Almost-empty spraycans

Hello,

I have just tried to spray a final layer of clear coat (Tamiya Clear X13 can) over a model.
However the can was nearly empty and when I tried to spray only crap came out. Some sort of drops, which are now on the model.

I had same problem before, with a TS17 can which was almost empty.

What do you do with almost empty cans?
Use last bit that is in there, or just throw away?

I had the same case once. After it I shook the can about 2 minutes and it sprayed the paint smoothly again. That thought me how important it is to shake the can well, and to not give up (I also thought my spray was emtpy). If you try it and it does not work, you should empty it and throw it away. :smile:

Decant and use in your airbrush...

hth,
Bill

When my cans are running near empty I ditch em. Not worth wasting & screwing up a model for the sake of 4 quid!

I save the empty colors I commonly use and after three or four cans I have enough to decant into a bottle and paint a body with the airbrush.
I also have a bottle of metallic gray that I just keep adding to with other grays, black, silver etc. that I use for raw metal parts, just remember you may not be able to match it if you have to do any touch up on it... - Mark

I use a more brutal method, I puncture the can and let the propellant out. I do this with the can wrapped in a piece of cloth in case of paint spitting out the hole.
When it's quite and no more gas is coming out I make a bigger hole and pour the paint into a jar/film canister. I have some Tamiya TS-21 in a old Modelmaster jar and it's still ok after 5 or 6 years, used some of it just the other day.
Another good thing doing this is that there is no risk of exploding spray cans.

Niclas

Edit: I only do this on "empty" cans with little or no propellant left

I use a more brutal method, I puncture the can and let the propellant out. I do this with the can wrapped in a piece of cloth in case of paint spitting out the hole.
When it's quite and no more gas is coming out I make a bigger hole and pour the paint into a jar/film canister. I have some Tamiya TS-21 in a old Modelmaster jar and it's still ok after 5 or 6 years, used some of it just the other day.
Another good thing doing this is that there is no risk of exploding spray cans.

Niclas

Thanks for replying.
Doesn't can explode when you pierce it?

Thanks for replying.
Doesn't can explode when you pierce it?

Nope, they just go psssshhhh! :smile:
I use a sharp point of any kind and just press it in to the bottle, no problems so far.

Niclas

Edit: I only do this on "empty" cans with little or no propellant left

Just hold the can upsidedown and press the nozzle, all propelant and no paint should come out.

Hmm.. I tend to leave the last bit and throw it.. I haven't yet attempted to de-cant a spray of TS paint..

And I always thought that if you punctured a spray can it would make a bit of a mess..!! Still not done that either so can't comment..!!

A good idea is to save the nozzle. Some brands nozzles give a good output,some clog easily, e.t.c. And it´s always good to have a extra if the one on the can clogs up ( I had a friend once who did grafitti/murals , and he had a whole box full of nozzles. Must have been at least 200 there :eek: !! )

Once cans get to a certain emptyness I only use them for small parts. Nothing major like a body, that could get mucked up by pulsing pressure or paint. Either that or decant it.