Hey guys, just curious. I have about 10 different brushes I use, after I paint I wash them off with water til clean. Even during the painting process I'm constantly dipping them in the water to get the dried on gunk off. After so many uses (not that many.) It seems like my brush bristles all get scattered. Is there anything I can do to get them all back together and make these brushes use able again for detail work?
Thinner, acetone, alcohol? I want my brushes back to attention. If it's too late for these brushes, then what can I do for in the future? I'll get new brushes fine but what will prevent the scrambling from happening?
Thanks.

The scattering happens when both paint dries too close to the ferrule, and a normal reaction with natural fibers. It happens to nylon brushes too, but a bit slower.

91% alcohol will dissolve most hard to get at paint, but in time wreaks havoc on the fibers. When you're done with painting, a good idea is to dip them in clean water, form a point as best you can, and have them dry that way. Eventually all brushes fray and scatter, but they'll still be very useful for your drybrushing needs.

Oh, and errant hairs that stick out way to far to be smoothed, there is no harm in just clipping these off.

Hope this helps some. If you could see nearly all of our workstations for customizing, you'd find quite a few of us in the same boat.

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Which are the best brushes out there?

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I have found the Citadel (games workshop) and Reaper Minis brands to be the best that are in the hobby targeted segment.

Personally, using water is just fine, but you have to dip them regularly, and also most paints do better watered down a tad (Citadel, Vallejo, Reaper, Foundation and more).

To keep the tip, I will dip them in water, clean them, and then roll them on my tongue to a point.

John M>

Fyi, I stopped by the hobby shop last night, and talking to someone there, they suggested using fels naptha. It is a bar soap in the laundry section at walgreens.
Procedure rinse brushes then bar soap the wet brushes and work into the bristles a little, rerinse brushes, re soap them and form a point. Let them dry that way. When you go to re use them just rinse and paint. I'm trying regular bar soap right now and it's so far working.