how do you decant spray paint

[Spike2933]

I just bought my first airbrush (since after my Audi is a long list of 1/43 cars )

I've been following lots of builds and many members decant the spray cans. my question is how do you do it?

do you just spray it in a mixing bottle? or what, I want to do it correctly and not having anything go wrong

[CFarias]

I think there might be a thread on this, but here's how I do it.

Take a drinking straw and cut it to the width of four fingers. Attach one end of the straw over the spray nozzle and seal/hold it down with modeling clay. Spray the contents into at least a 1-oz (30-mL) bottle. The paint will spill out of the straw and into the bottle.

Only fill the bottle to about half-full. The propellant is still in the paint and will need some empty space in the bottle to gas out, else the bottle may overspill as the temperature of the paint rises. Cover the bottle loosely to allow the propellant to escape but the paint carrier to not evaporate -- an oversized soda bottle top is great for this. After about a day or so the paint should be ready for thinning and airbrushing.

Tamiya paints are very good through the airbrush as well as automotive-grade paints. Krylon tends to hold its propellant in suspensions so be carefull handling this when its decanted as it will erupt in bubbles if used too early. Surgical gloves are handy for keeping your hands clean with this. And for Pete's sake do it outside!

[Spike2933]

I thought there'd be a thread but I couldn't find one. (and yes I checked the Fax, all I got was deadends)

thanks for the help

[Didymus]

CFarias advice is all good.

After I decant Tamiya TS-series synthetic lacquer, I let the bottle sit uncapped for 1-2 hours, depending on weather conditions. As the gas boils off, the volume will decrease about 20%, and you'll end up with what appears to be less paint. Decanted Tamiya is too thick for airbrushing, so after a few hours, I add back about 20% (by coincidence) hardware store lacquer thinner. If you thin it too soon, it will boil for a long time, especially if the room is warm.

If tiny bubbles don't appear on the surface when you grasp the bottle tightly, it's done degassing and you can thin it. But to be on the safe side, let it sit another hour before spraying it.

Decanted Tamiya is very good paint and pretty easy to control, but I still much prefer automotive urethane, despite the need to take extra safety precautions.

Ddms

[gionc]

You'll have the decanted paint ready in a couple hours or so simply (very careful!!!) introducing a toothpick in it, than a couple than 3: the toothpick tends to accelerate the gas release : but you must have room in the jar to leave the gas boiling: just careful introduce in the right decanted paint the first one, when you'll be sure that it would overflow leave it fall in the jar, than the second and the 3rd: leave them for a whyle: after 1-2 hours you'll shake the product and reduce it with no hazards

I done it yesterday withe the TS14 fr my GZox: I must say thet the black needs a lot more thinner than other colors I decanted.

EDIT: obviously I meant wooden toothpick

[rod_k2]

O,hai!
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t686072.html


Hope it helps!

[Spike2933]

thanks guys, it sounds pretty easy, thanks rod for the link