Demo - How To Tube Your Own Paint

[Moderator [Rob]]

To many, tubing your own paint or mediums is a mystery, but it deserves to be de-mystified. As with most things in the studio, it is easy once you see how it is done.

The biggest messes are made because of either filling the tube too full or getting paint near the opening. Our solution is to simply wrap a folded piece of paper inside the mouth of the tube. (1) In the case of our tubes, which have a Darex adhesive band near the opening, a clean tube is imperative for a perfect seal. The paper liner goes into the tube about an inch. It's a good marker for how much to fill to.

(2) Filling the tube is best done with two thin palette knives. One is used to scrape the paint off the knife and into the tube.

(3) Occasionally, tap the cap on the table to force the paint into the tube and evacuate any bubbles.

(4) When properly filled, remove the protective paper shield and lay the tube down and flatten the opening with a piece of wood or similar tool. Remember to push away from the opening to evacuate air but not force any paint out of the opening.

(5) Fold the flattened end in half. This should be at least 1/2 inch. Flatten the bend with the wood tool.

(6) Now bend and turn the folded part again in half. This makes a double saddle crimp, the strongest of all. Again, flatten it with the piece of wood.

(7) With a pair of stretching pliers, apply a strong crimp. You tube is now airtight and perfectly sealed.

[lcg]

Originally Posted by Moderator [Rob]

...Our solution is to simply wrap a folded piece of paper inside the mouth of the tube....

Great idea! Thanks, Rob.

[MARIOLIVETO]

...Nice! I'll be tubbing some greys to go with my next project; doing a couple Sanden demo's from his book..this will help, thanks.

[nystudios]

Man, I thought I was so clever when I thought up putting a piece of paper over the edge while filling...God you know everything!!! Nothing new under the sun.

I do do it a little different though. I use a 2 inch piece of paper folded in half so one inch is outside the tube and the other inch is inside. That way the paper straddles the edge, and doesn't end up sliding in the tube. If you tape the outside to itself on the outside, then you can reuse it in the next tube, just slide it off.