Liquid frisket is a handy thing for anyone who does a lot of watercolor. I tend to use it as little as possible. It ruins brushes and there is only so fine a line you can get with it. Because of this I often go to use it and find that it has started to dry out and thicken up.
Anyone that has opened up a fresh bottle of frisket has noticed the “lovely” aroma coming out of the bottle. Ammonia! As long as you haven’t let the bottle totally get dried out and super thick, you can save it. First, pull out the stringy, clotting bits, then rehydrate it using Windex and it works as good as new. Be sure to add a little at a time so you don’t overdo it.
Now, if you did let it dry out and get really thick, you are better off letting it harden all the way and use it to remove rubber cement and frisket. Feel good about yourself. You are kind of like a modern day alchemist having turned a $15 bottle of liquid frisket into a $1.75 rubber cement pick-up!
Lynn
Thanks for the information. I always find my masking fluid gets gummy but didn’t know it could be saved. I read somewhere that you can put some in a working container and not expose the bulk to air as often to make it stay good longer.
Matt
Thanks, Lynn. Lately I’ve been buying smaller jars of frisket, which I use up more quickly so it seldom gets too dried out. I was also concerned about pH with the added ammonia. Windex is pretty dilute though and typically you are just adding a quick squirt or two in order to replace what has evaporated. I haven’t noticed any harm from it on the paintings that I used it on. In general I try to remove the frisket as soon as possible after putting it on as it does subtly change the color of the paper when you use it…yellowing it the tiniest bit. If I can peel it off the same day that I put it on I’m happy. Of course that isn’t always possible if you have a super elaborate background. Best of luck with the paintings!