How Do You Store Half a Can of Topside Paint?

[redhead]

A friend needs to put aside the paint (Interlux) for a month while doing another project. Any ideas on how to do so without it drying? Saran won't work....

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[capt jgw]

One part or two? Unmixed two part should keep a long time. If the activator has been mixed, you're screwed. Throw it away.
One part paint will keep fairly well if there's no head space in the can. An old timer trick is to take up the space with clean gravel, marbles, or anything else inert. A more modern method is to fill the space with CO2 if you have a source of it (not a fire extinguisher!) Just exhaling into the can will display some O2 and replace with CO2, but there's still a lot of O2 in your breath.

[belle-isle]

I would add that it is important to open the can so as to damage it as little as possible so that it remains airtight, and then a good thing to do while storing it is to invert it, with the lid on the bottom. That way there will not be any way that the solvent can evaporate.


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[SV DestinyAscen]

Pour paint into plastic bottle with bearings or marbles. Shake to agitate. Pour when you need it.

[CaptMarc]

I've seen this advertised in the back of Wooden Boat Mag...

Purchase

Good Luck
MArc

[Delancey]

For one part paint a splash of the appropriate thinner on top usually will help it from skinning over in my experience.

[bletso]

depends on the paint, but I purge the can with nitrogen.

[CaptTom]

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

[Jsta_Rebel]

Originally Posted by SV DestinyAscen

Pour paint into plastic bottle with bearings or marbles. Shake to agitate. Pour when you need it.

+1 for this method. Make sure it's a clorox bottle washed and DRY.

[redhead]

It's one part. I'm just going to pass all these along and let him choose.

Once again, I can always get answers here. Thanks.

[JPA Cate]

Invert can, place in a cool place.

Ann

[jamhass]

ditto marbles. Have had good luck with original cans adding marbles, works with varnish also.

[valhalla360]

Or just scrape off the skin when ready to use. We did that with half a pint of brightsides I kept around for touch up and couldn't see where it had any negative effects...of course it might be different if painting a large area. This was just for covering up minor dings and scratches.


How much paint are we talking about?

[Rough Magic]

Blow up a balloon to fit the air space. Works in the weeks time frame.

[yenbad]

why not pour it into a smaller container?