Railmatch Paint Drying in Jars/Pots?

[Redford73]

I suspect this topic has come up before.

 

How do you stop paint (and this is enamel and acrylic) drying in the jars/pots?

 

I use several brands but the Railmatch ones, both enamels and acrylics, seem to be prone to drying out even when quite new.  I also note that the Wilder Weathering Washes are also prone to this although often the paint just thickens and needs a good stir and any solid pieces removed.

 

The enamels are in the glass jars and the acrylics in the plastic pots.

 

I always stir the paint before use and clean the tops/rim of the jar after use but random jars seem to dry up.  Is this possible to a) prevent and b) remedy (by heating up the jar? adding something to the dried paint) or is the paint wasted? 

 

I store them in normal room temperature in drawers and although I don't use them often (tend to do painting sessions every few months and a load of painting in one or two goes) some of the paint has dried within a few months of opening.

 

Any help/comments much appreciated as always. 

 

.  

[michl080]

Hi there,

 

my father used to store the jars upside down. He said that this would prevent air to enter the container and solvent to leave it. Sounds reasonable, however, I have no personal experience. That problem didn't ever happen with my eyedroppper bottles.

 

Michael

[Derekl]

I store tins upside down, as recommended above. Seems to work for many years. I assume the same would apply to jars. 

[Redford73]

Thanks for advice.

 

But is the dried paint I have already accumulated now wasted or is there some way I can treat it to use again?  I have 3 or 4 pots which I have only half used with dried paint in which will be a waste of money.

[jonny777]

I have a couple of jars of Railmatch paint in which the entire contents is now a solid lump. 

 

I suppose I could try adding thinners into the jar and shaking until my arm is about to drop off, to see if the paint will re-mix; but basically I don't buy paint in glass jars with plastic lids any more. I tend to use tinlets, of the kind produced by Phoenix/Precision. 

[bike2steam]

As others have said, yes store jars upside down. But before you do, make sure the top edge of the jar, that comes into contact with the lid, is cleaned of all paint wet or dry, so there is a good seal to the jar that's easy to open.

[John Tomlinson]

Thanks for advice.

 

But is the dried paint I have already accumulated now wasted or is there some way I can treat it to use again?  I have 3 or 4 pots which I have only half used with dried paint in which will be a waste of money.

 

I'd be fairly confident its now gone. Even if you soften it up a bit with thinners, it'll still be lumpy and give you a rubbish outcome on your model.

 

Are you sure however it is dried solid? Half a Railmatch jar is quite a lot, and often there is a skin that forms on the surface with good paint underneath. If so, remove the skin very carefully by slitting round the edge with a knife and then lifting away with tweezers - this will be quite messy!. The paint underneath may then need a bit more thinner than usual, but should otherwise be OK.

 

John.

[Redford73]

Thanks for tip John.

 

One of the Railmatch jars was indeed just solid on top though the other three were knackered.  In fact only two of those were half full as when I broke away the dried paint on two of them there was actually hardly any left.  

 

Will def store them upside down from now on as per above suggestions.

[chaz]

Or you could switch to acrylics which seem to have a much better shelf life. Of course this might give rise to other problems - many colours may be unavailable and so will need to be mixed.

 

Chaz