PM wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Apr 3, 6:35 pm, Rob wrote:
I was given a 5L pot of Laura Ashley (no less) paint that's been opened
but almost full.

The can says 'use within 6 months of purchase' and indeed google
searches tend to repeat this. The paint is about 4 years old - as long
as it's taken me to get around to think about using it ;-)

What's the worst that can happen? I don't understand how paint can
degrade. Should I just chuck it and buy some more?

Thanks, Rob
I've touched up with paint thats older without any hassle but i've not
painted a full wall.

I used an open-5-years white emulsion recently, no problem. Needed to scrape
off the sides of the tin, but it came away in two or three large
snot-consistency pieces.

A painter advised me to always store cans of paint upside down as the
paint kept better. ( after properly resealing of course)

I think that's so any degradation due to air in the tin then happens at the
bottom rather than the top. OK for paint you don't stir, not so good
otherwise?


Many thanks - I'll use it after all.

Rob