Evil Appetite Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I have a crapload of Tamiya/MM/Testors cans I havent used yet. Many have been sitting in my rack for a couple of years now. The other day I went through them to see what I had...and found this Just the model master cans. I found a few like this. What happened here? --- Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cobraman Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I had a can do that to a lesser extent. Can't recall what brand of paint it was and don't know what caused it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownbri Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I have a can of testor's sublime green thats doing that to me but not as bad as yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Myers Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 as you pointed out, time is of the essence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slantasaurus Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Over the past few years I've found 4 or 5 cans of Testors Model Master Lacquer that have leaked like that. The first time it happened I just threw the can away, when I noticed it again I tested the paint out and didn't have any problems. Testors MM lacquer is the only brand I've had it happen with so now I'm careful about where I store those cans. Still don't know what causes it or why it happens and it doesn't seem limited to any particular color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordRodnKustom Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Yes, I've had that happen to several of my Testor's cans stored in a climate controlled area. No idea what causes it other than possibly defective can construction that becomes compromised under pressure over time, but that's just a guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Never had any do that before... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plastic trucker Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I've had a Testors do that to about the same extent several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
espo Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I have also had this happen on paint that I have had for an extended period of time. Another thing to remember, you just never know how long that paint has been around before you buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aurfalien Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (edited) I wonder if shaking the cans now and again could prevent this?Sorta like turning your bed over now and again.PS I'll shake my bottles and cans here and there from now on.PSS I rotate my tires and check alignment during every oil change as well; ~4K miles or so. Got the Firestone life time balance/aligment program, already used it 3 times in the past 6 months. Def worth it, I highy recommend it! Edited August 30, 2015 by aurfalien Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Sikora II Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Have had some like that too, but where the blob stayed much closer to the can. Couple years ago I had a can of the Testors high-gloss clear that actually started spraying out of one of the can's seams. Made quite a mess even though I think I smelled it (and could hear it when I started trying to find what was causing the smell) within a short period of time. Pretty dangerous if you ask me, would be careful not to store any cans too near a possible ignition source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim boyd Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Regrettably I've had this happen with multiple cans of Testors auto lacquer hobby paints - both the One Coat Metalflakes and the "Custom Lacquer System" Muscle Era duplicates of specific car colors. Yesterday I took one of the cans that had leaked, and sprayed it (I didn't have any extra cans of the color) on a Channeled Revell '29A I'm building. The result was very poor. So if you have any cans that have leaked like this, be sure to do a thorough spray test (wait for the paint to dry) before you spray it on a model car body. I'm a big supporter of Testors, so it is troubling to see this happening with their spray lacquer paints, apparently multiple times with multiple builders. Meanwhile, I have cans of Testors, Pactra, and AMT paints cans from the early 1960's that have never leaked (even in the back of moving vans during multiple cross country trips) that in some cases still spray today like they did when they were new. This is progress? (Don't blame the companies alone, it's the regulatory environment driving changes...) TIM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 (Don't blame the companies alone, it's the regulatory environment driving changes...) I doubt there are any regulations that call for manufacturing cans that leak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRIPTROIT 71 Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 It must be something with the newer cans. I still have some that are at least 13 years old (many brands including Testors) that have been in an out building that has been below freezing in the winter and over 100 in the summer. Other than the gas getting weak in some of the cans, all of them that I have tried have been fine. The paint in one can of MCW lacquer separated beyond use, but not a single can leaked, though they required a lot of shaking (LOL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I have about a dozen cans of the Testors; I've noticed one with a tiny blob like that the size of a small pea. I don't remember if that one was store-bought or one of the dollar-a-can batch I lucked on to at one of the model swap meets last October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzTom Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 The MM cans leaking has been talked about a few times here. When I first had this issue around 2009, I had twenty plus can that leaked, some worse than the one posted here. I contacted Testors and they verified the date by the numbers on the bottom that they were three years old which is when I bought them. Testors told me that was beyond the recommended life of the paint. That said, they did replace the paint after I returned the leaking ones. I have since had more that leaked some but I don't know if they are the rest of my old cans or some of the new replacement cans. So, the leaking cans go back at least to 2006. I have used cans that have small leaks and had no issues. All of mine have been store in controlled environment since new.A asked this question the last time i saw this mentioned on here and don't think it got answered. Why is the stuff that leaks out clear and never the color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 It must be something with the newer cans My guess... and just a guess, but seems pretty plausible to me... They're using thinner metal then they used to for the cans to save a few cents per can. Thinner metal = more susceptible to leaking while under pressure. Add to that, lacquers and metalizers are much thinner paints than enamels, so they can leak through a tinier opening in the can. I've noticed the same "use thinner material to save a few cents" with newer K&S aluminum tubing. Same O.D. as an older pack, but the walls of the tube are much thinner and much more prone to bending and denting. It's more like working with aluminum foil tubing than aluminum tubing. Sheesh... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartman Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 I had a can do that a few months ago and thought it was just me.I used it and it sprayed fine and the color was good also.This can was also in a controlled environment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Not the first time this has been discussed. There should be an earlier thread. I've had several of these cans myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Minarick Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I have a can of clear like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle potts Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I keep mine in a file cabinet in my model room, walked past the door one day to hear a hissing noise. One of these can had started spraying around the base of the noozle, made a helluva mess. I've gotten ride of some of the older paint, trying to minimize the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I doubt there are any regulations that call for manufacturing cans that leak. Yeah, the EPA tends to be more concerned with keeping the Volatile Organic Compounds within the can until needed and CPSC and OSHA would probably prefer the cans safely stay in one piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 (edited) I have a bunch of paint sitting on my closet shelf so it will be in a controlled environment. i have some Boyd's colors from the 90's in the and some Model Master Lacquers.. So far no leaks but now i am worried... Edited August 31, 2015 by slusher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzTom Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 My guess... and just a guess, but seems pretty plausible to me... They're using thinner metal then they used to for the cans to save a few cents per can. Thinner metal = more susceptible to leaking while under pressure. Add to that, lacquers and metalizers are much thinner paints than enamels, so they can leak through a tinier opening in the can. I've noticed the same "use thinner material to save a few cents" with newer K&S aluminum tubing. Same O.D. as an older pack, but the walls of the tube are much thinner and much more prone to bending and denting. It's more like working with aluminum foil tubing than aluminum tubing. Sheesh... The cans seem as heavy as the older ones, the leak is always at a seam. I don't think your tubing is a "use thinner material to save a few cents" issue. If that were the case they would no longer fit inside each other. K&S makes 2 different wall thicknesses as well as a soft bendable tubing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I don't think your tubing is a "use thinner material to save a few cents" issue. If that were the case they would no longer fit inside each other. K&S makes 2 different wall thicknesses as well as a soft bendable tubing.Oh, ok... that would explain it. I bought some tubing that was very soft and very thin... must be the "bendable" type that I bought instead of the rigid kind. My mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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