How to resurrect old paint pots.

[ShadyMonkie]

After an all out war against dust and lots of old clothes/books/etc. I have located about 20 different paint pots i used to use about 4 years ago.
Due to the long hiatus the paints have all gone hard and non usable but is there a way to make them usable once again?

I sincerely hope there is a way for it... because some of the paints i found are needed to finish my lizardmen painting

Thank you in advance.

[Braad]

As far as I know when they are completely hardened out, there is no way back...
But perhaps necromancy? That works well for resurrections.

[ShadyMonkie]

Darn it, wish i spared few necromancers during yesterday's game

[snake-eyez]

Some paints that drying (like hard jelly) can be saved with a few drops of water and a thorough mixing in with a toothpick, but if they are completely dry, this probably wouldn't do anything, and the paint is probably dead for good. Some independent stores still have some of the older paints in stock from before the change over, otherwise you may be able to find very close matches with the new range or other paint suppliers such as Vallejo or Coat D'Arms.

[Romu]

Hello there if the paint isn't totally hardened (i mean rock hard), just add accrylic matte medium (can be found in all art supply stores) to fill approximately half the space available in the pot and water to fill a quarter of the space available then shake it until your arms hurt. (If it still doesn't work, try to mix it a little with a toothpick to allow the liquids to mix with the hardened pigments then shake again until your nose starts bleeding)

I've saved paint pots like this after paint hiatus of 2 to 4 years, it works almost every time. (Failed a gold paint pot the last time, wasn't quite the same afterwards)

Acrylic paint is composed of medium and pigments, when the paint is dry it just means the medium is gone and only the pigments remains so you're just giving your paint pots another youth. When you see that your paints begin to seem more "heavy" just add medium with a little water and booom you re good for another year or so
My medium costs 10 € for 236 ml or 8 fl. oz. considering the price of quality paints its not a bad deal.

It takes some times but it saves money and if you take care of your paint pots, you'll be able to use them till your last drop !