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dimbear

(6,271 posts)
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 02:56 AM Feb 2012

I finished painting my bedroom. There was an area behind the bookcases I didn't paint

because it was hard to reach. Now I want the bookcases in another room.

I had, however, put away the leftover paint. That was in 1988. Says so on the label of the paint can, still barely legible.

Needless to say, it resembled a brick when I opened the can. Topping up the paint with water, heating and stirring occasionally it gradually reliquified. When it was nearly paint again, I stirred it well with an electric mixer.

Went on fine.

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I finished painting my bedroom. There was an area behind the bookcases I didn't paint (Original Post) dimbear Feb 2012 OP
1988? 24 years ago? You win the "Fruglie" Award!! Amazing! nt MADem Feb 2012 #1
you may want to take a sample and get another quart made up NMDemDist2 Feb 2012 #2
That is great NEOhiodemocrat Feb 2012 #3
No WAY!!!! I am impressed. Curmudgeoness Feb 2012 #4
First of all, only latex paint. Not oil paint. dimbear Feb 2012 #5
Well, there goes what I heard about putting fresh paint Curmudgeoness Feb 2012 #6
I've got to laugh, my uncle almost did that to me... Historic NY Feb 2012 #7
Incredible way to antique a wall, so to say! I've got this in my remember file! Thanks!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2012 #8
You can thin old paint with Floetrol by Flood Company Kolesar Feb 2012 #9
useful pennyfor Feb 2012 #10
Quality Painting Services JermaineTan May 2012 #11

NEOhiodemocrat

(912 posts)
3. That is great
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 04:33 PM
Feb 2012

I would never have thought to do that. I am sure it would have been pitched! Thanks for the suggestion, it will come in handy someday. And you definitely get the frugal award!

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
4. No WAY!!!! I am impressed.
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 06:36 PM
Feb 2012

I have had to throw paint away when it was all dried out. Heating it??? How did you do that? How hot? I get adding water, I get trying to mix it with that water. And what kind of electric mixer did you use? One specially made for paint, or just a kitchen mixer?

I have so many cans of paint that I am afraid to even open, so I am very curious how this works.

dimbear

(6,271 posts)
5. First of all, only latex paint. Not oil paint.
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 07:48 PM
Feb 2012

I just put it on an electric stove burner on low for an afternoon.

And I just used a hand electric mixer.

Oil paint would be dangerous.

I was a little tiny bit afraid the paint wouldn't dry, but today it's undetectable from the rest of the wall. It's all the same age, anyway.

Curmudgeoness

(18,219 posts)
6. Well, there goes what I heard about putting fresh paint
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 07:52 PM
Feb 2012

over a spot that was painted a long time ago. I thought that paint changes over time on the wall, and trying to do a fix on it would not match. Goes to show----don't listen to everything you hear.

Edit: and I knew it was for latex only---or the water wouldn't work.

Historic NY

(38,045 posts)
7. I've got to laugh, my uncle almost did that to me...
Tue Feb 21, 2012, 11:07 PM
Feb 2012

told the painter to skip behind the breakfront. No one would ever see it. I had guys from my job come in a 5am and we moved it. He was shocked.

I've not been so lucky with old paint. Repaired a hole from an a/c unit ended up getting a gallon because the old stuff dried like a rock.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)
8. Incredible way to antique a wall, so to say! I've got this in my remember file! Thanks!!! n/t
Thu Feb 23, 2012, 05:01 PM
Feb 2012

Kolesar

(31,182 posts)
9. You can thin old paint with Floetrol by Flood Company
Fri Feb 24, 2012, 01:07 PM
Feb 2012

They also make Penetrol for oil based paint.

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