Convenient Paint Storage

It is cheaper to buy artists paint in bulk jars than in tubes.   One tends to waste more paint, though, because air gets inside the jars every time you open them. 

I used to use a lot of silicone rubber that came in grease gun cartridges.  After emptying the cartridges of silicone, I disassembled them for cleaning and storage, because they just looked too nice to throw away.  Eventually, I hit upon this use for the empty cartridges.

I packed the empty cartridges with the bulk paint and made caps out of silicone rubber. 

Since air can't get inside the cartridges, the paint lasts a lot longer.  You just uncap the tip of the cartridge, squeeze out the paint you need, and cap the cartridge again.  There is never any problem with dried paint gluing a screw-on jar lid tight, either.  Being made of silicone rubber, which nothing sticks to well, the caps never get stuck.  They just pull off and push on. 

Step 1 Hang up the Paint Cartridges.

I find it easier and more convenient to hang things than to have them cluttering up table surfaces.  I hang the cartridges from pipes using wire cradles.  I bend a hook at the top for hanging on the pipe, a loop around the cartridge further below, and at the bottom of the cartridge a little hook that snags on the bottom of the cartridge.  You just lift the cartridge up and out to remove it. 

Comments

[8bit]

very awesome! thanks!

[gemtree]

Great ideas! Thanks!