question over on the Kustom Kulture forum and was told to use liquid hand soap. I've only got one of the 70 macks, I think its a 00, and I just got a Kafka Signature striper yesterday. I didn't know about the series 75 Mack striper--might have to get me one of those! Is there any advantage of all taklon vs. the taklon/squirrel mix? Man I feel like such a noob--50 years old and just now starting pinstriping to add as another weapon in my arsenal of artistic abilities!

[JimmyG]

The liquid hand soap should work but will not "semi-harden" like the bar soap so as to help preserve the hair "shape"....

You know how soap when sitting in a soap dish will harden on top and when you turn the bar over it is soft, mushy and sorta creamy.....?
That consistency is perfect for working a big load of soap into the brush....So I just put a tiny bit of water in the bottom of the soap dish awhile before I will use it...

Using the Ivory bar soap is a must because it's 95% pure, don't use any deodorant types soaps or hand cleaners....

Another concern I would have is IF the Ivory liquid hand soap might have other chemicals in it to maintain the "gel" state.....

Man, I've have so been wanting to try one of the Kafka Signatures, more like the whole collection...I have heard they are some kinda fine for ease of pulling curves and especially tight curves....

I don't have one of the Mack 75 taklons, but just knowing taklon would say it is alot snappier.....The squirrel hair in the Mack 70 helps hold more paint as the waterbased paints will seem higher densitied and the taklon gives "snap" and control.....

[eliz]

Thanks Jimmy .

[sharonsstudio]

I use alot of hairy brushes with water base Enamel and I use Glycerine soap it has no chemicals of scents,... but Jimmy sounds like the Ivory might work better I'll have to give it a try..

[knucklehead]

I like the Ivory soap thing too, have to give it a try. Thanks