Plastic paint containers

freezspirit

I was just wondering where I could get some 2.5l airtight containers for matt emulsion paints.


I've got a few paints but in metal tins and have been told since I opened then to do test samples on the walls that I have shorten the life of the paint. These paints are expensive so would like keep as good until I can use them. Did the samples around Christmas time.

pinkteapot

I keep old paint in clip-lid tupperware boxes available from The Range and similar, and supermarkets. This sort of thing:

http://www.reallyusefulproducts.co.uk/uk/html/onlineshop/fullrange_locklock.php

Lock & Lock is the main named brand, but all the supermarkets do their own copies of them.

Did it at my old house. Even though our paint was in plastic cans, we only had odd little bits left after decorating (which we kept for touch-ups). The cans took up a lot of space, so I tipped remains out into small plastic boxes same as above, then wrote on the boxes in permanent marker what they were.

Used some of those boxes for three years and the paint was still fine afterwards for painting over filler.

However, I don't know if it's true that keeping the paint in a metal can will shorten its life - not heard that before. Did whoever said that to you just mean that you'd shortened its life by opening it at all?

freezspirit

The paint is Farrow and Ball, a couple of full 2.5l and 1 5l. opened to do sample on each wall in the rooms.


I got a bit worried as was told that the metal tin reacts with oxygen once opened and causes oxidation/rust changing the colour of the paint and quality. Also told it could also corrode the tin and the paint could leak out.


Was told this in 2 different paint suppliers but wondering if its a sales ploy? (1 chain DIY store and the other an interior design shop)

pinkteapot

At the house we've just bought, the previous owners left all the old scraps of paint for us to do touch-ups. Some are ancient metal tins (one has a sticker on it saying it was made in 2004).

There is rust around the rims of the tins but none are leaking. The colours have changed slightly, but I'm not sure if that's the colour in the tin changing or the colour on the wall - there is a slight difference and you can see where we've done touch-ups.

However, the colour changes are very slight and have happened over a long period of time. If you were to just use the paint all in one go then I can't see it making any difference. If you were painting half the room now and half in a year's time then it might be visible!

How long is it going to be until you use the paint?

nickj_2

if you keep the tin for years in a damp shed then they will rust , if you put them somewhere dry , protect from frost and they will last for years as long as you keep the lid tight

DaftyDuck

Store the tins upside down for a day or two to ensure a good seal around the rim, then invert the right way again. Helps the paint last years. Try and keep it frost-free and the tins dry, so they don't rust from the outside. Tying them up in a clear plastic bag can help keep the tins shiny new around the rims.

I don't think there's huge mileage in decanting to plastic pots, but I'd be willing to hear from those who have done it & recommend it.