Cleaning spray can nozzles

P

PC/SR

Well-known member
I have had good luck cleaning clogged spray can nozzles by soaking them in laquer thinner. A small, size 30 magnet wire fits in the little hole to ream out the crud and a bigger wire fits in the stem. Compressed air helps. I dont know why someone does not make and sell these things.
 
I remove my spray can nozzles after every use and keep them in a baby food jar full of paint thinner. They never dry out, never clog, and are ready to go weeks or months later. I have been doing this for years with no set backs. Try it, you'll like it.
 
If they also sold nozzles why would you buy a 2nd can? I turn can upside down and spray for a few secounds after wiping tip clean with a pa towel.
Paul in CT
 
upside down clears the paint out . ive found brake cleaner will clean them also .. steve
 
turn the can upside down and spray until just the propelent air blows clean. now you have a clean nozzle for the next use.works for me.it only take a couple of seconds for the nozzle to clean itself.with the can upside down,the pickup tube is clear of the paint and is now in propelent only and will blow the complete line clean.just cleaning the nozzle leaves the pick up tube full of paint at the top and resriicts future use.
 
d. said:
I remove my spray can nozzles after every use and keep them in a baby food jar full of paint thinner. They never dry out, never clog, and are ready to go weeks or months later. I have been doing this for years with no set backs. Try it, you'll like it.
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Good tip but if I have to have a baby to keep my spray nozzles clean, I'd just as soon throw the can away! I'm past the rearing age but still have my teeth so buying pureed food is not appealing either. :D

Besides, not all nozzles/valves are the same across spray can manufacturers. You'd have to keep track of which nozzle went to which can. If you're like me and have 40-50 spray cans of various coatings and colors, the task of finding the right nozzle would be time consuming. :eek:
 
When I'm done with a spray can, I spray a shot of WD-40 through the nozzle. The red straw fits perfectly in the inlet. I have never had a problem with a clogged nozzle since i started doing this.
 
I go to Walmart and buy their Carb Cleaner in the aerosol can. The straw that fits the nozzle fits into the bottom of the spray tips from the paint cans. I remove the spray tips, and a momentary blast in the nozzle cleans them out. I then reinstall and they are like never used when you need them again. I also use this stuff to clean my spray guns. It will cut anything, and evaporates quick. Use to be .99 a can, gone up to $1.30 lately. I buy a dozen cans at a time. Can't beat the stuff.
 
I have been having problems with the Rustoleum spray. I use it and flip it over to clear (not always but I get the same problem). A few days later I go to spray and I get a second or two of a good spray and it clogs.

I have taken to using the acetylene torch cleaner small wire to clear the nozzle and then use 2+2 to flush and I am fine.
 
1931 flamingo said:
If they also sold nozzles why would you buy a 2nd can? I turn can upside down and spray for a few secounds after wiping tip clean with a pa towel.
Paul in CT
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for better paint/hard to find, wipe with a little reducer (or thinnner if don't have any) instead of dry towel.
For auto paint nozzles and wide fan ones, sticking a wire in it will affect cone. plus as posted earlier, paint will still dry in can tube.

D :cool:
 
I agree Rustoleum is the worst. You really have to shake it more than other brands as the inner tube seems to plug with the first shot of sediment from the base. Storing an aerosol on "it's side" pretty much cures all these troubles, but it's a royal pain as they roll away on you.
I use alot of spray paint and finally purchased one of the big paint display racks and keep it pretty full...about 300 cans last count.
I also use the baby food jar trick, with lacquer thinner. It's simple really, each time I toss out an empty, the tip gets saved in the jar.
In reality there's only 3 common tip sizes so it takes just seconds to select a perfectly clean nozzle from the jar soak if you need one. To ensure a perfect spray pattern I shoot a blast of compressed air into the outlet before installing it on the can.
One old trick to better paint atomization is to warm the can SLIGHTLY in hot water.
-warning- if it gets too hot it could explode and ruin your face...use due diligence.
 
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