A Handy Hint

Caryc

Well-known Member
Ever been using something like WD-40 and have the can run out of propellant when the can still feels like almost a quarter full? Here's how to fix it.

Get yourself a small valve stem like you see in picture one. I used an air nozzle that grips the valve stem. It just makes it easier. Place the valve stem down tightly over the nozzle on the spray can and shoot the air to it.

I don't remember where I saw this, maybe on YouTube, but it actually works.

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I could see some one having the can blow up in there face unless they had a regulator on the set up so you could only add say 20PSI. With out a regulator it would be pretty easy to put in to much add and have the can blow up and boy would that be bad
 
(quoted from post at 16:34:39 01/15/18) I could see some one having the can blow up in there face unless they had a regulator on the set up so you could only add say 20PSI. With out a regulator it would be pretty easy to put in to much add and have the can blow up and boy would that be bad

If you'll look again, my air nozzle has a PSI gauge on it.
 
(quoted from post at 16:34:39 01/15/18) I could see some one having the can blow up in there face unless they had a regulator on the set up so you could only add say 20PSI. With out a regulator it would be pretty easy to put in to much add and have the can blow up and boy would that be bad

Besides, I don't think the can would "blow up". It would probably just burst a seam.
 
(quoted from post at 16:34:39 01/15/18) I could see some one having the can blow up in there face unless they had a regulator on the set up so you could only add say 20PSI. With out a regulator it would be pretty easy to put in to much add and have the can blow up and boy would that be bad

Actually, the spec sheet on WD40 says it's under 95-115 PSI.
 
That is cool idea, I looked on web did not see a clear rating of the PSI, what pressure do you set it to.
 

Just in case it isn't obvious to others the stem valve should be removed before doing this .
I have been using this trick for a while , it works very well with lubricants and solvents like WD40 and electrical contact cleaner but it can cause paint to go off quickly . Still, being able to use an otherwise useless can of paint for one quick application is better than nothing .
Over pressurising is difficult to do , if you hold the rubber stem on just firmly excess air will leak out under the base before too much can enter the can . That said some tins have weakened seams , I have had one old tin split on me , no explosion but a nasty mess on my shirt and boots .
 
(quoted from post at 20:23:36 01/15/18)
Just in case it isn't obvious to others the stem valve should be removed before doing this .
I have been using this trick for a while , it works very well with lubricants and solvents like WD40 and electrical contact cleaner but it can cause paint to go off quickly . Still, being able to use an otherwise useless can of paint for one quick application is better than nothing .
Over pressurising is difficult to do , if you hold the rubber stem on just firmly excess air will leak out under the base before too much can enter the can . That said some tins have weakened seams , I have had one old tin split on me , no explosion but a nasty mess on my shirt and boots .

A good reason to point the seam away from you.
 
I'm not going to check all my aerosol cans but I grabbed 2 with the
"DOT 2Q " rating. This means the can rating is for 161-180 psi, a burst pressure of no less than 270 psi

The third can found with the "DOT 2P" rating. This can is 140-160 psi, burst pressure of no less than 240 psi.

FYI, at room temperature a plastic 2 liter bottle of soda has around 50 psi, they can safely climb to 100 psi or so (hot car), bursts around 150-200 . A can of soda at room temp is also around 50 psi, and can hold about 90-100 psi before it blisters or bursts.
 
Well, the cost of WD40 is not great but still, a guy shouldn't waste partial cans of it. I've stayed away from the air
revival methods, I just lay the can on its side and punch a single nail hole in the can near the top (cover the area with a
cloth first) and then another near the bottom. Then tip the contents and drain into a container of salvaged WD40. After
that, it's your choice how to dispense it, a simple squeeze bottle (like from hair shampoo) works OK or even a hand spray pump
dispenser. A lot of the WD40 you use up doesn't need the pressure to spray it anyways, just drip or squeeze it where you need
it and keep your good pressurized cans for those applications where the spray is necessary to reach a difficult area. WD 40
isn't as great a lubricant as everyone thinks, most of the stuff is pretty much carrier solvent. And in my opinion, it is
useless as a penetrating oil, as are most (maybe all) penetrating oils unless you have the equalizer which is called a hot
torch !!! Link below is interesting ..... and lots more info on web searches on WD40.
The low down on WD40
 

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