Vallejo problem at high altitude

[StudioAcorn]

I just moved from Oregon to a much higher altitude in Colorado. I\'ve noticed that all of my Vallejo paints are now spewing massive amounts of wasted paint whenever I open them. I try to let enough spill on my pallet then seal em fast but I\'m still wasting tons of my valued paints. Any suggestions for decompressing these things or do I have to simply buy new pots?

 

[SaxonAngel]

Hi! I live at the base of the Rockies and have this problem too since I tend to travel a fair bit.
If you can get the paint to settle at the bottom of the bottles before opening them there should be less stuff to come out. Then once it\'s equalized, just reseal and THEN shake and use.
Another thing I do is just to squeeze some air out of the bottles before I travel back home so the pressure in the bottles is a little closer to the air pressure here.

There are a number of incredibly talented minipainters in Colorado who you may be able to get some great advice from on this as well.

Cheers!

 

[freakinacage]

lol good luck!

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Freeze them then open them. If they\'re tough to open, hold them by the lid to warm it up then try to open.

 

[Wren]

I thought freezing wasn\'t very good for paint?

 

[Dragon Forge Design]

Originally posted by Wren
I thought freezing wasn\'t very good for paint?

It is and I don\'t understand why you would want to..the problem the guy is having is hes spilling to much paint when hes trying to pour it..freezing it wouldn\'t allow him to open any paint..

 

[Shawn R. L.]

hold them by the lid to warm it up then try to open.

 

[Dragonsreach]

I can\'t see how freezing the paint would help. There is no pressure equalisation occuring during the freezing process of a sealed environment.
StudioAcorn needs to equalise the pressure in the bottles to the new altitude, which means that each bottle should just be opened enough to allow air to \"balance\" between the bottle and the outside.
And If he/she\'s anything like me that\'ll be the whole day taken up opening bottles.
Could be a good way to organise things though.

 

[Einion]

Freezing isn\'t good for paint and liquid paints are certainly not noted for liking it, although a lot depends on how well they\'re made (and many paints will be frozen on their way to the shelves if they\'re shipped in any general-purpose shipping container or within the back of a truck).

Regardless of whether it\'s good for the paint it would lower the pressure inside the sealed bottle surely? So it sounds like it would work.

Einion

 

[DaN]

Regardless of whether freezing is good the paint, I\'m not sure Shawn was suggesting that the actual freezing would equalise the pressure - merely that it would prevent the liquid paint from \"exploding\" out of the bottle when opened.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by Einion
Regardless of whether it\'s good for the paint it would lower the pressure inside the sealed bottle surely?

As I recall, Water Based Liquids expand when frozen, therefore whatever gas was in the bottle would be compressed by the liquid and pressure would increase within a sealed container. (Remember frozen pipes anyone)

The problem is akin to the decompression divers need on surfacing, albeit without the lethal potential. (unless it happens to spurt out onto something irreplaceable of your wife\'s).
The only problem I can forsee with depressurising is that there may be air molecules mixed in to the liquids which could take time to expand.

 

[StudioAcorn]

I tossed my least favorite color in the freezer last night (well wrapped in plastic as to avoid burnished gold pizza pockets). Pulled it out today with no signs of over expansion due to the freezing. Lid came off fine but as soon as the paint began to go back to liquid it continued to spurt.

In theory I was hopeful of the freezing idea, solidify the paint to allow the air pockets to decompress. But I think Dragon is correct in the the thought that the air within the paint itself is still under pressure, regardless of liquid or solid form (and the lethality of these things spilling on my fiancee\'s new carpets).

 

[Dragonsreach]

Well I\'d suggest getting hold of a baking tray, line with kitchen roll and place the bottles on it, loosen the tops and leave for an hour or so.

Try it with ½ Dozen or so, non critical colors. If it works for them then you have your answer.

 

[green stuff]

I\'ve got an odd question : how high above sea level are people getting this problem?

I\'ve painted with Citadel paints (all-era pots) at my parents in law\'s place and haven\'t had any problem. They live about 720 meters above sea level (2400 feet, 800 yards).

Is it an altitude, a paint, or a pot design problem?

 

[generulpoleaxe]

i occasionaly get that problem with the odd dropper bottle and they don\'t get transported anywhere.

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Originally posted by DaN
Regardless of whether freezing is good the paint, I\'m not sure Shawn was suggesting that the actual freezing would equalise the pressure - merely that it would prevent the liquid paint from \"exploding\" out of the bottle when opened.

Yes.

 

[Undave]

Sometimes when the nozzle gets a bit bunged up it will siphon paint up it by capillary action. try banging the bottles on the table first or stick a paperclip down the hole to clear the nozzle out a bit and let the air out. as soon as the capillary action is broken you may find that it stops spurting.


Or maybe not...

 

[Einion]

There should so be a video of this happening on YouTube

Einion

 

[StudioAcorn]

Originally posted by green stuff
I\'ve got an odd question : how high above sea level are people getting this problem?

I\'ve painted with Citadel paints (all-era pots) at my parents in law\'s place and haven\'t had any problem. They live about 720 meters above sea level (2400 feet, 800 yards).

Is it an altitude, a paint, or a pot design problem?

I am currently around 6,500 feet. Its the Vallejo pot design, amazing as they are at this altitude their pro\'s actually work against me.

I\'ll film the volcanic action when I get home and link it for you Einion.

 

[Helga]

Orginal gepostet von StudioAcorn
I just moved from Oregon to a much higher altitude in Colorado. I\'ve noticed that all of my Vallejo paints are now spewing massive amounts of wasted paint whenever I open them. I try to let enough spill on my pallet then seal em fast but I\'m still wasting tons of my valued paints. Any suggestions for decompressing these things or do I have to simply buy new pots?

Let the little bottles settle standing upside (so there is air in the eyedrops) for a couple of hours after arriving in high altitude and screw them open veeeery slowly, like you would open a bottle of champange (that you are not sure of where it has been).

This comes from my own experience: german city Hamburg, altitude 0 is ocean surface level travelling to german city Traunstein, altitude is 1,400 m in the alpes mountains.