After using it a couple of times, how long can I keep a can of good quality eggshell paint before the paint is not usable?
- posted
12 years ago
Eggshell shelf life
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- posted
12 years ago
Depends on the paint and storage temperatures. I replace the air in the top of the tin with propane from my gas torch, this makes my paints stay good (with no skin forming on oil paints) for much longer.
Mike
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- posted
12 years ago
Interesting idea Mike! I'll have to try that. I invert my part-used paint tins for storage. Any skin that forms is left in place. Stirring does have to be done with care though!
Bob
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- posted
12 years ago
Many, many paints have been substantially reformulated over the past year or so to conform with new regulations. So experience from the past might not be a good guide to the future.
Rod
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- posted
12 years ago
IME its hard to predict. Some paints are useless after months, some are still usable after a decade. Tipping the tin upside down then storing it the right way up improves the sealing.
I suppose in principle it might help to turn them the other way up every few months in storage, never tried it.
NT
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- posted
12 years ago
It works well with spirit/oil based paints. I have some tins of specialist/expensive paints that I only use a little now and then. I Give them the gas treatment before re sealing and have never has a skin form. I find it helps if I wipe around the rim as well to help stop the lid sticking on. It does help with emulsions, but does not stop them separating.
Mike
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- posted
12 years ago
Yes, that sounds like an interesting idea. Propane (or butane, for butane torches) is heavier than air, so it does displace it, and its oxygen, from the tin. That may avoid indeed the formation of the skin on oil paints. I guess also that being a hydrocarbon there is some affinity with oil paints acting somehow like a solvent.
That, plus inverting the tin for better sealing should make them indeed last for much longer.
In my experience, if the tin has been kept inverted and it is stirred well the paint is usable for several years. However, most manufacturers mention one year of shelf life if unopened (which implies much shorter if used). But this is not unexpected if they want to sell more.