Cheap paint brushes

[Daddles]

I usually buy brushes for epoxy work from wherever I can get them cheap, but with all the paint brushes I'm going through at the moment, plus my now fairly hefty disdain for anything over 1" (if you can use a wider brush, you should be using a scraper :wink:), it's getting rather expensive ... in an annoying rather than a pocket breaking way.

So, does anyone (particularly anyone in Adelaide) know of a bulk supplier of very cheap brushes?

PAR talks about buying them in boxes of 100 (he's a pro builder), which is a bit much even for my insane habits, but if we can source such boxes at the right price, is anyone willing to share the purchase?

Same with roller covers.

Richard

[labr@]

I'd be interested - just been looking at web sites and they certainly look to be cheap to me. How about a box of 864 1/2" brushes for $132? (That's US $ of course but still cheaper than anything I've seen locally). Or 1 1/2" brushes at 14c each.

Aus sites I saw look nearly as expensive as the shops (depending where you shop) - over $1 ea.
Rollers may be more difficult.

Could be worth buying on line for a group. Anyhow keep me in mind.

[PAR]

That's exactly what you should be doing Richard. I get brushes by the case, but buying just one case doesn't get much of a discount (considerably better then purchased as singles) so me and several others each buy a case and now we're getting 2" chip brushes for 15 cents a piece. I have a coop with a number of builders. We get lumber, plywood, epoxy, supplies. With the likes of a far reaching fourm like this, you should be able to pool resources and save some money.

[m2c1Iw]

I have some contacts Richard and working on it

[Daddles]

I have some contacts Richard and working on it

Good, count me in :D

Richard

[PAR]

The sounds of a coop, being formed . . .

[Daddles]

The sounds of a coop, being formed . . .

cluck cluck cluck :D

Richard
(yes, I know you mean co-op :wink:)

[Hawk]

I'd join your coop, but you can't have more than one rooster in the hen house. :roflmao:

I'd be interested in joining your co-op though. But I do live at the other end of the universe. :doh:

[m2c1Iw]

OK I've got them down to 63 cents each in boxes of 36. I'm waiting for a price if we bought say 10 boxes. That's for 1" does anyone use wider?

Getting some prices on foam roller covers for epoxy and the high density ones for painting as well.

Anything else we should look for.....gloves? Post any ideas while we are at it.

Mike

[PAR]

Personally, I like the 2" and use them exclusively.

[m2c1Iw]

Personally, I like the 2" and use them exclusively.

Yeah I use the 1" cause that's generally what is available but 2" would be better just trim a bit if needed. The price difference is only small so that is what I'll work on.

Cheers

[Daddles]

Good news Mike, that's nearly a third of the price of buying them at Bunnies.

1" for me. I only use brushes for frames and things like that, stuff I can't do with a scraper so 2" is too wide.

Roller covers would be good.

Gloves - they're cheap enough from the supermarket.
Tongue depressors can be hard to get and come in monster boxes, I'd be interested in a couple of boxes though.
A few syringes but not in bulk because they're very reusable (I usually break the tip off before they stop being reuseable).

Richard

[PAR]

Tongue depressors (isn't this what British food is?) aren't really necessary. I prefer to use the tool I'll be spreading the goo with to mix, which is usually a putty knife. This is especially true if I'm adding a filler. You see, when I mix goo, it doesn't stay in the cup very long, just long enough to get it measured accurately, then it's dumped into a mixing tray.

My mixing trays are purchased from a department store as plastic cake storage boxes. They're about 14"x24" and 3-4" deep. I like these because they have big radius corners and no ridges on the bottom. The unmixed epoxy is dumped directly into this, then mixed with a "folding" action, rather then a stirring motion.

I use the mixing tray because I can spread out the epoxy over a much larger area, which keeps the thermolidic reaction down. Second it offers a lot of area to apply fillers without it clumping or balling up in a corner of a mixing cup. Lastly, I can leave the mixed goo in the tray, all spread out so it doesn't kick off from being in a thick mass. Sometimes, I mix so much goo, that I have to use a piece of plywood to spread the thickened mess on. If you can stretch it out thin, say 1/16" thick, you can really increase your working time over a clump in a mixing pot.

[Daddles]

Tongue depressors (isn't this what British food is?) aren't really necessary. I prefer to use the tool I'll be spreading the goo with to mix, which is usually a putty knife. This is especially true if I'm adding a filler. You see, when I mix goo, it doesn't stay in the cup very long, just long enough to get it measured accurately, then it's dumped into a mixing tray.

My mixing trays are purchased from a department store as plastic cake storage boxes. They're about 14"x24" and 3-4" deep. I like these because they have big radius corners and no ridges on the bottom. The unmixed epoxy is dumped directly into this, then mixed with a "folding" action, rather then a stirring motion.

I use the mixing tray because I can spread out the epoxy over a much larger area, which keeps the thermolidic reaction down. Second it offers a lot of area to apply fillers without it clumping or balling up in a corner of a mixing cup. Lastly, I can leave the mixed goo in the tray, all spread out so it doesn't kick off from being in a thick mass. Sometimes, I mix so much goo, that I have to use a piece of plywood to spread the thickened mess on. If you can stretch it out thin, say 1/16" thick, you can really increase your working time over a clump in a mixing pot.

I use the tongue depressors because you mix with them, spread with them, fillet with them, then toss them out. To clean up, I have half of them with one end ground to a chisel.

I was cleaning up with a putty knife for awhile but got sick of having to clean the tool so went back to the wooden chisels - maybe I'm lazy but it's so easy to just throw them out and with a couple of years between purchases, I don't notice the cost of the tongue depressors.

My kids have those chocolate deserts (Milo, Yogo) that come in small, plastic cups - rounded corners, no ridges, free (because they were going to be tossed out anyway). Between the two of them having a desert every night, I've got an over supply of the things so one use and they're in the bin. They are small but are big enough to take a three pump mix (West) or two pump if you're thickening it. As Paul says, you have to watch the thermolidic reaction though I haven't had much of a problem yet, probably because I'm working with such small mixes and getting it out of the pot quickly. The down side to such a small pot is that you have to keep mixing fresh goop which hasn't been a problem so far. I've got bigger pots to fall back on if needed.

Ahh, the joys of being an amateur rather than having next sunday's dinner hanging on the results of your labours. One of the real pleasures of watching people work is noting the different circumstances and how they handle them.

Richard

[m2c1Iw]

My mixing trays are purchased from a department store as plastic cake storage boxes. They're about 14"x24" and 3-4" deep. I like these because they have big radius corners and no ridges on the bottom. The unmixed epoxy is dumped directly into this, then mixed with a "folding" action, rather then a stirring motion.

I use the mixing tray because I can spread out the epoxy over a much larger area, which keeps the thermolidic reaction down. Second it offers a lot of area to apply fillers without it clumping or balling up in a corner of a mixing cup. Lastly, I can leave the mixed goo in the tray, all spread out so it doesn't kick off from being in a thick mass. Sometimes, I mix so much goo, that I have to use a piece of plywood to spread the thickened mess on. If you can stretch it out thin, say 1/16" thick, you can really increase your working time over a clump in a mixing pot.

Mm I like that idea. :2tsup:

[m2c1Iw]

I have in my possesion a life time supply of 1" chip brushes.......well actually 10 boxes of 36, I reckon that will last me for a good while. :D

Price:
1 box $24

PM me if you want a box, sorry locals only by the time postage is added etc it's not really worth the messing around unless you want several boxes in which case I'll see what I can do.

I am trying some 110 mm high density foam rollers. They are not as good as I have bought from Duckflat and don't have a round at one end to prevent an edge but will give them a go and see what happens.

Got a few packs to test.

Price:
Pkt of 10 $11

Still working on other suppliers.

Cheers
Mike

[Daddles]

I'll take a box Mike.
How about saturday?

Richard

[m2c1Iw]

I'll take a box Mike.
How about saturday?

Richard

:2tsup: Be home all day applying pox with a bit of luck......now I've got all them brushes. :D

[b.o.a.t.]

I really will have to pay more attention. Just spotted this.
If the others haven't snapped 'em all up, I'd like a box of each please MIke.
Late Saturday arvo ok? (working day-shift)
cheers
AJ

[m2c1Iw]

No worries AJ I've sent a PM with address.

[Daddles]

I really will have to pay more attention. Just spotted this.
If the others haven't snapped 'em all up, I'd like a box of each please MIke.
Late Saturday arvo ok? (working day-shift)
cheers
AJ

How about a time AJ - I'll try to be there at the same time and we can make rude comments about Mike's workshop in stereo :D

Richard

[m2c1Iw]

Slight change of plan, my event organiser has decided I won't be home till after 2.30pm Saturday......there goes my epoxy coating day. :((

Leave it till around 4 and it will be near enough to beer o'clock :D

[b.o.a.t.]

I knock off between 4 & 5 (depending on how early I drag my lazy backside in to work.)
Will be at Coro about 30 minutes after that... 5-ish +/- 15 mins ok?
AJ

[m2c1Iw]

I knock off between 4 & 5 (depending on how early I drag my lazy backside in to work.)
Will be at Coro about 30 minutes after that... 5-ish +/- 15 mins ok?
AJ

:2tsup:

[b.o.a.t.]

Done !

[Daddles]

I'll aim for 5 too then.

Richard

[Daddles]

Many thanks to Mike for getting the brushes (yup, using them already - they work well and no loose hairs :2tsup:). Also thanks for putting up with two bored boatie types and for forcing us to drink beer :oo:

Richard

[b.o.a.t.]

Aye. Indeed.
We think we may have annulled most of Daddles remaining excuses not to finish
Sixpence. Much redesign, with extensive diagrammes, and complex financial
spreadsheets drawn in the air for Daddles benefit. Whilst MIK may not be entirely
happy with some of the engineering calculations, we feel sure he'd approve of the
simplicating and cost-cutting. Best thing is, there's no incriminating evidence! :U
Thanks for a very pleasant evening Mike
AJ

[m2c1Iw]

No worries, I think all that boat talk got me motivated as well and I coated a few bits I agree they a quite good no bristle drop out at all. :2tsup: