Kelp Posted May 31, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 31, 2014 I usually buy the Testors bottles of paint but find that the paint begins to thicken soon after I use it a couple of times. The paint sometimes completely dries up, even though the caps are on the bottles. Does anyone have any suggestions on how they keep their bottles of paint useful for a decent amount of time? Thanks, Don Current Builds: Heller HMS Victory, MS Mayflower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyUK Posted May 31, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 31, 2014 Hi Don. I assume that the paint is enamel type.. I was always told that when finished with the pot give it a good shaking (with the lid ON) The thinners produces a vapor that stops it from forming a skin and drying out. If you notice one that's thickening up just add 1 drop of thinners (the recommended type of course) Some of my old paints are some 15+ years old. Regards Antony. Quote Best advice ever given to me."If you don't know ..Just ask. Completed Mayflower Completed Fun build Tail boat Tailboat Completed Build Chinese Junk Chinese Pirate Junk Completed scratch built Korean Turtle ship 1/32 Turtle ship Completed Santa Lucia Sicilian Cargo Boat 1/30 scale Santa Lucia On hold. Bounty Occre 1/45 Completed HMS Victory by DeAgostini modelspace. DeAgostini Victory Cross Section Completed H.M.S. Victory X section by Coral. HMS Victory cross section Completed The Black Pearl fun build Black Queen Completed A large scale Victory cross section 1/36 Victory Cross Section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justsayrow Posted May 31, 2014 Share #3 Posted May 31, 2014 Don, I usually smear a little Vaseline / petroleum jelly around the threads of the bottle before recapping it. this makes a positively airtight seal. it also makes the bottle much easier to open and close next time. druxey, augie and dgbot 3 Quote ==================================== Currently building: Model Expo AMERICA, A/L KING OF THE MISSISSIPPI Completed: Mamoli Victory cross-section, Revell LSM (Plastic, in memory of Dad), A/L SANSON tug, MS Longboat (awesome model Chuck!), Dumas 1949 Chris-Craft 19' Racing runabout, A/L SWIFT, MS ELSIE, Constructo ELIDIR (now LOUISE), Midwest Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack, Amati 1:80 Yacht ENDEAVOUR, Mamoli CONSTITUTION cross section, Revell VIIc U-boat (1:72 plastic), lotsa other plastic ships Next up: who knows - there are too many to choose from! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted May 31, 2014 Share #4 Posted May 31, 2014 The other possibility is a little squirt of inert gas before re-capping. This is available in pressure canisters for the purpose. Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelp Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share #5 Posted June 10, 2014 Antony, Justsayrow, and Druxey, Thanks for the advice on keeping the paint thin and usable. I'm trying the vaseline on the bottle threads and will see how that works out. Sometimes paint gets on the threads and then hardens. Vaseline should take care of that problem too.. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modeler12 Posted June 10, 2014 Share #6 Posted June 10, 2014 I think that the air in the bottle reacts with the paint. So, at least with larger cans (quart etc), I add some clean rocks to the can and minimize the amount of air that gets trapped inside. With small bottles you can do the same using beads or other small, inert stuff. Quote Jay Current build Cross Section USS Constitution http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10120-cross-section-forward-area-of-the-uss-constitution/ Finished USS Constitution: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/103-uss-constitution-by-modeler12/ 'A picture is worth a . . . . .' More is better . . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaxboat Posted June 11, 2014 Share #7 Posted June 11, 2014 Great ideas from the crew here. I would chime in and ask you where you store your paint. Keep it in a cool dark place. Heat will increase the rate of oxidation Best Jaxboat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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