Problem with 'bits' in paint

My tub of Dulux says do not store in extreme temperatures and protect from frost! So I think the answer is buy a new tub.

Peter

AFAIK, the reason "not to stir" is that the paint is thixotropic, so stirring it would make it go thin and it would lose its non-drip quality.

Having let the paint stand for some time, the ingredients have separated out into three distinct layers of increasing density. The paint will be formulated with one or more "emulsifying agents" to stop the ingredients from separating out "creaming". However, gravity will eventually have its way.

So, you definitely need to re-homogenise the paint before you use it. You need to give it a jolly good stir (preferably for a few minutes with a power stirrer in a drill).

However, having done that, you should leave it to stand for 24 hours before using it, so that it can become thixotropic again and you can then use it (without further stirring) and get the non-drip quality back.

next time leave the tin upside down and skin will form on the bottom

Google "dulux storage frost" (no quotes). BTDTGTTS.

Andy

Filter it if you dont mind diong that, and see if its ok, it normally is.

NT

Frost

Frost.

You _might_ recover it, depending on the paint. Whack it with a big slow drill and a rotary paddle stirrer. It might recover, it might not. If it does it shouldn't need filtering, if it does it didn't recover and merely filtering is unlikely to make it usable again.

After stirring, let it sit for a couple of days and see if it separates out. If it does start to, then it has had it.

In message , Andy Dingley writes

Thanks to everyone for the descriptions and possible remedy.

Cheers,