Brush holder

This is an inexpensive means of keeping any number of brushes wet between sessions and while painting  with water based paints. It can also be used for hanging brushes to dry tip downward.

Step 1: Materials needed

You will need:

1) A fairly deep square or rectangular water holder.  I bought surplus motel 'ice buckets' at a kitchen supply store.

2) Pipe insulation - approximately 1.75 inch diameter with a 1 inch center hole. (From any hardware store) Other sizes will probably work.

3) Something for marking where to cut the insulation - chalk, pastel, paint, sharpie - you just have to be able to see the marks

4) An Exacto knife... this will need a fresh blade!

Comments

[softenersreviews]

Thanks for both the link and response.
I will make an instructable.

[TabbyDeAnne]

Amazing! So easy anyone can do it! Thanks for the well put together 'ible! You rock!

[mole1]

Thanks, TabbyDeAnne! We share common ground.

[Thrasym]

Cool idea. For drying, you could just turn the foam around, to hang the brushes on the outside, or empty out the water and hang the brushes on the inside if they'd tip the bucket on the outside (of course, you couldn't use it much during this time).

[mole1]

Thanks for looking, Thrasym! I suppose if you made a few of these, you could hang one 'inside' to keep brushes wet, and another oriented 'outside' to dry them on the opposite side of the same container.

[Thrasym]

Yup, that sounds like the idea winner right there. ")

Could even just alternate the cuts on the single piece of foam, if you've only got or only want the one.

[DANgerous124]

Wow. haha I literally just wrote down an idea for drying brushes and then I click on the next page and I see your invention. Great minds thing alike. lol My idea was a bit different though but this is good :)

[mole1]

Hey, the more postings of different ways of doing this stuff, the better - Go for it, DANgerous124! After all, we don't all have the same materials available when we need them. What kind of painting are you doing?

[DANgerous124]

My idea works for any kind of painting really. It's just a holder to let brushes dry.. I like your other instructable for keeping brushes wet as well.

[kariswg1]

wonderful Idea......

[mole1]

Thank you! I've recently been wondering how larger insulation would work for bigger diameter brushes.

[love4pds]

Love it but I used a noodle for the pool instead and they are different sizes. Love your idea!!!!!

[mole1]

How large a brush can the pool noodle handle? I've used clothes pins (Big Brush Holder) for larger brushes. It does the job but is more for overnight soaking than holding while working.

[artonline]

It should works! ))

Gallery of modern art

[Hiroak]

This is a great Idea one that I will use and a very detailed instruction nice.

[mole1]

Thanks for your kind words, Hiroak!

[kintekobo]

The simple ideas are always the best!

[mole1]

Actually, I wasn't sure if it would be too simple for instructables. Thanks for the positive feedback!

[l8nite]

what an AWESOME idea ! I'm definately going to try this

[mole1]

Thanks! I'll be interested to know how you like working with it.

[ketan_ash2000]

imaginations and creativity have no limits ....good job

[mole1]

I'm glad to know others think it's useful.

[rimar2000]

Clever!

[mole1]

Thank you!