P3 Paint Separation?

[shponglefan]

P3 paints have a reputation for not separating very readily. However, when I was at a local store, they had quite a number of P3 paints that looked like they'd been on the shelf for quite awhile. They had a thin layer of dust on top and very visible separation; pigment on the bottom, clear liquid on top. I tried giving one of them a shake, but it didn't seem to remix.

Are these paints salvageable? I'm debating buying one to see if it can be remixed. Or should I just write them off and get my paint elsewhere...

 

[laurence]

It should be alright. Just shake the hell out of it! P3 paints are good paints.

Tip: Repeatedly slam the base of the pot onto the palm of your spare hand when shaking.

 

[gohkm]

They're fine. Suggest you put a coffee foamer into them. It works quite well, but only remove the device after you have halted it.

 

[Humanitarian]

They should be fine, unless they are really old metallic colors. P3 had an issue with their initial metallic formulation, IIRC.

 

[MAXXxxx]

they should be good. They need a bit more shaking, but the same effect is visible with all brands of paints that stay on the shelf for too long.
The important thing is, that they won't separate on the palette while you paint.

old metallics... I have the old-gold or what's it name was. A bottle of dark liquid + a ball of cured pigments on the bottom.
I also hated the platinum, even though it was from a later good batch.

somehow I find the P3 metallics really bad compared to all other brands.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

I found that they were horrible at separating. I only own 2-3 pots, but their separating is the reason I stopped buying them. A oust as bad as VGC IMO. I heard that certain colors are worse than others for them. For instance, the worst one I own is their version of bestial brown. Ugh it comes apart in about 3 minutes on the pallet.

 

[shponglefan]

Well I ended up buying a few of the paints and after 30 seconds or so on the paint shaker at home, they were well mixed.

I found that they were horrible at separating. I only own 2-3 pots, but their separating is the reason I stopped buying them. A oust as bad as VGC IMO. I heard that certain colors are worse than others for them. For instance, the worst one I own is their version of bestial brown. Ugh it comes apart in about 3 minutes on the pallet.

I'm very surprised. I've been using P3 paints lately and found they don't separate all all on the pallet, even thinning down to glaze consistency. And the ones I've had on the shelf had little to no separation even after a couple pots untouched for almost a year.

 

[BloodFather of Kharnath]

P3 Bloodstone is actually quite notorious for separating, as a quick google search indicates. This was the bestial brown tone I mentioned. Of the other two pots I own, only one was truly annoying. I'm sure this isn't representative of the whole, as I've heard only good things. One thing I do give P3 is the absolute BEST primer I've ever used. By far...

 

[MAXXxxx]

nah, the p3-s are a hit or miss really.
I hated all the metallics I tried from them, also had problem with bloodstone. Menoth Highlight and Sanguine Base were really good and I liked them, I noticed no separation here. Their flesh colors (midlund, ryn) are the best atm apart maybe from the scale75/andrea sets, but for 1/6 anime figures they are better than the other 2 mentioned, they tend to separate if left in the jar or on a wet-palette for a few days though.

 

[devoncodain]

I have had my current P3 paints for a little over 5 years now. 3 of those they where in storage all I had to do was shake them a little and the metalics I added a drop or 2 of water and shook those and they are all still good to go.

 

[1972Lt1]

I add a triangle glass bead to all of my pr and Vallejo paint jars. It helps when you shake them like the ball in a spray can.