Paint storage...

[Kottwitz-Graphics]

Hey, guys. How do you guys store your paint to prevent the remainder in the can from skinning over?

I have always poked holes all the way around the inner lip so the paint will drain back into the can, and I try to get all the leftover drops cleaned up, but it seems by the time I'm down to about a quarter of a gallon left, I seem to keep getting a skin over whats left.

I have heard of storing them upside down, blowing compressed air into the can just prior to sealing it up, and a couple of other things, but I was curious as to what works best for you guys.

Thanks,

 

[fresh]

We just deal with the skin. I've often thought we should just buy the smallest containers (unless its a big job) since we wind up wasting so much of it.

 

[threeputt]

Way back when, when we used to paint our sign backgrounds we would do a you do, clean the lip of the can real good, poke holes in the lip, etc.

Still after the can gets down to about half way, there's enough air left in the can after closing it to dry to top layer.

One thing you can try is drop about a tablespoon of thinner in the can before closing it. It'll flow out and form it's own "barrier" to the paint from the air above.

Obviously the potential for over-thinning is there but if you stir paint well and use a fair portion of it each time, it usually works out okay.

 

[d fleming]

+1

Way back when, when we used to paint our sign backgrounds we would do a you do, clean the lip of the can real good, poke holes in the lip, etc.

Still after the can gets down to about half way, there's enough air left in the can after closing it to dry to top layer.

One thing you can try is drop about a tablespoon of thinner in the can before closing it. It'll flow out and form it's own "barrier" to the paint from the air above.

Obviously the potential for over-thinning is there but if you stir paint well and use a fair portion of it each time, it usually works out okay.

 

[Gino]

If you're using the paint fast enough, it will never be a problem. However, today, not near as much is being painted, therefore paint is going bad.

We never used the old wives' tales of holes in the rim or turning them upside down. Like three said, once the paint gets that low, the drying agents are acting with the remainder of air inside the can. Everytime a skin forms, you have just used up some drying agents and when the paint forms a few layers of skin, you've about used up all the drying agents and when you do remove the skins, the oils and vessels will go out in the trash, so your paint will take longer and longer to dry.

The easiest thing is to just get a smaller can or jar and transfer your paint into the smaller container. If you go to a local paint store, empty paint cans are cheap, and when they're used up, clean 'em out and use 'em again. Recycle is fun.

We ask all employees to bring in empty jars and cans which have lids and use them also.

For lettering paint, we would put the remainder into baby food jars.

 

[Billct2]

We used the smaller cans,baby food jars, holes,thumbscrews, upside down etc.
Instead of a teaspoon of thiner we would use a teaspoon of Penetrol.

 

[d fleming]

Print shop is full of "run cans" for ink. We never throw away empty jars or cans until they have been properly abused in the screen print shop. Keeps the larger gallons free of contaminates.

 

[visual800]

there is nothing you can outside of an airtight container decompressed by NASA. it is going to skin over, it never bothered me

 

[DizzyMarkus]

A smale amount of thinner or water (whatever paint your using) on the top will prevent that from happening. Do not mix :0) -- the other is to bag it. Put a grocery bag over the lid before closing. We can bag a whole can with a brush in it for a few weeks this way :0)-- The fumes keep the paint right

Markus

 

[SignManiac]

Depending on the amount of paint work you do, invest in a closed system like Matthews where you pour your pigment from sealed containers and mix only what you need for the job. I'm not saving excess paints anymore with the exception of the few scenarios where I still might use a latex.