Spray Paint Nozzles

 The Thrifty Rocketeer blog continues...

We've all been there.

You're getting ready to paint the finish coat on your rocket, when you pick up the rattle can, only to discover that the nozzle is clogged.  No matter how you push or twist, poke or scrape, the paint has clogged the opening and there's just no way to get that can to spray.



Most of us would just move on, and pick up a new can of spray paint at our nearby store. But not all of us have the option. 

Either:

  1.  the paint is no longer being produced..
  2.  the store is too far away... 
  3.  we've run out of time...
  4.  the color won't match...

Sometimes we've taken an Exacto knife and scraped away at the pile of paint that is clogging the pinprick hole in the nozzle with minimal success.

Some of us have taken the plastic nozzle off and soaked it in turpentine, hoping that it will loosen it.



And some of us have pried at the pin hole with a needle or pin, trying to get it to open, if only for a few brief shots.

But the best solution has been the thrifty one.  Each time your paint can runs out, turn the can upside down before the propellant runs out, and vent some through the nozzle...clearing the pinhole opening before stopping.

Once that's done, and you're SURE to dispose of the empty can next.... take a moment to pop that now-clean nozzle off and place it on the shelf in that empty baby-food jar that you keep everything else in. (or maybe it's an empty can of nuts or something...)



In the event that you have a clogged nozzle that absolutely ruins another can of paint, you can usually swiftly swap out the nozzles and continue on immediately. (You don't even have to worry about contrasting colors of paint still lingering on the nozzle, as it's only the wet paint that is spraying out!)

There are a few caveats to this:

  1. Your desired can of paint must not have the clog in the feeder tube coming out of the can. That's fatal.
  2. Your "new" nozzle can't still have wet paint in/on it, to contaminate the new spray.
  3. The brand of paint must be the same, so that your nozzle will fit.
  4. Most manufacturers have their own style of nozzle button; Not all will be interchangeable.
  5. You must be ready in case the button doesn't quite fit, and paint sprays out from around the feeder tube.  This is an occupational hazard and will eventually result in problem #1 above.
There's another solution as well, that doesn't often occur to us:
Switch out a nozzle from another spray product.

For example: The spray nozzle on cooking oil products used to be the same as those used on paint cans!

The spray nozzle on hornet kill spray frequently will fit spray paint cans.  Who knew?!


And, turn and lock spray nozzles sometimes won't come off spray cans, but will pop off and allow the nozzle button to be pried off and switched.  See problem #5 above for the risk!

I'd love to hear your solutions as well.  Post a comment or suggestion below.

Until the next time, make sure to cap your glue, save your balsa scraps, and invert your paint can to clear out the nozzle!  It works!

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