Replies

1. 
   MikeRooney | Dec 24, 2003 08:54pm | #1

   I have never actually done this myself, but I remember a tip from some magazine where they said you could make carbon dioxide from baking soda and water.              

   A couple inches water in a pitcher then a couple tablespoons baking soda, when the fizzing stops you pour off the gas into the paint can ( CO2 is heavier than air and also inert).

    

1. 
   CharlieD | Dec 25, 2003 12:47am | #9

   I think you're thinking of baking soda and vinegar. Works like crazy; carbon dioxide fizzes off like mad. After it's done, you can just pour it into another container slowly, like you would with any liquid. It's kinda wierd, cause it's invisible, y'know? But what a great idea, Mike. I've done this a bazillion times, mostly to show kids, but never thought to use it for this purpose. I guess my only question would be does the finish involved react with CO2? I certainly intend to try it. Cheap as dirt, safe, can't lose.

   CharlieI tell you, we are here to fart around, and don't let anybody tell you different. --K Vonnegut

1. 
   MikeRooney | Dec 25, 2003 03:46am | #11

     Yes, vinegar sounds right. I'm sure I got it from some WW magazine. CO2 is inert gas - should not react. BTW bloxigen is laughing gas, NO3. 

1. 
   Tao | Dec 25, 2003 04:42am | #12

   >>BTW bloxigen is laughing gas, NO3.

   The MSDS says it is nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and argon.

   Carbon dioxide would work just fine, and it is used a lot more as a propellant since Freon became so unpopular.  If you read the can on some of those dust blowers, I strongly suspect you'll find some that are just CO2.  On the other hand, would you save any money by using them?

   Michael R

1. 
   alias | Dec 25, 2003 05:07am | #13

   actually i've checked two diffrent dust blowing propellants and the ingredient is -difluroethane- which i'll run a search on after this is posted......slainte' ....bear"expectations are premeditated resentments"

2. 
   Gretchen | Dec 25, 2003 05:29am | #14

   The CO2 is heavier than air/oxygen so it will force the air out of the can and layer on top.Gretchen

3. 
   alias | Dec 25, 2003 05:40am | #15

   difluroethane- CH3 CHF2- is a chemical intermediary( i suspect also a vehicle for freon) also has a reaction to O2 that depletes that source and also is heavier than air. so i i'll run this product up the proverbial flag pole. falcon's dust-off 10.99 for a four pack at costco. also eco-balanced 100% ozone free (bonus). short off manufacturing a mousse i'll be pleased. cheers bear"expectations are premeditated resentments"

4. 
   Gretchen | Dec 25, 2003 06:59am | #16

   That's fine--I was just explaining.Gretchen

2. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Dec 24, 2003 09:23pm | #2

   The solution is to make sure you re-seal the can tightly when you're done.  Use the brush to clean the liquid paint out of the groove on the top of the can, so the lid can sit down completely on the can.   If the top of the lid is not sitting flush with the top of the can, it doesn't seal right.  Properly sealed, a partial can of paint can last for years and years.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 24, 2003 09:38pm | #3

   Clean it well as Jamie says, hammer it down tight and then turn it over.Gretchen

2. 
   alias | Dec 24, 2003 10:30pm | #5

   jamie thanks for your time .it's funny i thought that my process was just that but after a coupla weeks and paying close attention to the process you pointed out. i still get a skim not as thick as before but not much thinner either that is why bloxygen popped in my head. i'm sure there's a definite person factor in there somewhere but i've tried to narrow that down as much as possible. changed brands of primer and paint , moved to zinzzer(sp) and ben/moore respectively. and that made the greatest marketable improvement. i spend the lionshare of my time in breaktime and lurk here at least once a day. and thought this would be a more apt place to ask my question. thanks again bear"expectations are premeditated resentments"

3. 
   jdbutler999 | Dec 24, 2003 10:09pm | #4

   I am not an expert, so take the following for what it's worth.  Normally, it is the oxygen content to solvent-fumes ratio in the can that will make the liquid skim over.  That's why as the volume of specimen in the can goes down, the oxygen level goes up and the liquid is more likely to skim over or solidify.  The short answer is that nearly any inert gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. will displace the oxygen and keep the solidifying process at bay.   Someone else mentioned that you can use baking soda....that will work in a pinch.  The procedure is to take some baking soda and add a teaspoon of vinegar or so, and move the resulting CO2 gas into the can with by  waving your hand over it....the CO2 will displace the oxygen.  Alternatively, you can purchase CO2 and nitrogen and other inert gases in smaller tanks sometimes from you local compressed gas distributor, or, buy some commercial product like Bloxygen.  

4. 
   PlaneWood | Dec 24, 2003 10:39pm | #6

   I use propane from my propane torch.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
   PlaneWood

1. 
   alias | Dec 25, 2003 01:10am | #10

   BINGO there something i have an abundance of and is readily available thanks PW ....."expectations are premeditated resentments"

5. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 24, 2003 11:20pm | #7

   You can get collapsible plastic bottles at photographic suppliers. Some photo chemicals degrade in the presence of oxygen, so people pour the chemicals into these collapsible bottles and squeeze all the air out before sealing them. The ones I found weren't very big, so I didn't buy any, so I can't report how well they work. You might find bigger ones with Google.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 24, 2003 11:45pm | #8

   You can also add marbles to bring the paint up to the top.Gretchen

1. 
   jazzdogg | Dec 26, 2003 09:44pm | #24

   Gretchen,

   For people like me who've lost their marbles, it helps to remember that adding objects to the can to displace the oxygen only works when there aren't additives in the product that'll need to be stirred into solution before use.

   Marbles work great on gloss varnish, for example, but if you add marbles to a can of semi-gloss it'll be very difficult to stir and distribute the flattening agents and you'll end up with a can of gloss (Thankfully, the finish can be intentionally dulled while rubbing out the finish).

   PaulWhether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   Gretchen | Dec 27, 2003 12:24am | #25

   Good info. I 've never done it--just read it.Gretchen

1. 
   Biscardi | Dec 27, 2003 04:05am | #26

   I guess you need to certain of what you are spraying into what . Some of the unlabled propellants might be bad to mix with solvents/paint etc. . . There is some risk that if you sealed some  ether into a can of paint that you might create some nasty epoxides. Epoxides are fantastically explosive.  

2. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 27, 2003 05:14am | #28

   Please post more information on what kinds of paint to mix with ether to create fantastic explosives.

3. 
   alias | Dec 27, 2003 05:22am | #30

   now we're talking.......WHOOSH"expectations are premeditated resentments"

4. 
   Biscardi | Dec 27, 2003 04:08pm | #31

   Err. . .

   Unfortunately, we have got enough people out there in the world dabbling in that sort of thing.

   Frank

5. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 27, 2003 04:30pm | #32

   Killjoy.

6. 
   alias | Dec 27, 2003 08:31pm | #33

   http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/humperdinck/634/Anarchy.htm

   some interesting recipes......."expectations are premeditated resentments"

6. 
   jako17 | Dec 25, 2003 04:14pm | #17

   I have heard that MIG welding gas works well Argon/CO2 or Argon

1. 
   alias | Dec 25, 2003 04:35pm | #18

   hows is that contained and distributed??"expectations are premeditated resentments"

1. 
   jako17 | Dec 25, 2003 04:57pm | #19

   Leased welding tanks.We have MIG and TIG welding next to our shop.But a lot of folks have these small migs at home now 

1. 
   mitch | Dec 25, 2003 05:55pm | #20

   i'm with jako- a very finicky friend of mine uses the argon from his welding outfit.

   m

2. 
   ajm | Dec 25, 2003 10:37pm | #21

   Paintball guns are powered by refillable co2 tanks available up to 24oz (liquid wieght) you can get them refilled most time for less than $3 a trip to a local paintball proshop will get you all the things you would need to set something up real nice. If you dont have a pro shop, i can tell you what you need and where to get it.

1. 
   jako17 | Dec 26, 2003 04:34pm | #22

   Great idea! ,thanks aj

7. 
   desertrat | Dec 26, 2003 06:42pm | #23

   Go to your local supplier for paint gun supplies and get a re-fillable CO2 cartridge for filling paint guns.

   When you run out (about once a year) it'll cost you two or three bucks to refill it.

8. 
   TomHigby | Dec 27, 2003 04:23am | #27

   I have used propane to fill partly used varnish cans.  I haven't heard  of this, but can see no reason not to. It is of course flamable.  Propane is in the parafin family of hydrocarbons, and is therefore quite innert chemically.  It is vry handy.

   Tom

1. 
   alias | Dec 27, 2003 05:21am | #29

   thanks tom i tried an experiment today and split some alkyd thinned for spraying into half filled quarts one i shot some -dustoff- and in the other propane left them rightside up. left for the longweekend in my makeshift refrigmajig, and will pop lids monday afternoon. we'll see......thanks bear"expectations are premeditated resentments"