Acylic Paint and Alcohol

[Epitaph of Sanity]

I've been using rubbing alcohol to break up dried acrylic paint. I have a couple of brushes and shirts I've saved using it. Im just wondering if there are any hiden dangers I should be worried about? The only thing I can think of is it dissolving the glue in the brushes.

[HunterKiller_]

Damn, I thought this would be a thread about drinking and painting at the same time.

[Epitaph of Sanity]

Which is alot of fun.

[Zaxser]

I've been using rubbing alcohol to break up dried acrylic paint. I have a couple of brushes and shirts I've saved using it. Im just wondering if there are any hiden dangers I should be worried about? The only thing I can think of is it dissolving the glue in the brushes.

What do you mean, break up? Sort of like using alchohol instad of water as medium?

[Elwell]

No, break up as in dissolve/remove dried paint. Alcohol will work, but on brushes you might want to try ammonia.

[Zaxser]

No, break up as in dissolve/remove dried paint. Alcohol will work, but on brushes you might want to try ammonia.

So... like, paint eraser? That sounds cool. Will it get it out of my clothes?

[Homeless Foxman]

Not really like a paint eraser, more to clean paint off of pallets and such, I don't know how smart it would be to use that on a painting.

[Nrx]

Hm, perhaps i should make a new thread but here seems good anyway.

I have some shitty acryllics that i didnt use for ages, now they've dried and gone funky (like the pigments seperated from the err gunk part) is this repairable? i'm probably gonna buy some decent quality ones anyway, but id like to practice a little with these but shelling out lots of money.

[The Pariano]

http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/3250895_5164_winsor-newton-brush-cleaner-restorer-oz.asp
SOSOSOSO better than alcohol, and maybe only a couple bucks more for the same amount?

[Wooly ESS]

I have a 1" flat brush that I forgot to wash the gloss medium out of following my last usage. It turned into something akin to plywood. I soaked it for a day in a jar of alcohol, which softened the bristles, and then I washed it with soap and water. The brush has been restored to useful service, and the bristles haven't fallen out.

I'm sure there are other products that work just as well if not better, but alcohol will work in a pinch.

[Qitsune]

I love the brush restorer but haven'T tried ammonia.

[J Wilson]

I haven't heard of alcohol or other solvents eatting at the glue, but I have seen hot water soften the glue enough to make bristles fall out of brushes. Use luke warm water at most to clean brushes.

[J Wilson]

I have some shitty acryllics that i didnt use for ages, now they've dried and gone funky (like the pigments seperated from the err gunk part) is this repairable? i'm probably gonna buy some decent quality ones anyway, but id like to practice a little with these but shelling out lots of money.

Usually by the time acrlic is separated it's too late. Try stirring it up and see what happens. Often part of the paint will start to harden or solidify into plastic (or a tar like texture), and if that is what you have it's too late. If everything remixes it should be fine.