Freezing Paint

[CaptNarcissisto]

My question basically is this; is freezing acrylic paint a viable means of storage? I have a bunch of the older GW paints with the screw caps, and everyone knows these dry out quicker than most, and I\'ve lost some already.

It seems to me that since they are water based they would freeze and store indefintely and be pretty easy to thaw and use, but I\'m not a chemist, so don\'t really know. I also don\'t want to try and have them either ruined or have paint explode all over my freezer. Thanks

 

[Dragonsreach]

Stick one you can spare in to a freezer bag and try it.

Can\'t see the benefit myself.

 

[Ebonbuddha]

I don\'t think you can freeze paint. Why not buy some empty dropper bottels and put the pain in there. You can buy empties at Fantization

 

[XD]

I\'ve never thought of this before - I\'m not sure if it\'ll work but go ahead and try it. Is this an alternative to say just storing it in a cupboard? Because freezing would most likely keep the water part from evaporating and thus drying out like when you store them at room temperature. good luck with this!

 

[airhead]

I am not sure, but I don\'t think freezing is good for paint. Causes something to separate out - or messes up the latex or something.

 

[lahatiel]

Originally posted by Ebonbuddha
Why not buy some empty dropper bottels and put the pain in there.

I recommend this as well, despite the fact that, as Ebon typo\'d: yes, it is a bit of a pain to do. Worth it in the long run, though.

 

[vincegamer]

I wish I could take all the pain and just put it in a bottle.

 

[Einion]

I wouldn\'t! Unless the paint has been made to be freeze-thaw stable it could well ruin it (especially for fluid types). But try a test if you want, tell us how it works.

Originally posted by CaptNarcissisto
I have a bunch of the older GW paints with the screw caps, and everyone knows these dry out quicker than most, and I\'ve lost some already.

Try this: clean the threads on the bottle and the cap before replacing, screw tight then upend the bottle to coat the inside of the cap. This will form a light seal that will slow evaporation.

But just decanting into better containers seems like the easiest fix to me and dropper bottles are a better idea all round.

Einion

 

[CaptNarcissisto]

Thanks for the responses. My original thinking was that if frozen it couldn\'t evaporate and dry out. I have alot of double paints from a large lot I bought, so thought it might work. Since there aren\'t any concrete answers I\'ll give it a shot with one and let you know what happens.

 

[supervike]

before I had the space....I used to keep some of my old citadel paints in the Garage, and they have been thawed and froze several times, and they still work fine to this day!

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by CaptNarcissisto
Thanks for the responses. My original thinking was that if frozen it couldn\'t evaporate and dry out.

If you don\'t want to decant into other bottles and you want to ensure the paint doesn\'t evaporate you could seal the cap with a strip of Parafilm M, this provides a complete moisture barrier (© )

Originally posted by supervike
before I had the space....I used to keep some of my old citadel paints in the Garage, and they have been thawed and froze several times, and they still work fine to this day!

Well that\'s good to know.

Einion

 

[frenchkid]

make sure your bottle of paint is big enougth and solid. watter takes more space frozen then liquid Don\'t think that it would be a probleme in such small quantities, but best to make sure.

 

[Evil Bryan]

You also may want to be careful of the type of freezer you use for the experiment. Newer freezers are built to be \"frost free\", which causes them to wick away available moisture to reduce or eliminate the build up of ice. I fear it would have horrible effect on the screw top bottles that have proven themselves as poor air tight containers.

 

[wrestlerguy21]

Its funny how some of the most expensive paint requires us to rig it so that it doesn\'t dry. I have experianced a new fun with GW paint. Ill open a bottle and find a large ball of paint? with watery paint around it. I then begin the process of breaking up the ball.

I find that adding a drop or so of water each time is use them seems to keep the drying away.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Evil Bryan
Newer freezers are built to be \"frost free\", which causes them to wick away available moisture...

I don\'t think this will actually take ice away will it?

Simply decanting into better bottles seems like a much simpler solution and you get the added benefit of being able to measure the paint out in drops too.

Originally posted by wrestlerguy21
Its funny how some of the most expensive paint requires us to rig it so that it doesn\'t dry.

Well we all know it\'s overpriced to begin with don\'t we?

Originally posted by wrestlerguy21
I have experianced a new fun with GW paint. Ill open a bottle and find a large ball of paint? with watery paint around it. I then begin the process of breaking up the ball.

Oh, that sounds like such fun.

Originally posted by wrestlerguy21
I find that adding a drop or so of water each time is use them seems to keep the drying away.

I\'d be careful to use distilled water only for this to be on the safe side.

Einion

 

[nightshade777]

Do not freeze acrilic, since the elastisity breaks down, but you can put them in the refridgerator, that is how I store paints on the palate with a bit of saran rap over it, or you can use a bead case as a palate when painting, since you can close the lid and stick it in the fridge and come back days later and the paint is still good, may have to add a drop of water, but for the most, yes they are still there and ready to use.

 

[Trevor]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Evil Bryan
Newer freezers are built to be \"frost free\", which causes them to wick away available moisture...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I don\'t think this will actually take ice away will it?

Yes, it will. Its a process called freeze drying. It will take a while in a normal freezer, but unsealed things will dry out.

 

[Simon123]

I have a problem- i leaved my Vallejos in car, when im was in cinema.. we have very cold winter here, and they have been freezed.. and now they are bit wierd- too thin??? can it be caused by freeze ?

 

[bayrodney]

I guess it would work
Tell us in 10 years when you get them out of the freezer how they are.
we will be waiting

 

[4eyedtoad]

Originally posted by Simon123
I have a problem- i leaved my Vallejos in car, when im was in cinema.. we have very cold winter here, and they have been freezed.. and now they are bit wierd- too thin??? can it be caused by freeze ?

I think Vallejos have a 10 yr warranty ( or some duration, sounds weird I know,