OT---Rattle Can spray paint

Jiles · Mar 29, 2015

I had a friend give me about thirty cans of spray paint. Most of them are the premium quality. About twelve or fifteen are new but all are several years old.
I have not needed one until yesterday, but I checked several of the used and new cans and they will not spray.
They have propellant because I can drive a finishing nail into a piece of wood and use that as a valve depressor and they all spray strong.
This is after I have shook them vigorously and warmed them.
Problem is, they will spray for a second and clog with a know good nozzle. --every one.
It seems like the paint has gotten too thick or there is something wrong with the can nozzle
Should I just dispose of them or is there something I can do?

Rich'sToys · Mar 29, 2015

Make sure they're shaken up really well before you start. Maybe pull the nozzle and use your finish nail to get the thickened paint out of that tube before putting it back on.

What I've started doing whenever I finish using one is to pull off the nozzle and shoot some carb cleaner through it. That plastic straw on the can of carb cleaner will just fit into the bottom of the nozzle. Give it a couple shots till it comes out the other end and the nozzle is clean. Not sure if that would work on one that already has dried paint in it.

RESLLS · Mar 29, 2015

The Qpaint in the straw that goes to bottom of can is starting to dry. Once you get those lumps out they should spray.

RESLLS · Mar 29, 2015

The paint in the straw that goes to bottom of can is starting to dry. Once you get those lumps out they should spray.

Rich_WI · Mar 29, 2015

Its the paint in the cans clogging the nozzle, you need to shake them more. Got a friend with a paint shaker? I have put old cans on the shaker for a half hour and it saved it. The noise drives you nuts though.

tim s · Mar 29, 2015

Here is how I shake them, does better than a teenager with 3 Mountain Dews in him..I got it from Kimbal Midwest

danmcdonald · Mar 29, 2015

Put the cans upside down for a few days and try what the others said.

Jiles · Mar 29, 2015

Thanks---[i:24448a0cef]Rich'sToys[/i:24448a0cef]--I cleaned the nozzles using carb spray, great idea.
I took it a step further though---I used the carb nozzle without straw and paint came out in a stream (much better then the board and nail!
I revived the three cans I needed and I will remember all these suggestions.
Just got finished storing the other cans up side down.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
EDIT:
Forgot to add that I used a heat gun on bottom of the cans and I think that helped with the thick paint settlement at bottom.
All this spray paint would cost well over $100.00 so --waste-not-want-not

Liquid_wrench · Mar 29, 2015

When mine do that..I take the nozzle off of a undercoating spray can (much bigger nozzle) but beware! The paint really comes out heavy...but no more plugging the nozzle. Be careful if you try this...its like an airless sprayer when you do...lol Wear safety glasses and gloves. It will empty a spray can in less than 1 minute...no kidding.

Texasmark1 · Mar 30, 2015

Outstanding. Will look them up and order one today.

Thanks,
Mark

jeffcat · Mar 30, 2015

When I buy cans of paint I store them upside down. Another way is keep them on their sides. The paint pigments settle to the bottom. I like some of the suggestions on here. Another way is with the under coat nozzle. Go to the store or flea market and buy a can of lighter propane refill. They are like $3.oo and put the tip of the can into the nozzle and carefully add some more gas. Many times you can get just a little more in the can and unplug it.

OT---Rattle Can spray paint

Jiles

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Rich'sToys

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RESLLS

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RESLLS

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Rich_WI

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tim s

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danmcdonald

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Jiles

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Liquid_wrench

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Texasmark1

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jeffcat

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