What's the best way to store that 1/2 gallon of paint left over after
a project?

I don't think I've ever opened a used can that's a few months old
without finding rust along the inside lip or a film of dry paint on
top. I am very careful about cleaning the lid and the seam where the
lid seals and making sure the can is closed tight - rubber mallet
tight.

This morning I had to strain a 1/2 gallon of Kitchen & Bath paint
because of the rust that fell in when I opened the can.

I've moved some of my paint into emptied plastic tubs (in my case, 2lb
protein powder tubs) for longer term storage.

"DerbyDad03" eznet.net> wrote in message
news:1185078595.245349.206720@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...

Huh. Your storage location must be damp, and/or subject to big temp swings.
Previous owner left several partial cans, several years old, in furnace room
here, and they were still usable for touchups. I did make it a point to stir
the hell out of them, however. We talking latex or oil? IIRC, latex stores
longer without problems. I don't think a rubber mallet is tight enough- I
use whatever hammer or heavy metal object is handy, and a piece of 1x4 to ...

On Jul 22, 12:55 am, "aemeijers" att.net> wrote:

Storage is my walk-out basement workshop. Temperature swings, yes -
damp, no.

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:29:55 -0700, DerbyDad03 eznet.net>
wrote:

I also scratch a line into the lid to match where the seam is on the
can, so if there are imperfections or spills in the groove, I can
match them up. I think this is more important the second time a can
is opened then the first, but I do it the first time anyhow.

Others will have more direct answers to your question.

I guess I have a dry house. I've had paint dry out after a long time,
but I don't think I've ever had rust.

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 04:55:59 GMT, "aemeijers" att.net>
wrote:

I didn't even notice this. I think a rubber mallet can bend the lid,
including the rim.

I just use my arm, pushing down on the heel or my hand until it moves
into the can a bit, then going to the other side, maybe 180 degrees or
maybe 3 times at 120 degrees. I move it some that way. Then I get on
my knees and put the weight of my body above my knees into it, utnil I
feel it move far enough I know it is at the bottom. At 2 or 3 places.

I have the opposite of a bottle opener, that I or someone got at a
paint shop, that one hooks onot the riim and lifts to make the rim go
down into the can, but I've never used it. I like using the heel of
my hand because it's much wider, 4 inches instead of a half inch.

Why not just store the cans upside down? JG

"DerbyDad03" eznet.net> wrote in message
news:1185078595.245349.206720@57g2000hsv.googlegroups.com...

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 01:47:49 -0400, mm bigfoot.com>
wrote:

At the recommendation of my paint store, I use a small dead blow
hammer. Rubber mallets bounce.

DerbyDad03 wrote:

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:29:55 -0700, DerbyDad03 wrote:

I've always used a combination of mm's advice (for closing the tins) and
JGS's advice about storing the tins downside up. I've kept tins of gloss
paint for several years this way and never had skin or rust.

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