unopened 42 year old cans of paint ? what is the shelf life on paint ?

[rav440]

i have my 97 taurus listed for sale or trade . i got an email that reads :

" HI

Any chance you might be looking for original Mopar paint from the like about 66 - 71? I have about 6 cases of it in a couple of colors. I can get exact years and colors for you if interested. I asked a friend of mine who runs his family auto body garage and he says folks are still looking for these and I should be able to get $50 a quart but I refuse to sell on eBay any longer and have not got it on Craigslist just yet.

Thanks

Rob "

would the paint still be useable after all of those years ?

 

[GTXperience]

Have him open at least one up and see. If it is still in liquid form, I would say the shelf life is at least 42 years. ;) I wouldn't hold my breath though.

 

[alleyoopmgv]

What kind of paint is it? but i doubt it would be any good.

 

[Pistol Pete]

41 years.

 

[66_B_Body4ever]

They were done many moons ago...big risk to use any paint over a year old.

 

[uclueletmetal]

I have never had a problem with older paint, the hardener is a different matter.

Do a test panel, and go.

 

[eric383]

I'm guessing that it is enamel or lacquer paint. Like GTX posted check to see if it is liquid form. I had a buddy who was doing a clean out of his house give me 8 rattle cans of enamel touch up paint that were 35 years old. At least 4 cans were no longer in liquid form. If I wanted to shoot some enamel I would just go to my auto paint supplier and have him mix up some Centari. The only way I would take this paint is if it was free or extremely cheap.

 

[66Satellite_in_NC]

Here is some light reading about shelf life.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96549

 

[NJRR]

I'm in the paint biz. Solvent-based enamels can last for decades if they were sealed properly (no air infiltration) and if the cans did not rust. Only way to know for sure is to open one up and see if it is still in liquid form or if it started to solidify. If there are small pieces floating around in it, it might still be good but just need to be strained. Lacquers are a different story and don't have as long a shelf life. All that being said, I wouldn't use any of that old paint on any valuable restoration. Penny wise, dollar foolish. If it's a daily driver and just want to do a clean-up paint job, go for it.

 

[bigaadams]

I shot some that I had on hand for 37 years..spot test showed it to set pretty well..had two different colors and did a two tone paint job, Martin Seymour paint brand..the paint, catalyst and reducer was all in very good condition for its age...mixed well, no grainy seperation like I was expecting (solids separating) shot well, set fast, shine like new money...to say I was surprised was an understatement..I did expect a very slow cure if cure at all...This paint has always been indoor in a shop but I admit never in a heated shop over winter and southern winters are not nearly as harsh as northern so your experience could be a bit different..I do recommend a test patch..

 

[Cranky]

From those years, it should be enamel.....

 

[eric383]

Tell him to try to sell it for $50 a quart. Good luck.

 

[Jonnyuma]

Probably worth more as a novelty than as an actual metal coating. Kinda like old oil cans. Seems odd that it would be in qts.

 

[modernistsouth]

According to the 70 Plymouth Service Manual, the paint they used is an acrylic enamel. I wouldn't trust an acrylic enamel to be good- a urethane yes, but not an acrylic.

 

[Roadbird]

I wouldn't trust that paint a long time ago. Acrylic enamel don't usually last long, at most 18 months in my experience with Dupont.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

What in the heck does 41 year old paint have to do with a ford Taurus?

 

[Cranky]

What in the heck does 41 year old paint have to do with a ford Taurus?

Good question lol

 

[Meep-Meep]

Even if it was good what do you reduce it with?

 

[MarPar]

Even if it was good what do you reduce it with?

Piss...

 

[Meep-Meep]

Piss...

Not in my paint gun you don't!!