Can You Use Old Paint

Prior projects take left me with several cans of paint which are well over 3-4 years old. I hate being wasteful, but I don't want to paint my piece of furniture or walls with an old paint that'due south going to nether-perform and stop up looking hideous.

Luckily, My-Mystery-Homo (M-One thousand-One thousand) works with professional painters on his task sites. So I asked him… Tin can you lot utilize quondam paint?…And how one-time is likewise old?

Honey Grand-M-M to bits! He's e'er willing to answer ALL my questions. The odd time he doesn't have an answer, he'll ask the trades for their expert advice on my behalf.

The painters explained that the shelf life of pigment really depends on how information technology's been sealed and stored. Oil-based and latex paints may have a shelf life of up to 7-x years if stored and sealed properly. A dandy play tricks to utilize old paint and make it "new once again" is to strain information technology.

This procedure of straining pigment sounded uncomplicated enough… so I gave it a attempt.

I took an old tin can of paint which must accept been close to 5 years old. It was kept in my basement which is dry and always at a abiding temperature. Even though it was stored properly, when I opened it up…information technology didn't await too good. Information technology had somewhat separated, had a slight skin on top, and had little bits of rust which I'm sure I added to the mix when I forced the chapeau open.

[box] *Tip- Open your old can of paint Earlier you start shaking it! This allows you to discard any debris you lot see and information technology won't get mixed in with your usable paint. A thorough mixing should only take place at the END of the straining process.[/box]

To strain my paint, I grabbed a pair of pantyhose which were hiding in the back of my sock drawer since the late 90'due south… no actually, seriously… the late xc'south!

[box] *Tip- Yous can also use cheese material, a bag strainer, or a professional person paint strainer which you can find at any Lowe's or Home Depot.[/box]

I institute 2 empty containers to strain the paint into and opted for the smaller plastic one. And so I put on a pair of gloves and covered my work area with newspaper.

I used a stir stick and carefully removed the partially dried skin and the rest of the junk that was sitting on the surface of the old pigment.

I cut off ane of the nylon legs and stretched it over my plastic container.

Hey look…One Size does fit all…

Then I slowly started pouring the paint into the container through the nylon screen. You can't just dump the entire tin can at once because the paint takes a bit of time to strain. Take your fourth dimension and cascade the pigment petty by little until the unabridged can has been emptied.

When I was finished straining the pigment, I concluded up with a nylon sack of pigment-grime. All the debris was trapped in the pantyhose and what was left {drum roll please} was a clean, smooth, usable container of "looks-similar-new" paint. I gave it a really thorough mixing, and it'southward now ready to work it's magic.

Update ~ I used this paint in a Home Made Chalk Paint (HMCP) recipe to re-finish ii side tables. Information technology worked perfectly and they turned out great.

Can You Use Old Paint?

Here are some quick tips to determine if your one-time paint is or isn't usable.

*Quondam cans of paint which have been stored properly can usually be used. (Stored in a cool dry identify and tightly secured with no extreme rut or common cold)
*If your old paint however has a dainty consistency, it's probably ok to use.
*If your old paint has separated but blends together nicely one time mixed, its probably ok to use.
*If your old paint is really chunky, it's too sometime to employ.
*If your old paint has a jelly consistency, it's too old to utilise.
*If your paint smells actually bad or weird (non similar paint) information technology's too one-time to employ.

I'm so glad I tried this learned something new. Straining paint is a corking way to use up all my one-time paints while being environmentally friendly!