It seems no matter how hard I try to blow all the paint out of the nozzle of a rattle can by holding it upside down, I end up with a clogged nozzle more often than I would like. Any suggestions on how to insure all the paint is blown out or a better way to clean them? Also, is there a reasonable way to unclog ones that have hardened paint in them?
Thank you for your suggestions.
Have fun,
You can swap the nozzles from other spray cans, so if you have some that do not clog so easily you could use them for all your spray cans. I like to keep some Q-Tips handy when painting, and wipe the nozzle with one soaked in laquer thinner, this seems to help. Also you can soak clogged nozzles in laquer thinner, make sure you are well ventilated.
Hope this helps, Tom
My reccomendation as well.
Please elaborate, as I;ve had cans where the nozzle came off, and the paint is wasted (loss of pressure)
Take them back and ask for a replacement. Most stores will do that, no questions asked. These are cheap items, in general, and the way to make things cheap is to cut corners on quality. If you got a defective one, you deserve a replacement.
For simple clogged heads, poke the nozzle with a small sewing needle. If that doesn’t work, pull the nozzle part off and poke it from the other end, too.
You should be careful how you go about poking the nozzle though. That hole and face are what determines the spray pattern and atomization. I typically will pull the nozzle and put it in a small jar of paint thinner, as I also do with my airbrush tips.
While we’re on this subject does anyone know if the spray nozzles can be purchased? I have the same situation. Whole bunch of cans and all the nozzles are plugged. I have exchanged nozzles from one can to another but that can only go so far.
Tom
FWIW I primarily use Tamiya when I use a spray can paint. I don’t recall ever having a problem with it clogging up, like the Testor’s and other ones tend to do.
Rattle cans? Do you mean paint in spray cans? That term is new to me. Where I live, they’re called ‘spray bombs’.
There is one thing that no one has mentioned yet.
If you do pull off the nozzle for cleaning, be careful when you are putting it back. Make sure that the paint spraying end of the nozzle is pointed away from your face when you position it.
Here is a source for replacement nozzles that I saw recommended on another site.
http://www.lastsquare.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=20016
Haven’t tried them myself though.
Tom
Add a bit more thinner to the paint.
Ummmm, and how do you plan to get the thinner into the pressurized can?