Using really old emulsion

edited April 2013 in Chit chat
Quick query.

About ten (!) years ago I brought a large tin of light green emulsion with the intention of painting the bathroom. Did not happen. The can has been sealed all this time.

The can has been in a cupboard in the shed since then, so its sort of been protected from frost although I did note last year a jug of screenwash froze in there.

Question is assuming I strain it out can I use it to paint ? , Its an "outhouse" I would be painting, ie: ex outside toilet just used as store now with it although reading around a bit suggests that it may flake off after a week or two.

The paint does not smell "bad" it smells like paint, sort of.

Good / bad idea ?


I'm not being tight but I've just spend nearly 100 on paint (ceiling / skirting board / walls etc all different plus two coats were needed) for another room, just about finished almost so trying to avoid unneeded expense at the moment.
Post edited by spider on

Comments

  • edited March 2013
    Don't know the answer for sure, but give it a good stir and try it.

    Ten years seems like a long time for anything to be stored, Worst case is you have to do it again and out houses tend to be small.
  • fogfog
    edited March 2013
    do a test area.. see how it holds up.. have you popped the lid ? is it water / oily on the top ?
  • edited March 2013
    Make sure you stir it up very well. Get your stirrer all the way to the bottom of the can, and make sure you get the "corners" ( Corners? In a can?? -Ed ) Yes, I do mean the bottom of the can, where the wall meets the bottom.

    Stir it up as well as possible, as the can is bound to have settled in layers.

    I know from experience, I works with paints, I does!

    Stir it for a few minutes, if you're using a non-mechanical stirrer then have at it for OVER 5 minutes. If you're using an stirrer-attachment to a drill, then stir it for a few minutes.

    And yes, I'm also interested in hearing whether it's oil or latex based, as this will affect how it will look like once stirred. Either case, stir VERY WELL.

    It should be ok, unless it's superbly lumpy and does not mix at all, I mean you'll tell with a few minutes or so of stirring.
  • edited March 2013
    paint, unlike whisky does not improve with age....so don't drink any of it
  • edited March 2013
    Tip for old, lumpy paint:

    Skim of the skin off the top of the paint with a knife / cut the skin off the paint...

    Next grab a pair of ladies hosery (tights), and strain the paint through it into another container. Bingo your paint is as good as new.

    If the paint is a little thick, stick a little water in it and give it a stir (this can be done as emulsion is water based).
  • edited March 2013
    Hercules wrote: »
    Next grab a pair of ladies hosery (tights), and strain the paint through it into another container.
    Won't her legs get in the way?
  • zx1zx1
    edited March 2013
    Mousey wrote: »
    Won't her legs get in the way?

    HAHA! I was going to post the same comment!:smile:
    The trouble with tribbles is.......
  • edited March 2013
    LOL. I thought this thread said 'Using really old emulation'.
    We have cave!
    WWW
  • fogfog
    edited March 2013
    I was using really old spray paint earlier (plastikote) , it must be 8-10 years old.. is it clogging up due to the age??.. seems fine otherwise, guess I'll find out when it dries.
  • edited March 2013
    fog wrote: »
    I was using really old spray paint earlier (plastikote) , it must be 8-10 years old.. is it clogging up due to the age??.. seems fine otherwise, guess I'll find out when it dries.

    When you say "clogging up" are you referring to as it comes out of the atomizer?
    Shake it up, then shake it some more!
  • fogfog
    edited March 2013
    ZnorXman wrote: »
    When you say "clogging up" are you referring to as it comes out of the atomizer?
    Shake it up, then shake it some more!

    nozzle blocks.. and yer I shake it up.. I'm making some nice +2 adapters in red / black .. red / grey ... or black .. or red or black or grey maybe :)

    notice the new can was easier to use, but I suspect that was more gas than paint in the tin.
  • edited March 2013
    Mix some water in with it. I used to do this when I was younger and poorer to make the paint go further. Doesn't work with gloss obviously; just emulsion. Every emulsion I've come across is water based.
  • edited April 2013
    I forgot about this and have not had time. :oops:

    Upon opening the very rusty tin, there was about an inch of yellowy oil on top and a solid mass of light green paint (or what was paint) underneath.

    I just decided to dispose of it as it would not mix it seems, well I struggled to push a screwdriver through the 'mass' I guess if I was persistent it may of mixed in a fashion but the concern I had was if it flaked off the wall a couple of weeks later.
  • edited April 2013
    spider wrote: »
    ...I just decided to dispose of it...

    Wisely done.

    What colour did you decide on using?

    ( Go with what Scottie_UK (or was it Dunny?) did, where they painted the shed black with the Speccy colour stripe across it. )
  • edited April 2013
    I've not painted it yet but I'll probably plump for the same ie a very light green and re-do the top eight bricks and ceiling in white as that will help to reflect the light. :)

    I'll get some cheaper 'own brand' paint for it though as its only a 'tidy up' job really.
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