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Setacolor paint shelf life (and other dyes)...

Does anyone know the shelf life of the setacolor transparent paints? Will it last in freezing cold temperatures?

I have the same question regarding the MX dyes...if its completely sealed, will it last through the very cold bitterly freezing winter in the poconos? Or should I just ask to take home any extra dye and paints (which would be so cool).

thanks!

~Elisheva

(here is a picture from Tie-Dyeing with some of the kids today)

Tie-Dyeing with some of the kids today

By Elisheva at 2011-08-17 23:20 | Fabric Paints | login or register to post comments | previous forum topic | next forum topic

winter storage of paints and dyes

We know that freezing is not good for fabric paints. It can cause them to separate, and they might not mix together again properly after thawing. In the winter, Dharma puts a note in their shopping cart that says,

    Brrrr It's Cold. Liquids can freeze in transit when it gets very cold during winter, especially traveling from California across the country. We suggest you choose a quicker method of shipping this time of year to help avoid paints/dyes/liquids freezing before they get to you. Packages sitting in hubs over the weekend and ground packages run more of a risk, so keep that plus Holiday schedules in mind when you choose your shipping! Sorry, we can't replace items that are damaged due to freezing.
So, you'd better store all fabric paint only in temperature-controlled buildings.

Procion MX dye powder, if sealed so tightly that no moisture can get in, will last longer at lower temperatures than at high ones, and should last longest at sub-freezing temperatures. Our standard storage technique for chemicals in the lab I did my undergraduate work in was to tightly seal the jars, and then place them inside air-tight containers with desiccant material, than seal those so that they were air-tight, and then freeze them, indefinitely. We would allow the jars to return to room temperature before opening them, because condensation will quickly ruin many chemicals, including reactive dyes, by adding moisture to react with the dyes. However, that was in a temperature-controlled freezer at -20°C. Allowing fluctuations, up and down, according to the whims of the weather? Not so great. It's extremely important that the dyes never get hot, during storage, as this can kill their reactivity quite quickly.

-Paula

By pburch at Thu, 2011-08-18 07:31 | login or register to post comments

more storage questions...

how long will the Setacolor transparent paints last for? If they are stored at room temperature, will they last until a year from now?

will the opened jars of the fiber reactive dyes last for another year as well?

I am either storing the paints/dyes somehow or keeping them if they are going to go bad so any help here would be very much appreciated!!

thanks so much

~Elisheva

By Elisheva at Mon, 2011-08-22 11:31 | login or register to post comments

How long do jars of Setacolor last?

If you close the jars very tightly, or, better, have jars that have not been unsealed yet at all, and if you store them where they will not get too hot or too cold, the paints might last several years. Don't use them without doing a small test first, if they look weird when you open them. Sometimes it's harmless when paints separate visibly, if they mix back up when you shake them, but sometimes the separation is permanent. Personally I would not plan on a jar of fabric paint staying good for more than a year or two after it's been opened. I would try it, though.

ProChem says on their Useful Information PDF, about Setacolor and other fabric paints, "These products have an indefinite shelf life as long as they are kept air tight with the cover firmly tightened and have not been frozen."

Fabric paints in general are acrylic paint. Different brands might being longer- or shorter-lived, but an acrylics information page says, "You can expect a 5-7 year shelf life from Liquitex acrylic products, provided the materials are stored properly at room temperature, kept tightly capped and kept free of contaminants. High temperatures, freezing and the use of tap water, dirty brushes and painting tools will all adversely effect the shelf life of the paint."

Here are some tips on paint storage from Handy Art which are equally applicable to fabric paints:

  • Never pour paint back into a container after it’s dispensed. This paint may have become contaminated and it could spoil the entire bottle.

  • Do not work "out" of the paint bottle, rather dispense the paint you will need and store the bottle with the cap on to help keep the paint fresh.
  • Use separate clean containers to mix and blend paints. If you are diluting paint with water, make only enough for your project. By diluting your paint you are also diluting the preservatives and chances are the reduced paint will spoil quickly.
  • When possible, place paints in a cool storage area. Storing paint on the top shelves of hot storage closets over long periods of time may shorten the shelf life of liquid art products.

-Paula

By pburch at Mon, 2011-08-22 12:47 | login or register to post comments

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