how old is too old?

[rehkal]

for paint?

So, I'm brushing off my paints now that I'm getting things settled at home and am wondering.

How old is too old for paint? All my citadel paints still have the old names attached to give time reference... and I think I probably bought them a year or more -before- they changed the names.

[tripwire]

if you open the cap and the paint is still liquid, I think you're good to go!

[bredkooler]

The old "bolter shell" paint bottles tend to dry up rather quickly, they get paint in the threads and that's it. But I've git some Vallejo paints I still use that I bought before I met my wife, and we have an 8 year old daughter Just depends on the paints and how they were stored.

[tiernanze]

If they look like they have a little bit of life left you can always add some water to the pot and shake very well. Just make sure to add a little bit at a time as you dont want it to be too wet.

[commandersasha]

A small stone, hematite bead or stainless ball bearing will help stir up old paints, a friend of mine just re-awoke some of his old pots.

[WestRider]

I really wish they'd stuck with the really old flip-top lids. I went through and did an inventory a few months back, and all 11 of my remaining 2nd Ed paints were still good, while only 11 of 35 from the various incarnations since then were still liquid at all.

[forteh]

I still have perfectly good paints from 20 years ago, as long as they have been sealed properly they should be ok. If they have thickened then a top up with water and acrylic medium will bring them right back