Does anyone know if there's any specific reason that paint cans are
opaque? I prefer to put paint into 4 1-quart clear buckets from Ace
hardware rather than leave it in the can. But I've noticed that
companies that sell in plastic jugs (i.e. Dutch Boy) still have opaque
ones, though that may be intended so that people don't assume that the
wet paint color will be the same once it's dried. Right now I've put
some Varathane in clear buckets, but am wondering if I should put it
in quart cans instead - i.e. does light damage the product?

Main reason for not using clear is that the biggest problem that causes
ANY coating to break down and deteriate is UV rays. AKA sun-light.

"Fenrir Enterprises" wrote in message
wet paint color will be the same once it's dried. Right now I've put
some Varathane in clear buckets, but am wondering if I should put it
in quart cans instead - i.e. does light damage the product?

Colors can fade over time for one. UV rays will eventually have an ill
effect on the contents. Not much of a problem if stored indoors in a
cabinet.

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 01:08:10 GMT, (Fenrir
Enterprises) wrote:

Does anyone know if there's any specific reason that paint cans are
opaque?

They're not. If you buy "decorator" shades of water based emulsions here
in the UK (latex to you guys ?), then many of the more retail-oriented
brands are now in clear plastic buckets.

For gloss paints, the resins used are more UV sensitive and so I've not
seen these in clear packaging. Pigment is pretty stable against fading,
compared to the resins yellowing.

On Sat, 30 Apr 2005 10:49:08 +0100, Andy Dingley
wrote:


They're not. If you buy "decorator" shades of water based emulsions here
in the UK (latex to you guys ?), then many of the more retail-oriented
brands are now in clear plastic buckets.

For gloss paints, the resins used are more UV sensitive and so I've not
seen these in clear packaging. Pigment is pretty stable against fading,
compared to the resins yellowing.


In the US I have yet to see latex paint in clear buckets. Dutch Boy is
the only one I've seen that comes in plastic containers to begin with
(with a nice pour spout), rather than cans which quickly turn into a
gooey mess.

Looks like for a gloss clear varnish, I should start transferring it
into hydrogen peroxide bottles.