How often do you change your paint water?

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**Lynx0193**

I think i have a phobia of disgusting paint water.

**Frosty Hardtop**

Between myself and my roommate and my girlfriend we use about five or six different cups of water that are sitting around the house in various stages of evaporation/growth. I tend to leave my cup in the sunlit window, and as such, when I return to painting (I have time to paint once or twice a week) it's bone dry. Otherwise, if it doesn't smell bad, I keep going.

**31rls31**

every pallet change

**MarkoftheRings**

At the end of each painting session I empty both glasses out, and whenever the water gets too dirty. 1 Water pot is for metallics, but as I dont paint metals taht much it more so turns into a spare pot so I can sit down for longer

**Salted Diamond**

shrew wrote:I voted other because Enamel & Laquer paints don't use water for clean-up or thinning. I still don't like Acrylic paints. Tamiya paint is OK for airbrushing but thats about it. To me Acrylic paint is way over priced & doesn't store well over time, since I rarely get a chance to paint anymore, I need paint that will be there when I get the off chance to paint. For example I have several Floquil Lacquers & Pactra Enamels (before Testors bought them in the 80's) that work just as good as the day I bought them. I also have Testors bottles from when the price was part of the logo on the cap; 25 cents, & that goes back to the 1970's I think.

While mine are not that old, most of my enamel paints are 5+ years old. I have only had a few dry out and go bad. And they were almost empty anyway.

**darkkt**

As soon as you get more paint on the brush by washing it than you do by putting it in the paint pot!

**IvanTT**

I'm an Enamel guy too. Whats water?

**Strangelooper**

I picked up a bunch of cheap shot glasses which I use for paint water. I usually fill about 3 or 4 every time I sit down to have multiple ones. Once one gets too dark, I'll use the next one. They get washed out after each session when I also run all my brushes under the tap.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Depends what I'm painting, I'd probably say on average once a session. Although I do have different water for Metallics and mixing.

**Panic**

littleboyblues & Morathi's Darkest Sin & Oldgrue & Belphegor wrote: ...two cups one for metalics and one for regular...

yeah,
I have the same system.
2 glasses of water with one marked for 1 metalic use, and the other for non-metalic ... emptied after every session.
Also I use 2 sets of brushes one set for metalics and one set for regular paint. I dip the handle of the metalic brushes in chainmail silver to mark them.

Panic...

**greenskin lynn**

if i'm painting frequently, every couple of days, or when the water looks like sludge.

during less frequent times, evaporation means i need to change out the old concentrate

**Mistress of minis**

I change mine when it starts to taste funny. O.o

**Hordini**

I change my water at least every time I start a painting session, and I empty the water when I'm done. I don't want to accidentally spill that crap on anything!

I will change the water mid-session too, if it starts to get too murky.

**jabbakahut**

definitely for mettalics

**Ridcully**

I get a fresh disposable cup every time i start painting. By overfilling it, i get a refreshing drink before i start painting. Studies have shown that keeping hydrated ensures better mental concentration. Does feth all for my painting skills though.

**lukeslayerh3**

I left my paint once by accident and i came back 1 hour later to find it had evaporated!

**action-man09**

I also put some washing up liquid in my water just to further clean the brush espessialy after using metallic paint.

**H.B.M.C.**

Whenever I've finished drinking it.

**Dedrith**

Interesting poll, it really got me thinking...I really need to change my paint water more often

**Brother Gideon**

Every time my cat drinks it.

I hope that foundation paints aren't toxic.

**Owain**

I keep a separate jar for metallics and start each session with clean water. I'll change it once my brush no longer becomes clean after rinsing.

**Boss 'eadbreaka**

I put 'other', for me, when the water attains sentience and tries to kill me, I know it's time to change it.

**Tim the Biovore**

I change it when someone needs to go.

**grisnag**

I never change my water I simply add more when my cup is almost emty

**utan**

studderingdave wrote:evaporation or odor is the only thing that prompts me to change my water.

Same here. Is this wrong?

**Mannahnin**

Oldgrue wrote:Two jars of water : Metallic/nonmetallic. When in Doubt: replace.

Clean a brush of metallic in the nonmetallic? replace both
Turns opaque? replace.
Switch from dark colors to light? Replace.

This.

**Tarachnor**

i replace when it get coloured...

**Madog**

I'm with the dark cup/light cup method (and rerolls for metallics)

**cormz**

I just change it when it gets really murky.

**ShivanAngel**

I have 4 cups of water when painting.

Metallic
Lights
Darks
Final rinse

When i have to clean my pallette i also change my water...

Course i also use separate brushes for metallics so that helps.