Remember that last time that you went to your favorite hobby store to purchase a paint brush to use on your figures, especially looking for the ones made of Red Sable. Remember when you found the brush you needed and looked at the price, WOW! lt turns out that with paints, brushes are investments in the bobby and with proper care, they can last for years or be destroyed after a few use& Brushes can lose their original shape many ways. From dried paint between the hairs, rough handling and use, being stored improperly, or with the hair otherwise bent are the most common causes. Many can be restored through the following procedures:

1. Thoroughly wash and clean the brush of all color residue.
2. Wash with soapy water
3. Dip the hair end in very hot water for a few moments.
4. Shape with fingers until original shape is restored.
5. Repeat as needed.
6. A small amount of lather (soap) is helpful to hold larger brushes shape as they are left to dry.
7. Lay on handle to dry (I use a block of styrofoam where I push the handle into so the brushes dry standing up)

How to clean and store a brush after use

1. Gently wipe off excess coating.
2. Dip in solvent (water for water-based paints) and wipe again.
3. Swish thoroughly in solvent until no more color is released by the brush. lnsure all paint is out of heel and off of ferrule.
4. Wash with warm soapy water.
5. Rinse thoroughly a few seconds with hot water.
6. Reshape with fingers to original form.
7. Lay handle to dry.
8. When dry, store where brush is free and unbent.

"Always wipe and rinse with the "grain" of hairs on brush."