OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

265743 RH <rhhutchins@h...> 2018‑04‑20 Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
Scott G wrote this yesterday:

Dollar Tree is selling good old sodium hydroxide (lye) as drain cleaner
for a buck.
   Its still good for cleaning your coffee pot (dipit) your paint brushes
(brushsaver), your oven
or anything else that it won't hurt.
   It dissolves many crusty things.
Including your favorite natural bristle brushes if you leave it too long.
   ("Nair" is hair removal by modified sodium hydrox.)

   Don't soak forever and keep it far away from your eyes or aluminum
(they use heated high pressure lye to actually mill aluminum)
      yours scott

Scott, I need more instruction in resurrecting gummy paint brushes with lye.
I've got a pretty good Purdy brush that I let get gummed with poly.  I thought
I had cleaned it, but when I went to use on some oil=based paint, I found
the goo.

Care to give this galoot, and any others listening in, a lesson in sodium
hydroxide for paint brush cleaning?  I've got a Dollar Tree store a few block
over.

Best regards,
Bob Hutchins, Temple, TX, USA
265744 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2018‑04‑20 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
> Care to give this galoot, and any others listening in, a lesson in sodium
> hydroxide for paint brush cleaning?
>
> Hey Bob and Gang
> Cleaning brushes is pretty straightforward
> Get a tall slim container. Tomato paste for small brushes, asparagus 
> can for 2",
> well you get the idea. Try to find a container not too much wider than 
> the brush.
>
>   A clip of some kind of hang the brush up off the bottom of the 
> container, keeps bristles from curling. Small clothespin type spring 
> clamps are good.
A couple of regular clothespins will work for a smallish brush.
        Anything to clip onto the brush and hang it up.

   Otherwise, just check it every hour or two.  The "gum" will loosen 
before the bristles do.
When you catch it just right, not only are the bristles completely clean 
to the ferrule, but at least as soft as new bristles.
  Make no mistake though, natural hair will be eaten to the nub if you 
totally forget it.
    DAMHIKT

   Synthetic bristles you can just leave a week if you want. Nylon never 
dissolves in lye. Well not that I have found anyway
    yours Scott
>

*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
265745 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2018‑04‑20 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
naaa, its plenty weak enough right out of the bottle hahaha
    Having worked with this chemical, of varying concentrations, the 
stuff they are legal to sell across the retail counter?  yeah you're ok

watch your eyes. no kidding watch  yor eyes
gloves are optional at this strength, but hey they're cheap. It takes a 
long time to wash it off your skin anyhow.

good 'ol hydrox.  Its like a secret weapon. It has a lot of uses.
  Its about the fastest ph adjuster in a fluid. Acidic fluids have no 
chance.
Add a very little hydrox? and just jack that ph back up, I mean now. 
Hydrox neutralizes them brutally, goodbye acid.

Its the simplest ingredient of soap.
    yours scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
265746 RH <rhhutchins@h...> 2018‑04‑20 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
Thanks, Scott!!!
265747 Matt Cooper <MaNoCooper@l...> 2018‑04‑20 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
This brings up an important question.

Hydrox or Oreo's. (Chocolate sandwich cookies, Jeff)

Ba dum dum.

Sorry I will slink away now.



Happy Connecting. Sent from my Sprint Tablet.


-------- Original message --------
From: scott grandstaff 
Date: 4/20/2018 16:35 (GMT-05:00)
To: porch 
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye

naaa, its plenty weak enough right out of the bottle hahaha
    Having worked with this chemical, of varying concentrations, the
stuff they are legal to sell across the retail counter?  yeah you're ok

watch your eyes. no kidding watch  yor eyes
gloves are optional at this strength, but hey they're cheap. It takes a
long time to wash it off your skin anyhow.

good 'ol hydrox.  Its like a secret weapon. It has a lot of uses.
  Its about the fastest ph adjuster in a fluid. Acidic fluids have no
chance.
Add a very little hydrox? and just jack that ph back up, I mean now.
Hydrox neutralizes them brutally, goodbye acid.

Its the simplest ingredient of soap.
    yours scott


--
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
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traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

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OldTools@s...
265748 <gtgrouch@r...> 2018‑04‑21 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
Hydrox is the best: you wouldn't lye to me, would you?

(Ducking and running away!)


---- scott grandstaff  wrote: 

=============
naaa, its plenty weak enough right out of the bottle hahaha
    Having worked with this chemical, of varying concentrations, the 
stuff they are legal to sell across the retail counter?  yeah you're ok

watch your eyes. no kidding watch  yor eyes
gloves are optional at this strength, but hey they're cheap. It takes a 
long time to wash it off your skin anyhow.

good 'ol hydrox.  Its like a secret weapon. It has a lot of uses.
  Its about the fastest ph adjuster in a fluid. Acidic fluids have no 
chance.
Add a very little hydrox? and just jack that ph back up, I mean now. 
Hydrox neutralizes them brutally, goodbye acid.

Its the simplest ingredient of soap.
    yours scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

To change your subscription options:
https://oldtools.swingleydev.com/mailman/listinfo/oldtools

To read the FAQ:
https://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html

OldTools archive: https://swingleydev.com/ot/

OldTools@s...
265749 gary may 2018‑04‑21 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
You the Man Scott----

   btw, galoots, when working with heavy bases, like lye, lime and portland
cement, rinse your hands or body parts with vinegar for fast relief from the
dryness that accompanies having ALL of your natural oils and moisture sucked
out. If I got lye in my eye, I'd figure out a way to rinse with kitchen vinegar
while waiting for the ambulance.
         You do what you think is right.
best to all galoots everywhere: gam in OlyWA/USA 

How horrible it is to have so many people killed!---And what a blessing one
cares for none of them!
Jane Austen

      From: "gtgrouch@r..." 
 To: OldTools@s... 
 Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2018 6:38 AM
 Subject: Re: [OldTools] Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
   
Hydrox is the best: you wouldn't lye to me, would you?

(Ducking and running away!)


---- scott grandstaff  wrote: 

=============
naaa, its plenty weak enough right out of the bottle hahaha
    Having worked with this chemical, of varying concentrations, the 
stuff they are legal to sell across the retail counter?  yeah you're ok

watch your eyes. no kidding watch  yor eyes
gloves are optional at this strength, but hey they're cheap. It takes a 
long time to wash it off your skin anyhow.

good 'ol hydrox.  Its like a secret weapon. It has a lot of uses.
  Its about the fastest ph adjuster in a fluid. Acidic fluids have no 
chance.
Add a very little hydrox? and just jack that ph back up, I mean now. 
Hydrox neutralizes them brutally, goodbye acid.

Its the simplest ingredient of soap.
    yours scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

To change your subscription options:
https://oldtools.swingleydev.com/mailman/listinfo/oldtools

To read the FAQ:
https://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html

OldTools archive: https://swingleydev.com/ot/

OldTools@s...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OldTools is a mailing list catering to the interests of hand tool
aficionados, both collectors and users, to discuss the history, usage,
value, location, availability, collectibility, and restoration of
traditional handtools, especially woodworking tools.

To change your subscription options:
https://oldtools.swingleydev.com/mailman/listinfo/oldtools

To read the FAQ:
https://swingleydev.com/archive/faq.html

OldTools archive: https://swingleydev.com/ot/

OldTools@s...
265750 Don Schwartz <dks@t...> 2018‑04‑21 Re: Cleaning Paintbrushes with Lye
On 2018-04-21 11:53 AM, gary may via OldTools wrote:
> btw, galoots, when working with heavy bases, like lye, lime and portland
cement, rinse your hands or body parts with vinegar for fast relief from the
dryness that accompanies having ALL of your natural oils and moisture sucked
out. If I got lye in my eye, I'd figure out a way to rinse with kitchen vinegar
while waiting for the ambulance.
>           You do what you think is right.
> best to all galoots everywhere: gam in OlyWA/USA


A small spray bottle of vinegar might prove handy.

Don

-- 
I have decided to leave my past behind. So, if I owe you money...I am sorry, but
I’ve moved on.

“The events of the world do not form an orderly queue like the English, they
crowd around chaotically like the Italians.” Carlo Rovelli

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