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Keeping all the oil paint in the tubes.

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Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Returning to my box of oil paints after a gap of 6 months or so, I found to my horror that a few of the large tubes of paint had leaked some of their medium (not the coloured part) out of the cap. It caused a bit of a mess. Is there any way of stopping this happening or keeping them upright for storage? It hasn't been a total disaster as there is still enough medium in the tubes for the paint to be pliable, but I wouldn't want to lose any more.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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You could try storing them upside down, on a board with suitable fittings - many do. But a bit of leakage doesn't really matter much, apart from being a nuisance. Screw the caps on tight, and if they leak a bit, just wipe the leakage off with a kitchen roll. You can always add a bit of LInseed oil to any paint that seems to have dried out too much - but make sure it really has before adding more oil. Most oil tubes leak a bit, from one end or the other. Just give the tubes a wipe, it's rarely a problem.
Moi 17

Linda Wilson

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Many thanks Robert Some of the medium has congealed and stuck firmly to the tubes, but i guess some solvent will do the trick. Meanwhile, some oil bars have really solidified - I presume that some linseed oil will soften them up.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Don't know so much about oil bars - they contain a proportion of wax; so heat (even if just of the hand) might make them more malleable. I've never liked the look of them, though, so don't use them. Congealed oil on tubes might be better just left: it'll seal the tube fairly effectively and stop more oil leaking out, provided the tube isn't actually holed.

Clive Hale

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Keep the screw thread on the tube and the thread inside the cap clean and keep the tubes of oil in a cool place at all times.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Most of the oil leakage I've seen comes from the other end of the tube; but yes, much frustration could be avoided if we all remembered to clean the thread after squeezing out the paint.