Sprap cans (paint and varnish) use by date?

[thebinmann]

I found some old spray cans in the garage, should I bin them (recycle) or cand I still use them. They could be a number of years old

They are:

Hobbycraft undercoat
Games Workshop ard coat and purity seal

Thanks

[Svennn]

I may risk the undercoat but would not trust the varnishes. I have had cans over a number of years but they are stored in the house - not the temp. fluctuations of a garage.

Certainly try them on something other than miniatures first if you are tempted.

I would rather spend on new than risk destroying/having to strip a model tbh.

[OSHIROmodels]

Go with what Svennn says and I would add that spending a good five minutes shaking the can wouldn't be wasted 

cheers

James

[Westfalia Chris]

What the others said - I would be very careful with varnishes in particular. That said, I recently dug out an opened can of Army Painter white basecoat that must have been sitting here in Germany for about two years, and it worked like a charm.

[thebinmann]

Thanks guys

What the others said - I would be very careful with varnishes in particular. That said, I recently dug out an opened can of Army Painter white basecoat that must have been sitting here in Germany for about two years, and it worked like a charm.

I think I might go for hew as the hobbycraft could be 10+ years... as for the GW it might only be 2-3 but varinish can ruin figures I suppose...

[Westfalia Chris]

Thanks guys

I think I might go for hew as the hobbycraft could be 10+ years... as for the GW it might only be 2-3 but varinish can ruin figures I suppose...

Yeah, ten years is probably pushing it - although one might use it to undercoat sanded/structured terrain pieces, were a bit of extra graininess wouldn't be that bad. But it might be the better choice to bin the old ones and get a set of new paints if they are THAT old.

[OSHIROmodels]

Yeah, even 20 mins of shaking probably wouldn't get rid of the sediment at the bottom if they're ten years old 

cheers

James

[thebinmann]

Yeah, even 20 mins of shaking probably wouldn't get rid of the sediment at the bottom if they're ten years old 

cheers

James

I'll check if it's solid I open the can and use ii as putty!

[OSHIROmodels]

Best no to do that  It'll still be pressurised...

It won't be very good as putty anyway.

cheers

James

[thebinmann]

Best no to do that  It'll still be pressurised...

It won't be very good as putty anyway.

cheers

James

It's ok I am not crazy

[OSHIROmodels]

It's ok I am not crazy

Jolly good  You did have me worried though 

I've seen an old collegue drill into the top of an expanding spray foam can before because it was gunked up (please don't ask  ). Needless to say, I think he came off worse. Had to shave his hair, get new glasses and buy a new bin for the workshop  That stuff never comes off...

cheers

James

[thebinmann]

Jolly good  You did have me worried though 

I've seen an old collegue drill into the top of an expanding spray foam can before because it was gunked up (please don't ask  ). Needless to say, I think he came off worse. Had to shave his hair, get new glasses and buy a new bin for the workshop  That stuff never comes off...

cheers

James

I was thinking more: "double or nothing this knife cuts this spray can in half" a la Big Trouble in Little China, now that would be messy...