Oil-Based Paint - How do you clean up??

[javeryh]

I've thrown away a roller and a brush because I can't clean the oil-based paint off.  I know oil and water don't mix - what am I supposed to do?

[Kaytrim]

Use gasoline or paint thinner in a jar to soak the brush and clean it up.  Throw the roller away.

[fatfingers]

If you don't like those options, I suggest baby oil!

[am_monkee]

or lighter fluid. when i was a smoker (ahhh...the good old days), I used to use lighter fluid from zippo for clean ups. it's also great at taking wood stain off your hands.

[ScottS]

Read your paint can: whatever is recommended as the thinner is probably good for clean-up, too. Brushes are usually pretty easy to clean-up using the appropriate solvent (paint thinner, mineral spirits or whatever). Rollers can be more difficult to clean. One alternative is to drop them into a Zip-lock freezer bag, squeeze all the air out, and throw them in the refrigerator. They'll last for months like that, maybe more...

[NiteWalker]

A good way to make clean up easier is to condition your brushes with whatever the paint can recommends as a thinner or for clean up. Just soak the brush in the solvent and remove the excess. The light coating of the solvent will make clean up a lot easier.

[DrFrag]

I use mineral turpentine.  It doubles as a paint thinner, and triples as something to wash the paint off your hands.

Once most of the paint is out of the bristles, rinse in a bucket (one you don't mind getting paint on) using warm soapy water.  Squeeze them out and lay them on newspaper to dry.  Separate the bristles with a comb before it dries completely.  The whole process is a real pain.

Don't get turpentine on plants or grass if you shake your brushes out, it'll kill them.

I've heard paint rollers can't be cleaned.