How Do I Save Dry Oil Paint?

Saving dried paint can go a long way toward reducing expenses and environmental harm.

It is possible to save some dried oil paint. A rule of thumb is that if you can get the oil paint out of the tub, it can be salvaged. You can reconstitute somewhat pliable oil paint with linseed oil, a non-toxic oil made from flax seeds. Saving what dried oil paint you can is a worthwhile endeavor because it's expensive and, at least in the case of certain colors, toxic, and therefore not good to toss in the landfill where it will leach into the water supply.

Things You'll Need

• Razor or scissors
• Linseed oil
• Palate
• Paint trowel or kitchen spoon
• New, empty paint tubes

Instructions

1. Open the tube of oil paint. If the oil paint is rubbery and dry, you may have to slit the bottom of the paint tube to access the paint, because the lid may have crusted into place and because the paint may be too stiff to squirt out the top.

2. Scoop a bit of the paint onto a palate, and add a few drops of linseed oil directly to the paint.

3. Stir the paint and linseed oil together. You can try adding a few more drops onto the paint if it is still too stiff.

4. Throw the paint away if it won't regain a workable consistency.

5. Store any unused reconstituted paint in fresh paint tubes, available at art supply stores.

Tips & Warnings

• There is no use in storing dried oil paints. They will only get harder and harder until they cannot be reconstituted.

• Look for old oil paints to be salvaged at yard sales and estate sales.

• Wear gloves when working with oil paint. Some of the colors are toxic.

References

• Yarnell Art: Oils