How Do You Store Half a Can of Topside Paint?

[FSMike]

Boatyard I used to work at we had a dedicated refrigerator to keep paint and other stuff in (beer sometimes). Worked well, don't put food in it unless you like the taste of Awlgrip lol.

[otterhound]

I have a boat shop and have a lot of half used cans of paint and varnish in my cabinet. I have found that a splash of the appropriate thinner will stop a skin from forming for quite awhile. When time to use it just stir or shake it and apply.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by CaptTom

What about a circle of plastic (saran wrap, etc.) placed carefully on the surface of the paint?

+1.

I use "glad wrap". Not sure if that is an Aussie name for something else, but if so it is just flexible sandwich wrapper. Works a treat, for years in my experience, but check that the paint in question does not dissolve it first.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by jkindredpdx

Maybe inverting the can is a wives tale, but I've been doing it with all nature of volatile oils, paint, putty, and other products and it seems to help.

Thanks y'all for the marbles and smaller container ideas, both seem worth trying.

Of course the only way to verify would be to empty two identical cans by the same amount, invert one and not the other.

The expected result?

The laws of physics have no way of knowing which one is upside down (per who's opinion) so will treat both cans identically.

[jkindredpdx]

Originally Posted by ramblinrod

Of course the only way to verify would be to empty two identical cans by the same amount, invert one and not the other.



The expected result?



The laws of physics have no way of knowing which one is upside down (per who's opinion) so will treat both cans identically.

You could have a point according to this http://earthsky.org/space/our-univer...-no-direction?

The universe isn't spinning or stretched in any particular direction, according to stringent tests from scientists

Unless you think volatile gas evaporates upward and gas particles would sneak through the gap between the can and lid.


JimK

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by jkindredpdx

You could have a point according to this Our universe has no direction | Space | EarthSky

The universe isn't spinning or stretched in any particular direction, according to stringent tests from scientists

Unless you think volatile gas evaporates upward and gas particles would sneak through the gap between the can and lid.


JimK

An unsealed can is a different issue. I recommend not turning unsealed cans upside down for other reasons. ;-)

[capt jgw]

I've noticed lately some paints are coming with an O ring under the lid. I've been throwing them away. This thread has got me thinking maybe I should try to keep the O ring and put it back in if I don't use all the paint. Can't hurt.