Is old art fixative worse for the environment than newer fixative?
July 9, 2013 8:41 AM
I have a can of old art fixative. Is it better for the environment if I use it or dispose of it?
I have a can of Prismacolor fixative - the label says
Final Fixative Matte
for Pastel, Charcoal and Pencil
The copyright date on the back of the can says 2002.
I assume this stuff is terrible for the environment (mostly the aerosol) and it would be best if I found a good safe responsible place to dispose of it and bought something newer and more eco-friendly.
Is that correct?
Or is it no worse for the environment than current fixative sprays?
... Looking at new products on the web, they all seem to say they're aerosol and HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, just like this one, so maybe it's the same stuff? I thought they didn't make horrible environment-destroying aerosols anymore ...
I'm happy to buy a new can if that's the best thing to do; but if it's no worse for the environment than a new can, I'd be happy to use it up instead of throwing it out. (Or, yes, I could throw out my pastels, too, and then I wouldn't need a fixative ...)
(Based on the local page on household hazardous waste, it looks like I can put it in the trash, but other suggestions are welcome.)
Thanks!
I have a can of Prismacolor fixative - the label says
Final Fixative Matte
for Pastel, Charcoal and Pencil
The copyright date on the back of the can says 2002.
I assume this stuff is terrible for the environment (mostly the aerosol) and it would be best if I found a good safe responsible place to dispose of it and bought something newer and more eco-friendly.
Is that correct?
Or is it no worse for the environment than current fixative sprays?
... Looking at new products on the web, they all seem to say they're aerosol and HIGHLY FLAMMABLE, just like this one, so maybe it's the same stuff? I thought they didn't make horrible environment-destroying aerosols anymore ...
I'm happy to buy a new can if that's the best thing to do; but if it's no worse for the environment than a new can, I'd be happy to use it up instead of throwing it out. (Or, yes, I could throw out my pastels, too, and then I wouldn't need a fixative ...)
(Based on the local page on household hazardous waste, it looks like I can put it in the trash, but other suggestions are welcome.)
Thanks!
You can get non-aerosol, pump fixative.
I'm pretty sure most spray products made since 1990 or so don't contain CFCs. I would use it, just shake it up well.
posted by Teakettle at 8:45 AM on July 9, 2013
I'm pretty sure most spray products made since 1990 or so don't contain CFCs. I would use it, just shake it up well.
posted by Teakettle at 8:45 AM on July 9, 2013
Use it.
Throwing it away introduces it to the environment sooner (and just makes it someone else's problem) while you still have the environmental impact of the additional bottle you buy to replace it.
CFCs (The ozone depleting stuff that was in aerosols that you're probably worried about) were phased out in the mid 90's. You don't have to worry about that stuff with what you have.
In addition it's probably newer than 2002. The copyright is just for the label graphics. They'll use the same one (with the same copyright) for years. The only thing you can tell is that it's not older than 2002.
posted by Ookseer at 8:49 AM on July 9, 2013
Throwing it away introduces it to the environment sooner (and just makes it someone else's problem) while you still have the environmental impact of the additional bottle you buy to replace it.
CFCs (The ozone depleting stuff that was in aerosols that you're probably worried about) were phased out in the mid 90's. You don't have to worry about that stuff with what you have.
In addition it's probably newer than 2002. The copyright is just for the label graphics. They'll use the same one (with the same copyright) for years. The only thing you can tell is that it's not older than 2002.
posted by Ookseer at 8:49 AM on July 9, 2013
You can't go back in time and make it not exist; it's too late to prevent most of the harm. Just make sure there's no increased market for things like it; i.e., that you, or any other potential user, would only buy eco-friendly products to replace it.
If you'd be willing to buy non-aerosol to replace it, but another person wouldn't, you could give it to that other person to reduce the number of cans they purchase.
posted by amtho at 8:51 AM on July 9, 2013
If you'd be willing to buy non-aerosol to replace it, but another person wouldn't, you could give it to that other person to reduce the number of cans they purchase.
posted by amtho at 8:51 AM on July 9, 2013
yes it's fine ...no CFCs...and it's def better to use it than throw it away...
as a side note...never dispose of wet paint...while it's wet...that's how all the dangerous chemicals get into the groundwater...always let it dry up first (at which point it becomes, essentially, plastic)...if you have a lot of paint (like a gallon or more), pour it over old newspapers or something and let it dry before you toss it.
also, if you do tend to use spray fixative, hairspray is (mostly if not totally) chemically identical (and usually much cheaper)
posted by sexyrobot at 8:57 AM on July 9, 2013
as a side note...never dispose of wet paint...while it's wet...that's how all the dangerous chemicals get into the groundwater...always let it dry up first (at which point it becomes, essentially, plastic)...if you have a lot of paint (like a gallon or more), pour it over old newspapers or something and let it dry before you toss it.
also, if you do tend to use spray fixative, hairspray is (mostly if not totally) chemically identical (and usually much cheaper)
posted by sexyrobot at 8:57 AM on July 9, 2013
if you do tend to use spray fixative, hairspray is (mostly if not totally) chemically identical (and usually much cheaper)
If you decide to go this route in the future, get a cheap extra hold hairspray. You want to avoid any added hair conditioners and fragrances as much as as possible.
posted by phunniemee at 9:06 AM on July 9, 2013
If you decide to go this route in the future, get a cheap extra hold hairspray. You want to avoid any added hair conditioners and fragrances as much as as possible.
posted by phunniemee at 9:06 AM on July 9, 2013
Shellac is the main ingredient in fixative. It is present in both fixative and hairspray...however, fixative does not contain fragrance, conditioners, etc that hair products have, which would be bad for the art. It's also formulated, in most cases, to disperse more evenly than hairspray.
In my experience, hairspray is unpredictable as a finish for drawings...sometimes I get dark spots after 5-10 years. Sometimes I don't. I have not had this issue with fixative.
To answer your question, you are fine using old fixative (CFCs have been banned in the US since the early 90's and if the can art is C2002, you're fine.) However, you should patch test your old fixative to check that there's nothing clogging the valve and that it's still good. Spray it on some test paper to be sure it won't come out weird.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:56 AM on July 9, 2013
In my experience, hairspray is unpredictable as a finish for drawings...sometimes I get dark spots after 5-10 years. Sometimes I don't. I have not had this issue with fixative.
To answer your question, you are fine using old fixative (CFCs have been banned in the US since the early 90's and if the can art is C2002, you're fine.) However, you should patch test your old fixative to check that there's nothing clogging the valve and that it's still good. Spray it on some test paper to be sure it won't come out weird.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:56 AM on July 9, 2013
I knew you all would know!
I will use up what I have, then buy the greenest thing I can find when it's gone.
Thanks for all the great answers.
posted by kristi at 10:32 AM on July 10, 2013
I will use up what I have, then buy the greenest thing I can find when it's gone.
Thanks for all the great answers.
posted by kristi at 10:32 AM on July 10, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
If I were you I'd use up what you have before buying a whole new can of it.
posted by phunniemee at 8:44 AM on July 9, 2013