Olive oil for cleaning brushes?

Michele Rushworth · 10-26-2004, 09:06 AM

I use odorless mineral spirits from Gamblin for cleaning my brushes. I have a window open and a fan blowing the vapors outside all the time, and I keep my solvent container covered except when I'm actually cleaning a brush.

I don't use soap and water on the brushes after cleaning, though. I don't think I could get all the soap out and I'd rather have a small amount of OMS mix with the next day's paint (unless it has all evaporated by then) than soap residue.

Valerie Warner · 10-26-2004, 01:40 PM

Michelle,
I also use the Gamsol to clean my brush(es) all day. I used to cover it in between cleaning of brushes but I realized that I had the paper towel in my hand. Every towel with the smallest smidge of Gamsol would have to go in the covered metal trash can if I determined the Gamsol to be so toxic as to have to cover it up.

Now, girlfiend, where does that leave us? I am using the Gamsol unless someone will be so kind as to help me by giving me a health reason not to.

PS: My studio has a woodstove for heating and I have this fear of a big boom someday.

Michele Rushworth · 10-26-2004, 02:47 PM

Quote:

I am using the Gamsol unless someone will be so kind as to help me by giving me a health reason not to.

PS: My studio has a woodstove for heating and I have this fear of a big boom someday.

Oh my goodness! You already have your "health reason" to switch. I don't want to read about you in the news. If I had a woodstove in my studio I'd switch to walnut oil for cleaning immediately. Or I'd buy a ton of brushes and clean them all at the end with soap and water only. I'd keep any solvents far away from any studio with a woodstove.

Valerie Warner · 10-26-2004, 03:22 PM

Thanks Michelle!

I've only used a woodstove for heat for ever and have only painted "near" it for 2 years. "near" is 25 feet away. I read the Gamsol label and low and behold it has the same warnings that other solvents have. Don't breathe it etc. Dang. I like watery paint. What do you think of using the Weber Res-n-gel as an extender? How else can I make my paint thin if no gamsol, not too much walnut oil, etc.?

This will be quite a problem for me if I get rid of all solvents unless I learn of an option..

Thanks.

Marcus Lim · 10-26-2004, 10:26 PM

Valerie Warner · 10-27-2004, 11:23 AM

You're cute, Marcus!
No, problem. Situation under control.

Thanks for the great cartoon! I'm going to see if I can print it out and put it on my studio wall.

Marcus Lim · 10-31-2004, 12:16 AM

Glad to be "of service"...lol

Enzie Shahmiri · 03-27-2005, 09:10 PM

Oils deteriorate and become thick when air fills up in the bottle that they are stored in. To make your oils last longer drop marbles in the oil to raise the oil level back to the surface closest to the lid.

Michele Rushworth · 03-28-2005, 12:44 AM

Great idea. I have a huge bottle of linseed oil and at the rate I use the stuff I'll have enough to last until the next century. Maybe marbles would help it last longer. That is, if I can find the marbles I lost a while back. I know they were around here somewhere.....