Emulsion shelf life?

[Rob]

I was given a 5L pot of Laura Ashley (no less) paint that's been opened
but almost full.

The can says 'use within 6 months of purchase' and indeed google
searches tend to repeat this. The paint is about 4 years old - as long
as it's taken me to get around to think about using it ;-)

What's the worst that can happen? I don't understand how paint can
degrade. Should I just chuck it and buy some more?

Thanks, Rob

[Rod]

I have just been using up a huge pot of emulsion (Crown Brilliant White
Matt with pink stuff). Having been half used a few years ago (at least
2, maybe more), it did have a minor area of mould up the inside of the
container. I ignored that and used it. Works fine. (It has been kept
indoors so has never frozen. That can be a paint killer.)

Things to look out for include "bits" - maybe strain it? (I have
frequently read of people using tights/stockings for this purpose but I
have never done so myself.) Also, give it a very thorough stir. When
removing and replacing the lids I have often noticed lots of bits of
dried paint flaking off - so I cleaned the lid.

PS Be very careful with LA paint at the top of stairs.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
<www.thyromind.info> <www.thyroiduk.org> <www.altsupportthyroid.org>

[friends...@googlemail.com]

I've touched up with paint thats older without any hassle but i've not
painted a full wall.

A painter advised me to always store cans of paint upside down as the
paint kept better. ( after properly resealing of course)

Fod

[m1ss_...@yahoo.co.uk]

On 3 Apr, 20:48, Rod <polygo...@ntlworld.com> wrote:

>
> PS Be very careful with LA paint at the top of stairs.

Is this speaking from experience?

[Rod]

"Laura Ashley died of a brain hemorrhage suffered ten days after she
fell down the stairs of her daughter's English country home on her 60th
birthday."

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Ashley>

It was a sick, tasteless, vaguely humourous comment.

[PM]

<friends...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
news:ea252131-da20-4a73...@u36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

> On Apr 3, 6:35 pm, Rob <patchoulianremovet...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I was given a 5L pot of Laura Ashley (no less) paint that's been opened
> > but almost full.
> >
> > The can says 'use within 6 months of purchase' and indeed google
> > searches tend to repeat this. The paint is about 4 years old - as long
> > as it's taken me to get around to think about using it ;-)
> >
> > What's the worst that can happen? I don't understand how paint can
> > degrade. Should I just chuck it and buy some more?
> >
> > Thanks, Rob
>
> I've touched up with paint thats older without any hassle but i've not
> painted a full wall.

I used an open-5-years white emulsion recently, no problem. Needed to scrape
off the sides of the tin, but it came away in two or three large
snot-consistency pieces.

>
> A painter advised me to always store cans of paint upside down as the
> paint kept better. ( after properly resealing of course)

I think that's so any degradation due to air in the tin then happens at the
bottom rather than the top. OK for paint you don't stir, not so good
otherwise?

[Andrew Gabriel]

In article <mOWdnfh5HsG1umva...@pipex.net>,

"PM" <pm@m_.com.invalid> writes:
>
> <friends...@googlemail.com> wrote in message
> news:ea252131-da20-4a73...@u36g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>>

>> A painter advised me to always store cans of paint upside down as the
>> paint kept better. ( after properly resealing of course)
>
> I think that's so any degradation due to air in the tin then happens at the
> bottom rather than the top. OK for paint you don't stir, not so good
> otherwise?

I think it's because the tin lids don't reseal perfectly, and it
allows the solvent to evaporate and the paint to skin over slowly.
By storing the tin upside down, the paint is in contact with the
lid seal, so any small leaks cause the paint to set in the
leak and seal the tin. I store mine upside down when I remember
to, and they seem to keep forever. I did some touch-up with the
original 20 year old emulsion a couple of years ago (which I had
remembered to store upside down), and that worked fine.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

[Rob]

Many thanks - I'll use it after all.

Rob

[PM]

"Andrew Gabriel" <and...@cucumber.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:47f62d61$0$712$5a6a...@news.aaisp.net.uk...

> By storing the tin upside down, the paint is in contact with the
> lid seal, so any small leaks cause the paint to set in the
> leak and seal the tin.

Heh, I had a tin go rusty, the paint inside set and sealed it - until I
stirred it....
Wondered why the level was going down as I stirred :-(