Beap52 815 #1 Posted January 22 (edited) I often times need small amounts of spray paint for project in the shop. I was finding the paint nozzle would be clogged. (I'm hesitant to turn can upside down to clear the nozzle as I figure at some point I'll use up all of the pressure in the can,) What I have found that works for me is to pop off the nozzle, put it in a little lacquer thinner to soak for a few minutes, then blow it out with an air gun, That seems to keep them open and working. I've also found some cans that have lost their pressure. I cut a valve stem off an old inner tube and it fits just right over the stem sticking our of the can then I can use the air chuck to re-pressurize them. I am careful not to over pressurize the cans and seem to be able to save this high dollar goods. By the way. I forgot to mention to wear latex gloves when re-pressurizing spray cans. Some paint usually is released and it can make a mess. Not wearing gloves usually results in me scratching paint from around my finger nails while visiting in-laws or sitting in church Sunday mornings! Edited January 23 by Beap52 forgot part of instructions 9 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,177 #2 Posted January 22 Lacquer I can see. Re-pressurizing, never thought of that one. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,600 #3 Posted January 22 Good tips!! With the VanSickle paint that I use priced at $15 a can, I want to get every last drop out of that can. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #4 Posted January 23 I remove all nozzles and keep them submerged in lacquer thinner. 9 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,874 #5 Posted January 23 I use brake clean and a lot of times the straw on the brake clean fits the nozzle just right. A small shot in the can tip keeps it fresh too. I rarely use expensive paint in spray cans. Just found it is much better to use a gun now that I can clean a gun in a couple minutes. (only took 5 years to learn) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,150 #6 Posted January 23 9 hours ago, formariz said: I remove all nozzles and keep them submerged in lacquer thinner. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sailman 1,291 #7 Posted January 23 Turning cans upside down and spray does not work on these newer cans, like it used to. I pop the tops off also but use minimal bath in mineral spirits followed by a burst of air from compressor. Works well too. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pfrederi 17,741 #8 Posted January 23 I now rinse mine in paint thinner and blow dry. In the past I left some rustoleum tops in a jar of paint thinner (admittedly for a long time... i don't like painting...) but some of the little nozzle inserts blew out when i used them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #9 Posted January 23 12 hours ago, formariz said: I remove all nozzles and keep them submerged in lacquer thinner. Mixed results tho. More problems with it plugging in the valve in the can on rustoleum products. I would think putting air in the can would harden the paint in the can... No? 2 hours ago, Sailman said: Turning cans upside down and spray does not work on these newer cans Yep them all angle cans. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,987 #10 Posted January 23 1 hour ago, WHX?? said: More problems with it plugging in the valve in the can on rustoleum Yes, I had that problem also. Had it with rus-oleum primer cans. What I do now is inject a bit of lacquer thinner into valve, and clean it before I put it away . I inject some more in there and leave it. It will evaporate soon. It resolved that problem for me. 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,618 #11 Posted January 23 Have done this same thing for years with re-pressurizing aerosol cans of all types . If I know I’m going to be using a can of paint say in a couple of hours or the next day I’ll put the can upside down. Then shake and get the ball rolling around inside for 5 minutes before I even think of depressing the nozzle. Just my Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,150 #12 Posted January 23 Rustoleum clear now comes with a high flow( Turbo) tip. I tried one on a Regal Red can and you almost have to relearn how to spray paint. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-85 685 #13 Posted January 25 I have had to toss some cans of WD-40 because they lost their pressure charge (I never thought of trying to recharge them before reading this), that had plenty of oil still in them and wonder if others have had this problem. I've also had some 'fails' on some of my spray paint cans so I found this topic very interesting! I contacted Rustoleum a while back and complained about tips clogging up and they sent me a few new spray tips. I also bought some other spray tips to have on hand online. I've noticed that there are a few different sizes, all of them are almost the same size of their shafts, but different enough so they either fit or not. Some will go in the can, but leak when trying to spray because their shaft is a very little bit smaller, and then the others are slightly bigger and won't fit the can. I think the manufactures could make these tips more available, but I also know they like to sell paint! And like others, I've had some spray paint cans clog where the tip goes in the can! C-85 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,598 #14 Posted January 25 6 hours ago, C-85 said: have had to toss some cans of WD-40 because they lost their pressure charge (I never thought of trying to recharge them before reading this), that had plenty of oil still in them and wonder if others have had this problem. Yes... I have made sure it was totally depressured then i punctured the can and poured it in a container to make use of it on other things... Worked... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #15 Posted January 25 Boyle's law of gasses comes into play here also. Basically says the higher temp of the can the more pressure in the can. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,598 #16 Posted January 25 (edited) 3 hours ago, WHX?? said: Boyle's law of gasses comes into play here also. Basically says the higher temp of the can the more pressure in the can. Never met mr boyle, but makes sense... my wd40 can was warm and flat... no spray when i punctured it but i covered it in a towel just in case. Edited January 25 by SylvanLakeWH Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 41,150 #17 Posted January 25 Throw a can of lousy beer into a fire and watch what happens! When I graduated from HS we had a camp out at a cabin we built out of ammo boxes. Pooled all of the left over beer from our grad parties. One kid had some real nasty beer. Like 2 cases. Nobody could drink it so into the fire it went. About 20 minutes later, we had fireworks. Burned up a couple of good lawn chairs with the collateral damage! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
