When using oil paints, I don’t enjoy cleaning the brush at the end of the day, only to get it dirty again the next morning. So between uses, I simply stick the brush in a can of water. The water keeps the air away, and thus keeps the brush from setting up. This works for varnish, stain and oils as well. When I’m ready to use the brush, I just give it a few heavy strokes against a clean cardboard box. Oil and water don’t normally mix, so what little water remains on the bristles is rapidly absorbed into the cardboard.
At the woodshop where I teach, I keep a perpetual brush dedicated to varnishing projects in a 1-lb. coffee can full of varnish. The lid has an “X” cut in it, through which the handle protrudes. This brush is used daily in varnishing projects, and the varnish is replenished on a daily or weekly basis. As long as the brush is used at least once a month, we’ve had no problems.
Mark White, Kodiak, AK
