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I recently transferred all of my paints to dropper bottles: Citadel, P3, Foundry, to go with my Vallejo and Scale 75. It's taken many years but I've finally become convinced that dropper bottles are the way forward after being a die hard flip-top fan since my early teens.

Unfortunately this has created a problem with some of the paint bottles, namely that when I unscrew the top of the bottle a certain amount of paint is pushed out of the top of the bottle, something akin to the world's most pathetic volcano. It's like the bottle is being squeezed, except it isn't.

Does anybody know a way to prevent this? I don't like the idea of losinig a portion of paint evertime that I open a bottle.

This occurs when you have paint in the neck of the bottle. The removal of the cap releases the pressure and the paint comes out. The best way of avoiding this is to store paints in an upright position, so gravity can pull the paint from the neck.

That's interesting. All of my paints are stored upright, so I'm not sure why it's happening.

Hmm. I guess maybe as the paint gets used and solidifies it might stay in the neck of the bottle. I guess you could try ensuring that the necks of the bottles are clear of paint before you finish the session. Bit of a nightmare, but a pokey rod down the hole long enough to get right into the bottle might work.

 Undead_Love-Machine wrote:
I recently transferred all of my paints to dropper bottles: Citadel, P3, Foundry, to go with my Vallejo and Scale 75. It's taken many years but I've finally become convinced that dropper bottles are the way forward after being a die hard flip-top fan since my early teens.

Unfortunately this has created a problem with some of the paint bottles, namely that when I unscrew the top of the bottle a certain amount of paint is pushed out of the top of the bottle, something akin to the world's most pathetic volcano. It's like the bottle is being squeezed, except it isn't.

Does anybody know a way to prevent this? I don't like the idea of losinig a portion of paint evertime that I open a bottle.

I have this same problem, plus the inevitable 'bottle top pulls out when unscrewed' and the worst of them all 'explosive paint experience' when the neck is clogged and after squeezing, the top pops off and the paint goes everywhere.

I think the above suggestion about poking a brass rod or something through the top after your session, to clear blockages and allow the paint to settle back into the bottom of the pot. I also try to tap the bottom of the bottle on my hand before closing the lid, but I still sometimes get the little volcano problem anyway.

These are some of the reasons I haven't moved to droppers, they're just as finicky, just in a different way.

It's just a downside of dropper bottles, unfortunately. One reason I'm mostly still favouring pots. I hate getting a whole blob of paint every time I want just a little of a given colour. Pots of course have a similar issue with paint drying around the rim. Sometimes whacking the bottom of the bottle a couple times on the table helps force the paint out of the tip before unscrewing the lid, but no guarantees.

Supercool the bottles before opening. The reduction in volume will prevent eruption! For more practical tips on painting, try resurrecting Michaelangelo, or another of the ninja turtles!

lol @Flinty

The temperature thing is probably a major contributing factor, any change in temperature inside the bottle when the cap is on will change the pressure. If you're handling the bottles before opening them, the heat from your hand could be adding pressure so that any paint still in the nozzle gets forced out when the cap is removed. Maybe dunk the closed bottle in some cold water before opening it, that way the pressure on the inside will be lower and it should suck rather than blow when you open it. Ooh err!

Does this occur after you've shaken the paints? From the Vallejo FAQ (23 September 2014):

4.8. When I shake the Game Color paints thoroughly, before using, and then take off the cap, paint starts to bubble out of the top and goes to waste. Is there a solution to this problem?

Shaking the paint creates foam: the oxygen in the bottle (between cap and paint) mixes with the paint and expands the volume, so that it bubbles over when you open the bottle. The correct way of mixing the product is rolling the bottle, between your hands, or on the table. But the foam will subside after a few minutes, and no harm is done.

*laughing* Rolling a Vallejo bottle does not get it properly mixed unless you're spending hours spinning those bottles round' and round' and round.

I assume 'oxygen' is mistranslated and they meant 'air'.

Yeah, rolling the bottle isn't going to do much!

I'll try poking a brass rod into the hole, but it seems like this is just something that I'm gonna have to put up with.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Flinty wrote:
Supercool the bottles before opening. The reduction in volume will prevent eruption! For more practical tips on painting, try resurrecting Michaelangelo, or another of the ninja turtles!

I'll buy a fridge to put next to my painting desk, then I'll get to work on my turtle resurrection machine. If something's worth doing, it's worth doing correctly

You didn't answer my question. Does this just occur after you shake the paints or does it occur even if the paints have been setting for a while?

 Ghaz wrote:
You didn't answer my question. Does this just occur after you shake the paints or does it occur even if the paints have been setting for a while?

I'm sorry!

I shake my paints before I use them, yes. I naturally assumed that everybody does this?

From the sounds of things it's not something that everybody does


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Undead_Love-Machine wrote:

 Ghaz wrote:
You didn't answer my question. Does this just occur after you shake the paints or does it occur even if the paints have been setting for a while?

I'm sorry!

I shake my paints before I use them, yes. I naturally assumed that everybody does this?

From the sounds of things it's not something that everybody does

EDIT: for clarification, I've been painting for decades so yes, I shake my paints. I understand that people who are newer to the hobby might not understand the importance of doing so.

So then my first post in the thread may have your answer:

Shaking the paint creates foam: the oxygen in the bottle (between cap and paint) mixes with the paint and expands the volume, so that it bubbles over when you open the bottle... But the foam will subside after a few minutes, and no harm is done.

Maybe try breaking the seal on the bottle and let it sit a minute or so before fully opening the bottle to let the foam subside.

I don't always shake my paints. I normally get some out, and then if it needs shaking, then do so and go again.