Can you buy empty paint cans ?

KingL

Hi all

I have just had a major painting job done and have various remnants of custom paints that I would like to preserve for touching-up etc over the next ten years or so.

Can you buy empty paint tins (or some other suitable airtight container) that I can store the excess in? If so, where (cheaply) ?

The existing tins are unsuitable (mostly empty, too big, seals not much cop). I'd be looking at 500ml/250ml tins.

TIA

latecomer

Go to your local paint shop and I'm sure they will be able to sort you out. That said I have no idea about how long paint can be effectively stored.

Inactive

Use jam jars / salad cream jars, make sure you clean them before using them, make sure they are closed tight.

I put a piece of masking tape on mine and mark it which room/wall etc.

patman99

Store them upside down to prevent a skin forming on the top.

macman

Coffee jars?

loracan1

macman wrote: »

Coffee jars?

That's what I've used before now - 200g screw tops (rather than the douwe egberts)

Mankysteve

Some big cheap container for pound land or such might do

aboard_epsilon

where ever you store them ..make sure they dont freeze or they will be worthless.

storing tip

put lid on tightly in warm atmosphere.......

otherwise if you did it in the cold ..when the tin heats up it will pop its lid..or split its seams ..had that happen to me ./

so then ..put the lid on tightly ..then turn it upside down and swash it about to seal lid ..then back the right way for storage.

all the best.markj

googler

Lakeland or other kitchen supplier for glass jars of suitable capacity with screw-top lids, ideally with flexible seal in the lid to render them airtight.

phill99

Within 2 or 3 years the paint on the walls would have discoloured and the 'touching up' will be a different shade. Also, emulsion doesn't have a long shelf life and can soon deteriorate.