Old brushes are sneaky finish killers, I learned the hard way.

Derek Butler · 2026-02-27T08:06:42.729133+00:00

I thought a quick clean was fine, but leftover gunk WRECKED my project. Now I replace them more often.

Oh yeah, the "leftover gunk" thing is so real. I read something a while back about how brush bristles can actually hold onto old paint or varnish way down near the base, even after a wash. Then it all comes out later as a weird fleck or a sticky spot. I had that happen with a dried bit of white paint that showed up in a clear coat, looked terrible. Now I just toss them way sooner, not worth the stress.

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sagesingh7mo ago

But honestly if you clean them right, a good brush can last years without issues. Way cheaper than buying new ones all the time.

3

wyatt7717mo ago

Base gunk needs a deep solvent soak.

1