Does Paint Go Bad?

[notfastenuff]

Hi everybody. I'm slowly trying to get my workbench set up again. I've been digging through my supplies and began to realize something. Most of my paint is old. I'm talking 5-10 years old. Is it still good? Does paint go bad? If this is a dumb topic, I'm sorry. Thanks in advance.

PS: If it matters, it's a combination of acrylics and enamels.

[lonewolf]

Notfastenuff,

I use both acrylics and enamels, and enamels are the only one I have had any trouble with. I find that with colors that aren't used very often, once the bottle gets down to half full or less, they can harden up. I started adding just a touch of thinner to these and stirring it well. Seems to have overcome the problem. By the same token, I have paint that is at least 6-7 years old and have no problem with it. When using your enamels, if you notice them starting to thicken a little, add the touch of thinner to keep them flowing nicely from your brush. The same can be said of the acrylics, using water instead of thinner.By the way, there are no dumb questions on this board. If you need to know anything, just ask. With the talent that frequents this place, pretty good chance someone will have an answer for you.

[Brendan]

Yes, paint can go bad.

Lonewolf's way of adding thinner will work. Just be careful not to use thinner meant for airbrushing that Testors makes. I believe it has a chemical called zylene (sp), if I remember correctly, which can dry up your paint quicker. Be aware, though, that some paints might be too far gone, especially acrylics since they have a tendency to clump up. If this happens, just throw the paint away and buy new ones. It's always better to be safe than sorry. If there is any doubt, buy new paint.

[notfastenuff]

Thanks guys! You just saved me some money. Much appreciated.

[fury3]

In my experience, I think a lot of it has to do with government mandated and or EPA regulated changes in the materials used in the paint. I actually have some "Pactra" enamels, and old glass bottle "Testors" enamels that are left over from my early modeling days..in which I left in 1976! They are today as good as the day I bought them over 30 years ago...without thinning! However, I have purchased certian current "Testors Model Masters" enamel colors which tend to dry out in 6 months. The colors I experience this the most frequent are the "Stoplamp Red", Turn Signal Amber, and various engine colors. I have done the thinner excercises, experimented with the cap sealing abilities and so on. Yet, I have over four hundred (yes, 400!) 2.0 oz. jars of "MCW" (Model Car World) lacquer (exterior gloss and semi-gloss interior air brush paint), some of which was purchased in 2004....and it's still perfect. Some of this "MCW" paint has been opened and partially used and resealed in the original bottle/cap. As an experiment, I did purchase a jar of the aformentioned "Testors Model Masters" Stoplamp Red, and poured it into a clean "MCW" 2.0 oz. jar. It has been one year since I did that, and the paint seems to be storing better in the "MCW" jars. Dave Dodge (MCW owner/operator) had problems about 15 years ago with his paint prematurely drying out for his clients. This was written up in the "SAE Magazine" in the early 90's, to which he promptly reacted. Dave found another supplier for his jars/lids, and the problem was solved. So, is it a container sealing/storage situation, or mandated chemical changes in the paint? Time will tell, "pun" intended! Fury3

Edited January 2, 2008 by fury3

[62rebel]

at one time there were two different sizes of caps on the quarter ounce Testors bottles...

i find that Gloss paints dry out faster in my supplies; red, orange, black go quickly.

it doesn't help that even when i'm not working on a particular KIT i spend time working on engines, seats, suspension parts for future projects and my paint supplies dwindle quickly then.....