How to conserve the remains of paint

When we finish a work of painting, it is convenient to conserve the spare painting for later retouches.

Step 1: Logically, we close the can firmly.

But if we close the can with the whole air that has inside, the oxygen will combine with the painting and it will create a hard layer on the surface.

Comments

[rimar2000]

From here came the Firefox logo!

[caverock]

Wow, that flame does look like a fox!!

[Spl1nt3rC3ll]

Great instructable I don't know much about Firefox, But doesn't that flame in the photo look like the logo? Iv'e only seen Firefox once so I'm not so shure.

[Keith-Kid]

its clearly a fire wolf.

[smarterthanu]

What about the new plastic paint containers? How do they hold up?

[rimar2000]

I do'nt know (I have an answer for each question ;) I guess the container collapse, as the greater of the pictures.

[Spl1nt3rC3ll]

Oh, And does this only work with house paint or can it work with acrilic and other things?

[rimar2000]

I do'nt know. Try it and tell us, please. In 8 years, more or less, we can have a response ;)

[berserk]

So, does this mean that paint cures by oxidation? I thought it was a matter of the solvents evaporating, which should not require oxygen, right? If this works, I'll have to start using it simply for the shocking effect on onlookers :-)

[jtobako]

It's simpler than adding CO2, but is the paint affected by the heat and soot?

[rimar2000]

The heat, surely no, is very little. The sott may be, but it is also very little. I do this for many years (when I remember to do it) and I never had problems. With painting of any color, varnish, etc.

[CatMan]

GREAT!!! i would suggest, though, that the whole preccess take place, at least at the first attempt, in the sink or bath. many things can go wrong with paint cans, and by adding fire - well, it doesn't get any simpler...

[rimar2000]

Yes. For that reason I indicate that it is only for adults. As for that the contraction of the can can produce spill of painting, there is not any possibility physically that that happens. Please, make me notice the writing substantial errors. I use a machine translator (Epals, very good) and it is known that they don't solve all the cases.

[CatMan]

the text is understood perfectly. the needed changes are very small, a matter of "correct" language, but i assure you that it's not really necessary: "2) without losing time, to light fire to those drops of inflammable liquid. " should be - "2) immediately light a fire to the drops of flammable liquid". "...but rather, inside the can it takes place a considerable vacuum that sucks strongly the lid." should be - "...but instead, considerable vaccum is created inside the can, which strongly sucks the lid." "without loosing temper" should be - "without loosing it's strength" if that's what you ment, or maybe its "character" ?

[rimar2000]

Thank you, I made those corrections and some attachés.

[thewoodcarver]

Very good instructable , very good idea to save the paint ..I always hate to throw out half a can or so of paint

[LasVegas]

So simple! It's ingenious! I like it! :)

[rimar2000]

Thank you. All him mine is simple, and it should be ingenious, because "the necessity makes worse the genius".

[Weissensteinburg]

I agree, a great method. But aren't some paints flammable?

[andrewjadams3]

Yes, but by putting the lid on, the oxygen in the can is quickly consumed and the fire goes out (at least that's what I gather from his description, fire needs oxygen to burn). Great method!