Tamiya acrylic paint separation issue - has this happened to you?

[Monty]

A couple months ago I bought a small quantity of 23 ml jars of Tamiya acrylic paint, including XF-56 Gray Metallic, from a highly reputable online site I've used numerous times before.

The paint is the exact shade I wanted for certain applications, but it separates out quickly, even after being mixed thoroughly with my Badger paint mixer. Within hours, the paint will devolve into silver elements at the bottom of the jar and an inky black residue at the top.

One of the other jars I bought was Tamiya's X-13 Metallic Blue. Unlike the gray, it's a gloss color, but it doesn't show any signs of separating out.

I guess I never figured I'd see this kind of thing in a Tamiya paint product, so I was surprised. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Guest G Holding]

I find most Tamiya acrylics separate like you described I use a BB in the jar and keep it moving

[Chillyb1]

Yes, I think this is normal. Most of the colors separate, even the transparent ones (smoke, blue, yellow, orange, red, et cetera).

[Chuck Most]

I've only had that problem with the XF-56- I'll add another reccomendation for keeping a BB in the jar. Don't bother brush-painting with XF-56 either- it seems to 'prefer' being airbrushed after a nice thorough mixing. I've never had any problems with separation with any other Tamiya color, though.