"Brand name paint problem my painter/friend has mentioned" Topic

My friend who frequents this forum had an issue raised with my supplied paints for the miniatures I am paying him to paint.

I use craft paints (being eased out) and a well known miniature makers brand ($$ but which I happen to like) but recently he mentioned about the brand name paints clogging in the dispensing tip of the bottle. He substituted similar colors from his favorite brand ( somewhat $$$ in pricing I believe) and suggested I should change brands. Up until late last year I had no such problems.

Some possible factors:

1) I have been storing my miniatures and paint in the basement which has been exceptionally cold this year.

2) This last year I have bought many bottles from a local distributor on "sale" at a significantly reduced rate. I am thinking these have been on the shelf for a while else why reduce the price?

3) Some of my paint bottles are approaching three years old and the Kraft paints are much older.

So, in your collective minds do you think moving the paint storage to the upstairs library and tracking which brand name paints I buy from the miniature manufacturer versus the bargain bin paint buys will show an improvement in the performance of the paints I buy directly from the manufacturer?

I emailed the miniature manufacturer about his issues with the paints and asked them the same questions.

Why not provide the name brand so we can share experience and any possible fix?

If you are buying paints at clearance prices, then you may be buying your problem. There is no assurance that the paints were stored properly at the warehouse.

Another part if your answer may be in why the paints are being discontinued. Company go out of business, decided to stop making the stuff, knowing why may help with some answers,

A long pin or similar will clear the blockage if it's Vallejo dropper bottles you are talking about.

I find paints stay in better shape with constant use. I have some spares in stock and give them a shake up every now and then. I have some that are at least six years old and fine once they have had a really good shake up.

Nothing to loose by bringing your paints upstairs into the house.

I try to agitate my paint drawer every 6 months. Spend 1/2 hour shaking bottles watching a TV. I have some paint that's 10 years old and still is quite usable. I have a mix of GW, Craft Store, Tamiya, Testors Vallejo etc.

Paints are not being discontinued by manufacturer but they were on clearance by online/local store I bought them from.

Sorry but no names are forthcoming. I think it may not be the paints that are the problem but storage/maintenance..

I have paints 15+ years old and still in good shape.

Most of the tips already given are useful.

As for you paints, you may try some "medium extender", or some "acrilic thinner" specifically formulated, and add a little at a time to your problematic bottles, and stirring pretty well. That has helped me in the past.

Hope that helps.

Basically if the paint is thick, add thinner. If separated, stir up thoroughly.

If the paint won't mix, or smells funny, then throw it out. Also (duh) if it is dried up. If it won't mix it's gone through some chemical change and is no longer paint. If it smells funny there's probably some mould going on and you don't want that on your figures.

For acrylic paints my thinner is 1:1 wet water + Matte Media. (Could use Gloss Media if it is a gloss paint.) I use Liquitex but other brands are probably equivalent. Wet water is just filtered water with a couple drops dish soap or rinse aid per cup, to reduce surface tension. Airbrush Thinner is very similar if you want something already mixed.