Getting spray can paint into paint cup.

Seeing as I have a few weeks annual leave over the Christmas preiod, I thought I'd try to get back into the swing of modelling again (and hopefully finish my first kit :eek:).

This question is about one of the biggest mess-makers that I encountered when I was working away a few months ago. For the life of me I could not get spray paint paint from a pressurised can into the paintcup in my airbrush without making my hands completly blue (or red, etc).

Do any of you have any tips you use for doing this? Any tips to cut down on the mess would be greatly appriciated.

One way is to use a straw and connect to the nozzle and spray out into a small jar.
But there is a way to get the propelant (sp) out and leave the paint in, so you can cut the can in half and pour out. I can't remember how to do that, but could do with knowing myself.

freakray wrote a tut on it....heres the link http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial.asp?TutorialID=3&CurPage=1 ... hope this helps!

I take a piece of cardboard about one foot square, and fold it in half. open it up so it's at a right angle, and hold it with the point over your airbrush jar. Spray the can at the center of the cardboard and all the paint will drip into the jar. I Strongly recommend that you do this outside.

Carl

One way is to use a straw and connect to the nozzle and spray out into a small jar.
But there is a way to get the propelant (sp) out and leave the paint in, so you can cut the can in half and pour out. I can't remember how to do that, but could do with knowing myself.
turn the can u[pside down and shoot...but i dont recommentd doing this because it could explode if you dont get all of it out :evillol:

I tried spraying some paint into a plastic cup once- I got it in, and set it down on the carpet to begin using it. A few minutes later, the paint had eaten through the cup, and got on the carpet! The stain was there for still there until we finally moved. My brother's friend, who knows the people in the house now, says the stain is still there, and we moved four years ago :)

I wish you the best of luck!

I've found this the best way to make a huge mess!

:p

Here's the alternative (ie. more dangerous) way to get the paint out. I've done it once, and it worked, but the straw trick is much easier and safer...

1. Turn the can upside down and hold the nozzle down. A tiny bit of paint will come out, but it should start just expelling the propellent in a few seconds. Find a way to keep the nozzle depressed for several hours (I propped my can in a corner, and put some weight on it so the nozzle stayed depressed).
2. Letting the air out will 'cool' off the can and as it warms back up again (after it's depressurized) it will build up some pressure again. Repeat step #1 until you are absolutely sure it is depressurized. Be careful of paint clogs in the tip...
3. When you are absolutely sure there is no pressure in the can, you can drill a hole in the side and pour the paint out.
4. I found the there was still some 'gases' in the paint when I poured mine out. I had it in a small jar and when I opened the lid it let off a little pressure. I left the lid open and stirred it several times and that seemed to let the rest of the gases out.

There you go. Like I said, the straw method is way easier and way safer. Go with that.

Murray

I first spray the paint in a jar.

I do it by putting pieces of masking tape over the jar, leaving a very small hole. and I carefully spray the paint into the jar by putting the nozzle against the hole.

and I spray outside

and only thing that gets messy is my right hand index finger.

freakray wrote a tut on it....heres the link http://www.briansmodelcars.com/tutorials/tutorial.asp?TutorialID=3&CurPage=1 ... hope this helps!

Can you do the same thing with Tamiyas surface primer? Has anyone done it?

It seems like a waste of paint if you are not going to use a full can.
THere is an easier way of using a straw. Just use a thickshake straw as it is bigger in diameter than a standard straw and fits over the outside of the nozzle. Cut it in half so it is only half its length. That is what I use and by spraying slowly and steadily I have never had to use tape to cover anything and never got any on my hands.