Groucho Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 I am having trouble getting the powder paint to form a good fluid bed in my cups. Does humidity effect the powder so it can't make a good airy fliud cup? It seems heavy. If so is there any way to get rid of the moisture if thats the problem? I only use them maybe once month and have about 3/4s of the cans left. Hate to throw them out. Any Ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 (edited) Yes moisture can get in your powder paint. The best way to avoid this problem is to take the powder out of your fluid bed every time you're done and put it into a tightly sealed container. I have had powder paint in Gatorade bottles for 8 years with no problems. With that said, there is no quick solution to drying out the powder. You can try desiccant packs, but that is a very slow and tedious process. Whatever you do, do not try to heat it, as heating will start the hardening process of the powder making it totally useless. There are problematic colors, black, white and green pumpkin which seem to be the heaviest, depending on whom you buy it from. You can try mixing clear in there to loosen it up. Pm me on the clear if you are interested. What color(s) are you having problems with, how old is the powder and who is the manufacturer? Edited March 7, 2017 by cadman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groucho Posted March 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 It was the Pro Tec white powder that seems heavy. If I shake it a little while air is on it seems to get fluid but that goes away when setting still. I might want to try changing the paper in the bottom. What paper do you use? I have tried different brown bags but i'm not real satisfied with the results. The paint is about 7 months old and in the same containers as it came with about3/4s left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Here are several things you can try as far as paper filter media goes. Tyvek fiber strand envelopes you can get from the Post Office, computer paper, coffee filters, vacuum cleaner bags and allergy free pillow cases. Just an FYI, but I have had issues with their white for a long time and I finally had a white powder custom blended that I now use and have no issues with. Anyway try out some of those medias, and report back with your results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groucho Posted March 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 Thanks. I'll try somethings. I can't even use 100 or 120 degree temp. to try to dry it out? Just asking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 7, 2017 Report Share Posted March 7, 2017 9 minutes ago, Groucho said: I can't even use 100 or 120 degree temp. to try to dry it out? Just asking. I wouldn't recommend it. Because first of all how long are you going to heat it? I wouldn't even begin to give you an answer. However, if you want to experiment, and you want to waste some powder, try it. I would start with 2 oz and see the results, and document your length of time and heat temp. Now on heat temp you will need to have an accurate temp gauge, because you will never know what is correct by just guessing what the dial says on your toaster oven. You could be too high in temp or too low. If you want to get this right you will need good and correct documentation, so you can repeat this at a later date. I'm just saying. Don't just shove it in there and hope it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groucho Posted March 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Thanks a lot for the info. I will exhaust all other ways to fix the problem before I try the heat methed. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jig Man Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 Do you think having it near a furnace vent would dry it out. It sure dries everything in my house out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 24 minutes ago, Jig Man said: Do you think having it near a furnace vent would dry it out. It sure dries everything in my house out. Jigman, Everything is possible. The best time to dry something is in the winter, where moisture and humidity are at their lowest. I guess you can try it if you have some powder paint that you can use (waste). In order for it to dry, it would have to be uncovered. If it is uncovered, than you will get dust and possibly other airborne impurities settling on top of the powder. All this may be negligible and it may work. Years ago, I put some powder paint in a box, with a light bulb in there. After about 8 hours, it didn't seem to do anything. At the time it seemed like a good idea. What I didn't know at the time was, that all powder paint is not made the same. Some colors are heavier and thicker depending on the manufacturer. Hence my lifelong search for an ideal white powder. With that said, experimentation is the best way to find solutions. Try it and let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadman Posted March 8, 2017 Report Share Posted March 8, 2017 48 minutes ago, Groucho said: Thanks a lot for the info. I will exhaust all other ways to fix the problem before I try the heat methed. Thanks again. You have a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
