I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

On May 2, 4:56*pm, Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over *a period of
years. *

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. *I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

Dont, try to buy what you will need, save the mix information , brand,
sheen information... then dispose of excess paint.

Jimmie

"Don" wrote in message
...

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!



I have 10 year old paint that's in perfect shape. What kind of paint do you
typically guy?

On May 2, 3:56*pm, Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over *a period of
years. *

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. *I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

Some people have good luck with cleaning the lid groove well, tamping
firmly in place and storing the can up side down. For oil based
paints, a teaspoon of thinner or Floetrol on the surface will slow
down the skinning over somewhat. HTH

Joe

Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!


The problems with the paint skinning is due to the Oxygen trapped in the
top of the can above the paint. A trick that I learned long ago is to
fill the top of the can with your breath before putting the top on. When
you do this you decrease the amount of Oxygen present and replace it
with CO2 which is non reactive. This doesn't completely prevent skinning
and rusting but IMO it helps quite a bit.

HTH

EJ in NJ

I've had good luck storing paint upside down. I know some others
that swear by inserting a gas like propane to displace the oxygen
just before sealing the can.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Don" wrote in message
...

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period
of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous
about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for
the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to
eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing
that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative
ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

Ernie Willson wrote:


Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.
Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!


The problems with the paint skinning is due to the Oxygen trapped in the
top of the can above the paint. A trick that I learned long ago is to
fill the top of the can with your breath before putting the top on. When
you do this you decrease the amount of Oxygen present and replace it
with CO2 which is non reactive. This doesn't completely prevent skinning
and rusting but IMO it helps quite a bit.

HTH

EJ in NJ

As I read Wiki, this would be insignificant:

The permanent gases in gas we exhale are roughly 4% to 5% carbon dioxide
and 4% to 5% less oxygen than was inhaled. Additionally vapors and trace
gases are present: 5% water vapor, several parts per million (ppm) of
hydrogen and carbon monoxide, 1 part per million (ppm) of ammonia and
less than 1 ppm of acetone, methanol, ethanol (unless ethanol has been
ingested, in which case much higher concentrations would occur in the
breath, cf. Breathalyzer) and other volatile organic compounds. The
exact amount of exhaled oxygen and carbon dioxide varies according to
the fitness, energy expenditure and diet of that particular person.

After sealing cans, I store upside down to keep out air but every now
and then a can will corrode and leak. Never store paint in an area that
cannot take a spill

DanG wrote:
I've had good luck storing paint upside down. I know some others
that swear by inserting a gas like propane to displace the oxygen
just before sealing the can.


I use the upside down trick too, but before putting the lid in place I
hold the tilted can right next to the exhaust pipe of an idling car to
fill it with oxygen-less gasses, then quickly slap the lid on and pound
it closed.

A professional painter showed me that technique almost 60 years ago. G

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!



Keep the rim clean so it doesn't get globbies that interfere with
sealing. When I pour from the can, I line the rim with a strip of foil
to keep it clean. When I seal the can, I smack it with a mallet at two
or three spots around the rim. If the can is more than about half gone,
I transfer the paint to another container (be sure to label it). I have
paint that is probably 8-9 years old, still good. Always keep some
rustoleum primer on hand.

"Don" wrote in message
...

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Store the paint can upside down. A skin may still form but
chemical interaction of air and paint is reduced.

--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??


We used to use marbles to take up the volume in film developing chemical
bottles. Maybe they'll work for paint cans.

Get your marbles here. $1.50 (or less) per pound.

http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/grou...5&selection=29

On Sat, 02 May 2009 16:56:53 -0400, Don wrote:


I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

The first thing I do when I open a new can of paint is poke holes with a
sharpened # sixteen penny nail in a number of times in the bottom of the
groove that the lid seals in to let paint drain back to the can when the
lid is tapped back in place. I also blow my breath in the can before
sealing.

"Don" wrote in message
...

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!


Could buy smaller empty cans, transfer paint so it's full, no O2 in the
can.

On Sat, 02 May 2009 16:56:53 -0400, Don wrote Re
Storing Psint?:

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

1) clean can rim

2) put lid on can and tap around edge with hammer

3) put two small nail-holes in the top of the can just large enough to
accept the tube from a can of "caned air" (compressed co2 that is used
to blow dust off computer keyboards)

4) blow canned air into one of the holes in the lid, allowing it to
escape from the other. Use enough co2 to purge the air space in the
can

5) seal the two holes in the lid with a small amount of plumbers
putty.

On May 2, 3:56*pm, Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over *a period of
years. *

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. *I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

Small jars with screw lid like mayonaise jars. Storing a can on
concrete often leads to rust, Ive had a spray can rust away to nothing
and a paint can, paint fell out when I picked it up.

On Sat, 02 May 2009 19:18:24 -0400, jeff_wisnia
wrote:

I use the upside down trick too, but before putting the lid in place I
hold the tilted can right next to the exhaust pipe of an idling car to
fill it with oxygen-less gasses, then quickly slap the lid on and pound
it closed.

A professional painter showed me that technique almost 60 years ago. G

Wow! What a GREAT tip, very memorable!

KLS wrote:
On Sat, 02 May 2009 19:18:24 -0400, jeff_wisnia
wrote:

I use the upside down trick too, but before putting the lid in place I
hold the tilted can right next to the exhaust pipe of an idling car to
fill it with oxygen-less gasses, then quickly slap the lid on and pound
it closed.

A professional painter showed me that technique almost 60 years ago. G

Wow! What a GREAT tip, very memorable!

I'm waiting for one of our chemistry experts to weigh in on displacing
air from a paint can....can't imagine any of the blowing/exhaust
techniques make much difference in the amount of air in the closed can.

HeyBub wrote:
Don wrote:

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??



We used to use marbles to take up the volume in film developing chemical
bottles. Maybe they'll work for paint cans.

Get your marbles here. $1.50 (or less) per pound.

http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/grou...5&selection=29



I've heard about putting marbles in partially used bottles of wine, but
never bothered to try it.

However, I did buy a Vacu Vin vacuum pump and several stoppers a couple
of years ago and it sure seems to work as advertised.

http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/.../blister.shtml

I'm not certain that a paint can would hold up to a hard vacuum even if
you could figure out how to put some kind of valve in a punched hole to
suck the air out through. I'm remembering the high school physics demo
involving steam in a capped off rectangular gallon can collapsing the
can when it condensed. G

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

I've found it often depends on the paint.

I had some PPG paint decompose, become totally useless in
maybe 10 years.

I have some Lucite interior paint from 20+ years ago that
seems fine.

Haven't done too badly with a can of Behr exterior.

If you have smaller containers, might consider transferring
to full smaller containers, waste a little.

Could also consider introducing an inert gas into the can
instead of air. Got a helium (or somesuch) tank lying
around? :-)

P

On Sat, 02 May 2009 16:56:53 -0400, Don wrote:


I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!


"Law Without Equity Is No Law At All. It Is A Form Of Jungle Rule."

My experiment hasn't stood the test of time yet, but about 2 years ago I had
about 1/2 gallon of latex flat wall left from painting our living room. I
decided to try something - I cut a circle of plastic drop cloth the size of
the paint can (used the lid as a template). I cleaned the rim and exposed
inside of the can best I could, then gently placed the plastic on top of the
paint.

I hadn't thought about it until reading this post so I just checked it and
it was still good. Plastic was still floating on the paint, hadn't sunk to
the bottom, and paint seemed pretty good. Of course you have to be careful
and remember not to shake or tip the can until you remove the plastic. I'll
probably leave it until next winter and the do some touchup work when we
move the furniture again to decorate for the holidays. I'll see how the
paint has really held up at that point.


"Don" wrote in message
...

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

jeff_wisnia wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
Don wrote:

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??



We used to use marbles to take up the volume in film developing
chemical bottles. Maybe they'll work for paint cans.

Get your marbles here. $1.50 (or less) per pound.

http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/grou...5&selection=29



I've heard about putting marbles in partially used bottles of wine, but
never bothered to try it.

However, I did buy a Vacu Vin vacuum pump and several stoppers a couple
of years ago and it sure seems to work as advertised.

http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/.../blister.shtml

I'm not certain that a paint can would hold up to a hard vacuum even if
you could figure out how to put some kind of valve in a punched hole to
suck the air out through. I'm remembering the high school physics demo
involving steam in a capped off rectangular gallon can collapsing the
can when it condensed. G

Jeff


You can lay a layer of plastic wrap across the surface of the paint in
the can - it effectively seals off the paint from the air in the can.
Marbles? There are lots easier ways - old mayo jar comes to mind. Very
old cans of paint will probably rust away before they dry up, esp. latex.

ransley wrote:

On May 2, 3:56*pm, Don wrote:
I've never been happy with the way paint stores over *a period of
years. *

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the lid.
It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to eventually
rust in the can or just plain dry up. *I guess there's nothing that
can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways to
store paint for the long term??

Thanks!

Small jars with screw lid like mayonaise jars. Storing a can on
concrete often leads to rust, Ive had a spray can rust away to nothing
and a paint can, paint fell out when I picked it up.

On the D.I.Y. channel they say to use Teflon tape on the threads of
the jars (where the lid screws on).
--
I don't understand why they make gourmet cat foods. I have
known many cats in my life and none of them were gourmets.
They were all gourmands!

KLS wrote:
On Sat, 02 May 2009 19:18:24 -0400, jeff_wisnia
wrote:

I use the upside down trick too, but before putting the lid in
place I hold the tilted can right next to the exhaust pipe of an
idling car to fill it with oxygen-less gasses, then quickly slap
the lid on and pound it closed.

A professional painter showed me that technique almost 60 years
ago. G

Wow! What a GREAT tip, very memorable!

I'm waiting for one of our chemistry experts to weigh in on
displacing air from a paint can....can't imagine any of the
blowing/exhaust techniques make much difference in the amount of air
in the closed can.

People say paint "dries", but it actually "cures".

Sure, some paints dry; poster paint is an example. It's just colored
stuff dissolved in water. When the water evaporates, the paint is dry.
If you wet it again, it redissolves.

Paint for houses cures. Liquid chemicals in the paint combine with
gaseous chemicals in the air, forming new solid chemicals that keep the
colored bits in place. The gaseous chemical in the air is usually
oxygen.

If you can get the oxygen out of the can, the paint at the surface
won't cure. Auto exhaust will blow in lots of carbon monoxide and
carbon dioxide (along with other non-oxygen chemicals), blowing out
most of the oxygen at the same time. Your breath will add carbon
dioxide, displacing some (not all) of the oxygen. The various other
canned gases mentioned will do the same thing, as long as they're not
oxygen or some other gas that happens to react with the paint.

Here's a link to a general description of the various chemistries, if
you want a better explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint#Binder_or_Vehicle

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA

Very old cans of paint will probably rust away before they dry up,
esp. latex.

Related story:
I painted a client's front door with an old can of latex paint she
provided. I gave it a good shake and stir, then started brushing. After
a few minutes, I mentally kicked myself for dripping paint down the
side of the can onto her concrete porch.

I picked up the can to find a big puddle underneath. The bottom of the
can had rusted through in a pinhole, and the paint had cured around the
leak, forming a scab. My mixing opened up the hole.

I asked the client to leave the puddle in place. Two weeks later, I
peeled it off like a pancake. The only issue was that that spot on her
porch was cleaner than the rest. :-)

Lesson learned: Set paint cans on the plastic lid of my tool caddy.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA

SteveBell wrote:
KLS wrote:
On Sat, 02 May 2009 19:18:24 -0400, jeff_wisnia
wrote:

I use the upside down trick too, but before putting the lid in
place I hold the tilted can right next to the exhaust pipe of an
idling car to fill it with oxygen-less gasses, then quickly slap
the lid on and pound it closed.

A professional painter showed me that technique almost 60 years
ago. G
Wow! What a GREAT tip, very memorable!
I'm waiting for one of our chemistry experts to weigh in on
displacing air from a paint can....can't imagine any of the
blowing/exhaust techniques make much difference in the amount of air
in the closed can.

People say paint "dries", but it actually "cures".

Sure, some paints dry; poster paint is an example. It's just colored
stuff dissolved in water. When the water evaporates, the paint is dry.
If you wet it again, it redissolves.

Paint for houses cures. Liquid chemicals in the paint combine with
gaseous chemicals in the air, forming new solid chemicals that keep the
colored bits in place. The gaseous chemical in the air is usually
oxygen.

If you can get the oxygen out of the can, the paint at the surface
won't cure. Auto exhaust will blow in lots of carbon monoxide and
carbon dioxide (along with other non-oxygen chemicals), blowing out
most of the oxygen at the same time. Your breath will add carbon
dioxide, displacing some (not all) of the oxygen. The various other
canned gases mentioned will do the same thing, as long as they're not
oxygen or some other gas that happens to react with the paint.

Here's a link to a general description of the various chemistries, if
you want a better explanation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paint#Binder_or_Vehicle


Paint isn't going to dry or cure until it gives off solvents. The
chemistry I referred to - or, more accurately, the physics - of how much
oxygen is actually displaced by the "blow in the can" method". My bet:
not enough to matter, unless it is a very small volume of paint. In
that case, a smaller container makes a lot more sense. Why leave a
little bit of paint (of what use?) in a large can?

Why leave a little bit of paint (of what use?) in a large can?

I do it because it's the client's paint, and I want them to have the
sticker that shows the tinting formula. With that sticker, they can buy
another can of paint if the old one is no good.

--
Steve Bell
New Life Home Improvement
Arlington, TX USA

" wrote in
m:

jeff_wisnia wrote:
HeyBub wrote:
Don wrote:

I've never been happy with the way paint stores over a period of
years.

Whenever I buy paint and store it, I'm always very meticulous about
sealing the can, as well as wiping the lid and the groove for the
lid. It seems like no matter what I do, paint always seems to
eventually rust in the can or just plain dry up. I guess there's
nothing that can be done about the "skin" that forms.

Does anyone have any new or different ideas or some creative ways
to store paint for the long term??



We used to use marbles to take up the volume in film developing
chemical bottles. Maybe they'll work for paint cans.

Get your marbles here. $1.50 (or less) per pound.

http://www.mcgillswarehouse.com/grou...yID=125&select
ion=29



I've heard about putting marbles in partially used bottles of wine,
but never bothered to try it.

However, I did buy a Vacu Vin vacuum pump and several stoppers a
couple of years ago and it sure seems to work as advertised.

http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/.../blister.shtml

I'm not certain that a paint can would hold up to a hard vacuum even
if you could figure out how to put some kind of valve in a punched
hole to suck the air out through. I'm remembering the high school
physics demo involving steam in a capped off rectangular gallon can
collapsing the can when it condensed. G

Jeff


You can lay a layer of plastic wrap across the surface of the paint in
the can - it effectively seals off the paint from the air in the can.
Marbles? There are lots easier ways - old mayo jar comes to mind.
Very old cans of paint will probably rust away before they dry up,
esp. latex.

Sounds familiar. Open a 5gal bucket of mudd and what's on top?