Decanting spray paint for airbrushing

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by D_LaMz

Wait, how would a can with almost no pressure, going to spray if you are to decant it? (I have some empty cans around I think. )

It just does, especially if you tip the can/straw upwards into the container as you spray. On Tamiya cans, if you have a nearly empty can you know it doesn't spray so good, and you get a fresh can and it sprays much better. When I've taken the dregs out of the can via the straw method, and pointing the can upwards, I get a significant amount of useable paint (filling that plastic mixing cup nearly halfway). I've done this w/silver, clear, and flat black. Cans that I would throw away are very useful now that I decant and airbrush the dregs. I painted the color coats of two entire models using about 1/4 can of airbrushed Tamiya TS paint. A quick wet coat of clear out of a fresh can is still awesome w/o the airbrush, but I'm airbrushing Tamiya TS paints 90% of the time now.

[RallyRaider]

ON topic: I thought everybody decanted spraycans this way already? I first learnt the trick so long ago I can't remember where! Just goes to show that we can take things for granted and the best tricks are the old ones.

To refine the technique I'd suggest using one of those bendy straws, it takes the speed off the paint and deposits it vertically in a jar nicely. Tamiya nozzels are the perfect fit for the straws we get in these parets, so bluetack is not necessary. And make sure you follow ZoomZoom's advice to let the paint gass out, otherwise you'll be sorry.

OFF topic: Here we go pushing the limits again.

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by RallyRaider

ON topic: I thought everybody decanted spraycans this way already? I first learnt the trick so long ago I can't remember where! Just goes to show that we can take things for granted and the best tricks are the old ones.

To refine the technique I'd suggest using one of those bendy straws, it takes the speed off the paint and deposits it vertically in a jar nicely. Tamiya nozzels are the perfect fit for the straws we get in these parets, so bluetack is not necessary. And make sure you follow ZoomZoom's advice to let the paint gass out, otherwise you'll be sorry.

OFF topic: Here we go pushing the limits again.

My post was "inspired" by the story of a complete disaster, on another forum, about a guy (a pioneer in model kit design with way more experience than anyone here) who poked a hole into a can of paint to decant it It was so awful it was funny. He got paint all over two cars, a bicycle, the siding on the house, his face, his glasses...

You wouldn't believe how many guys think that to get paint out of a can requires poking holes into the pressurized container; or drilling out the nozzle to use a coffee stir-stick...basically anything that destroys the can from further use. It's as if they're hard-wired to do the exact thing that's the hardest to do.

I do use a bendy straw, but not w/the bend. I'll try that to see how it works, but even w/the short pieces I've been using splattering really isn't an issue. I used to just spray into the open container w/my arms stretched way out into my spray booth and clean up the mess after I learned how dumb I had been when I saw the straw method described.

[igor@af]

Sorry?

I figured a little experiment wouldn't hurt - the new ad location effectively moved up the content itself within the page quite a bit higher.

[cyberkid]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

I do use a bendy straw, but not w/the bend. I'll try that to see how it works, but even w/the short pieces I've been using splattering really isn't an issue. I used to just spray into the open container w/my arms stretched way out into my spray booth and clean up the mess after I learned how dumb I had been when I saw the straw method described.

Hope I'm not thread hogging with this but...
Decanting Tamiya Spraycans This is one of the how-to's I found on decanting way back when.
A while after reading these.. I accidentally smashed a Tamiya mixing jar and started thinking... thus making:

The big hole is for the straw and the 3 little holes are to let air out.
So.. here goes.. This is how I decant.

Items needed and a pair of scissors. (I use 10mm Tamiya masking tape for decanting)

Cut the straw at a sharp angle.. this lets the paint drip down without getting much splatter. Cut the head to fit the nozzle of the spray can better. (I normally just cut a wide V)

Assemble and spray. (Shake for 2 or more minutes prior to assembley)

If I decant less than half of the mixing jar.. the cap is usually paint free.
Let it sit for a while to let it gas out. I normally use a tookpick to slowly stir it about once every ten minutes, if any bubbles rise, then it needs more time.
When it's completely gased out, I add about 1cc Tamiya lacquer thinner per 10cc's of paint.

HTH,
Steve

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

That's awesome, it's on-topic and great info for this thread, I'll use a bent bendy straw when I decant again.

Anything to keep modelers from going after pressurized spray cans with sharp objects...

Originally Posted by cyberkid

Hope I'm not thread hogging with this but...
Decanting Tamiya Spraycans This is one of the how-to's I found on decanting way back when.
A while after reading these.. I accidentally smashed a Tamiya mixing jar and started thinking... thus making:

The big hole is for the straw and the 3 little holes are to let air out.
So.. here goes.. This is how I decant.

Items needed and a pair of scissors. (I use 10mm Tamiya masking tape for decanting)

Cut the straw at a sharp angle.. this lets the paint drip down without getting much splatter. Cut the head to fit the nozzle of the spray can better. (I normally just cut a wide V)

Assemble and spray. (Shake for 2 or more minutes prior to assembley)

If I decant less than half of the mixing jar.. the cap is usually paint free.
Let it sit for a while to let it gas out. I normally use a tookpick to slowly stir it about once every ten minutes, if any bubbles rise, then it needs more time.
When it's completely gased out, I add about 1cc Tamiya lacquer thinner per 10cc's of paint.

HTH,
Steve

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Originally Posted by igor@af

Sorry?

I figured a little experiment wouldn't hurt - the new ad location effectively moved up the content itself within the page quite a bit higher.

The embedded ads are gone

Thank you, all is forgiven

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

The embedded ads are gone

Thank you, all is forgiven

It just goes to show that it IS worth sometimes saying out loud what you don't like - seems that members' voices can be listened to.

It's not necessary to act on everything we say, but it's a good idea to listen.

Pissed off members aren't exactly an asset

Good call, Igor.

[moosemarus]

Sorry, I'm dense. Is decanted paint thinned enough for the airbrush or not? The second method adds thinner.

[cyberkid]

Originally Posted by moosemarus

Sorry, I'm dense. Is decanted paint thinned enough for the airbrush or not? The second method adds thinner.

Yes, its thinned enough to be AB'ed. I add thinner for 2 reasons:
A. I normally let it gas out for quite a bit, sometimes an hour or more depending on the amount of decanted paint. While gassing out, the thinner originally in the paint will evaporate some-what.
B. I like to AB with thinner paint and low air pressure. (5-15 psi normally)
It's all about personal habits, and what equipment you have. You have to fiddle about with these things until you find out what is right for you.

Steve.

Edit: I've recentely noticed that if I add a few drops (maybe 5 or 6) of thinner right after I've finished decanting, the paint doesn't really bubble at all. No bad side effects so far. (Sorry, Freakray linked to this thread and I thought I might as well add this info in.)

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by D_LaMz

Wait, how would a can with almost no pressure, going to spray if you are to decant it? (I have some empty cans around I think. )

Some nearly-empty cans don't spray, they sputter, so they are usually tossed. But paint that sputters out is perfectly good for use in an airbrush.

Spray cans shoot out big clouds of paint. A great reason for decanting is that more of the paint goes onto the model instead of into the atmosphere. I never use a spray can in the house; I often use my airbrush indoors.

Ddms

[Didymus]

Originally Posted by moosemarus

Is decanted paint thinned enough for the airbrush or not?

I don't think so.

You can spray Tamiya lacquer unthinned, but I think that greatly increases your chances of getting orange peel. After the gases boil off, I add about 20% ordinary hardware-store lacquer thinner. Works just fine.

Ddms

[kans0002]

Before anyone goes jumping down my throat about bumping old threads, please note that I am responding to this thread for two specific and important (in my opinion) reasons.

• I stumbled upon this old thread and I have to say, it is a life saver! I was one of those guys who would play paint roulette and puncture the spray can to decant the paint. There were many times I would pray to the modeling gods that my puncturing experiment wouldn’t go to horribly awry. Thank you ZoomZoom!

• I wanted to request that this be added to the “how to” depository as stated above. There is not currently a good decanting how to in there right now and I think this could really help our fellow modelers.

Thank you and apologies if this inconveniences anyone!

Stuart

[Zonic2001]

Youtube has a few videos on decanting as shown by ZoomZoom... also use a bendable straw and bend it at 90 degree. Is going to be a cleaner job. You can keep the can on the table while pressing the nozzle down.

[Zonic2001]

Originally Posted by kans0002

Before anyone goes jumping down my throat about bumping old threads, please note that I am responding to this thread for two specific and important (in my opinion) reasons.

• I stumbled upon this old thread and I have to say, it is a life saver! I was one of those guys who would play paint roulette and puncture the spray can to decant the paint. There were many times I would pray to the modeling gods that my puncturing experiment wouldn’t go to horribly awry. Thank you ZoomZoom!

• I wanted to request that this be added to the “how to” depository as stated above. There is not currently a good decanting how to in there right now and I think this could really help our fellow modelers.

Thank you and apologies if this inconveniences anyone!

Stuart

Bad boy! LOL Hey friend, how you been? Send a PM now and then. Stay in touch!