Non-Drip Gloss Paint

Does anyone know anything about non-drip gloss paints?

I have a nearly full tin of the stuff which is several years old. On opening there was a large amount of an oily substance on the top which I drained off, as per the instructions on the tin. Tried painting but the finish is iffy, with some areas remaining 'tacky' and not drying properly. Probably because I didn't get all the oily stuff off perhaps.

My gut feeling is either to give it a good stir and see what happens, if it doesn't improve bin it, or bin it anyway. However, the instructions for non-drip paints say not to stir. I know nothing about paints as to why this should be.

Any ideas anyone?

Chris

Chris, best advice I can offer is bin it.

Emgee

I'd bin it anyway. I can never get a good finish from non-drip paints.

Paint is a subject as wide as it is broad! However, most paints have a shelf-life and delicate storage requirements. If you stir a non-drip paint it becomes an ordinary paint and will drip with the best of them.

Generally chemical products that quietly change state when used don't store well. Glue, Paint, Varnish, Flux, Rubber etc all suffer from old age. Degraded paint may not brush, stick, harden properly, produce an acceptable finish, or last long. Your time is valuable - if the job matters, replace the paint.

Dave

These replies generally reflect my thoughts! Suspected stirring a non-drip paint would turn it into an ordinary paint. Hate non-drip paints anyway, can't get on with them. Only kept this one because of the colour. It will likely get binned!

Thanks all,

Chris

I don't see why stirring a non-drip paint should turn it into ordinary paint, at least not permanently?

When non-drip paints first came out the buzz word was thixotropic, ie, the paint thins when subject to a time dependent shear. So when the paint is sheared by application with a brush it flows easily, but once the shear is removed it reverts to being viscous, so it doesn't drip or run. So if you stir a non-drip paint I'd expect it to thin, but don't see why it wouldn't thicken over time afterwards. In a wider sense non-drip paints are one type of non-Newtonian fluid, analysis of which involves tensors.

I've got a tin of non-drip gloss at home, at least a year old and it worked fine when I used it a couple of weeks ago. In due course I'll have a look at the tin and see if it says anything about stirring.

If nothing else I'm an expert at pot stirring.

Andrew

Opened a tin of satin finish on Tuesday with the liquid floating on top gave it a stir used it no prob

H

I've noted over the years Andrew that you are very good at many things; stirring being one of your most amusing ones!

Chris

Good news - you're in the glorious position of being able to test what happens when you stir a pot of non-drip paint! If it thins permanently, I'm right. Otherwise Andrew scores a brownie point. Actually, stirring one tin of paint may not prove much. It's possible we're both right, depending on how the paint was made. Even so, experiment always beats theory.

Reminds me I was going to comment on the thread asking about drilling ball bearings, where answers ranged from 'no problem with an ordinary HSS drill', to 'EDM'. Very contradictory. Actually, everyone was telling the truth - ball bearings come in a variety of hardnesses from softish steel up to harder than carbide. The softer ones can be drilled, the harder ones can't.

Dave

[This posting has been removed]

As Andrew has said above Non drip paints are thixotropic like tomato sauce, you can stir them and they go runny, let them stand for a while and they will revert back to nondrip again.

The brown oily stuff poured away was the resin that sets the solids normally suspended in it and imparts the gloss finish. When the solids settle like those described you need to stir them back in again. Pouring off the resin means the paint may remain forever tacky like anti climb paint even if you stir it all day.

I stir non drip gloss to get a better finish. As long as it is not too hot/cold, you can get it so that it brushes on and spreads just enough to remove the brush strokes, then re-gels and stops the runs.

Have stirred said tin this evening whilst in a "oh sod it " mood, will see what it's like tomorrow. If it was to be binned anyway not much to loose.......

Chris

Most paints separate over time since they consist of finely ground pigment mixed into a carrier base and one is usually heavier than the other. Can't think of any paint offhand that doesn't say shake or stir before use.

After years of resisting it the last decorating I did I used water based undercoat and gloss. Must say I'm impressed, goes on very easy and brushes clean very easy. Finish is acceptable, not up to coachpaint standard but it's only the bedroom woodwork.

Edited By duncan webster on 30/03/2019 00:44:57

Oh dear, I've boo-boo'd, turns out my tin of gloss paint isn't non-drip at all.

The instructions on the tin say stir thoroughly before use. Can't say I've noticed it dripping, but it's only been used for skirting boards, so you don't need a lot of paint on the brush. Having bought it about 18 months ago for the main bathroom refit I used it recently for the kitchen refit. This time around I didn't read the tin and came unstuck. I thought gloss paint, therefore white spirit for the brushes. Got it all set up and after painting dropped the brush in and it went 'orrid. The brushes can be washed in water even though it's a gloss paint.

Andrew.

<< Can't think of any paint offhand that doesn't say shake or stir before use. >>

Many years ago i offered to paint a old lady's kitchen in the fashionable orange of the era. The tin clearly stated not to stir before use. I'd painted half of the walls before noticing the colour going from rich to faded. I too the tin back to the shop to be told I should have stirred before use followed by a surreal discussion before being given a new tin of the stuff (which I stirred, used and succeeded with).

As someone who hates painting most of my woodwork is stained or varnished. The very limited gloss stuff I find best to do with modern water-based low odour paints and small gloss rollers for all but the edges - all of which I mask off with low-tack tapes so I can slap the stuff on and get it done.- finish is excellent.

pgk

Has anyone tried to get rid of a half full tin of paint at the local dump, ours in Caister will not take the tin unless it is completely empty. When I asked why all I got was a shrug of the shoulder, and I thought that it was a recycling centre, so what do we do with these tins, put them in the household rubbish?

Pat

Lowestoft dump is the same, would only take dried out tins.

Stir a load of sand into the paint, and leave the lid off until it sets.