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Rust Oleum camo spray cans

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WPA
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Rust Oleum camo spray cans
Posted by WPA on Friday, May 7, 2021 11:12 PM

How do I get more than half a can out of a can of Rust Oleum camo brown.  Two cans in a row it clogs, spits paint, or just runs out of pressure.  I tried tossing the nozzle into mineral spirits right after done, tried cleaning nozzle with small drill bit, no good.  

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 1:27 AM

I had problems with Rust-O-Leum Camo Army Green. It would also clog the nozzles. I returned two cans. The third one worked fine.

Sorry I don't have a better solution for you.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, May 8, 2021 1:47 AM

I've had the same problem too often with ceiling texture aerosol cans.  I don't know if this would be true in the south of course but I have heard somewhere along the line of shipping or left outside of the store too long after a delivery, the case of product freezes causing the problem.

 

 

 

TF

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 1:50 AM

Track fiddler
I've had the same problem too often with ceiling texture aerosol cans.

I had about six cans in a row of Homax wall texture that were no good.

Home Depot kept swapping them out for me until I finally got good ones.

I have a texture hopper gun now.

-Kevin

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Posted by AntonioFP45 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 8:29 AM

As paint settles in the can, some of it will clog the tube.  Have you tried the trick of immersing the can in hot water? Reportedly that seems to be helpful in a number of cases.

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


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Posted by dknelson on Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:24 AM

Maybe I just have a suspicious nature but I think Rust oleum changed their nozzle design a couple of years ago - for the worse.

Dave Nelson

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Posted by John-NYBW on Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:45 AM

I started a similar thread last year and here are the replies:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/278900.aspx

I had been having trouble with Krylon paints as well but I've noticed at least with their Chalky Finish line, you can clear those nozzles by turning the can upside down and spraying. They won't spray paint with the can upside down. Just air.

Designing spray cans to spray at any angle is a dumb idea for obvious reasons and has limited value. 

With the Rustoleum and Valspar paint cans, which look like they use the same nozzle, I've noticed that by spending extra time shaking the can prior to each use, they are less prone to clogging. It helps make sure the paint is thoroughly mixed and less likely to have thick clumps that will clog the stem and/or nozzle. I'm wondering if storing these cans upside down would eliminate the problem of thick paint settling at the bottom. 

For what it's worth, I have a number of Rustoleum Camo cans with clogged nozzles. I've been swapping the few working nozzles I have as needed and hopefully they won't all end up clogged. If the clog is in the stem, I don't know what you can do for that. I've tossed out a couple cans where swapping the nozzle didn't help. 

I think returning clogged cans to the store might be the best solution. If the paint companies are getting enough of these clogged cans returned, maybe they will rethink their can design. Hurt them on their bottom line and they will respond. 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:55 AM

I concur

John hit the nail on the head here which could be one of the reasons for clogging as well.

You never know how long that spray paint has been sitting at the store or a warehouse somewhere and the formula separates in the can more over time.  When you think you have shaken it well enough, shake it some more.  And frequently in-between sprays during use.

Also what he mentioned about turning the can upside down after use until air comes out,  very important.

The paint companies just want to sell you the paint.  The tips can be really cheap.  They sell multi pack tips of spray paint nozzles that contain a variety of spray patterns you can choose from.  These tips have way better quality to them and you will get much better results painting with these tips.

I think the last time I picked up a pack of these was at Michaels but they also sell them on eBay for a reasonable price.

 

 

 

TF

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, May 8, 2021 11:00 AM

I'm not much of a spray-can user, but when I used Rustoleum Camo Earth Brown on my ties, I:

shook the can up a LOT--got that little ball bearing all crazy

and

when I was done spraying, I turned the can upside down and sprayed 'til no more paint came out.  Then I did it a couple more times (while NOT righting the can).  Then, fer fun, I wiped a paper towel across the nozzle.

 

No clogging or hissy fits.

 

Ed

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Posted by zstripe on Saturday, May 8, 2021 2:17 PM

7j43k

I'm not much of a spray-can user, but when I used Rustoleum Camo Earth Brown on my ties, I:

shook the can up a LOT--got that little ball bearing all crazy

and

when I was done spraying, I turned the can upside down and sprayed 'til no more paint came out.  Then I did it a couple more times (while NOT righting the can).  Then, fer fun, I wiped a paper towel across the nozzle.

 

No clogging or hissy fits.

 

Ed

 

Yes Yes Yes

Take Care! Smile, Wink & Grin

Frank

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Posted by John-NYBW on Saturday, May 8, 2021 7:38 PM

7j43k

I'm not much of a spray-can user, but when I used Rustoleum Camo Earth Brown on my ties, I:

shook the can up a LOT--got that little ball bearing all crazy

and

when I was done spraying, I turned the can upside down and sprayed 'til no more paint came out.  Then I did it a couple more times (while NOT righting the can).  Then, fer fun, I wiped a paper towel across the nozzle.

 

No clogging or hissy fits.

 

Ed

 

Don't know how long ago you used Rustoleum spray cans but in recent years they've come out with spray cans that will spray paint even when the can is held upside down. That makes it impossible to clear the nozzle simply by turning the can upside down and spraying. The paint just continues to flow from the can. The Krylon cans I have bought recently don't spray when the can is upside down and can be cleared in that manner. I don't know whose idea it was to invent a spray can that sprays paint no matter how the can is held but it was a very poor idea. 

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Posted by 7j43k on Saturday, May 8, 2021 8:14 PM

John-NYBW

 

Don't know how long ago you used Rustoleum spray cans but in recent years they've come out with spray cans that will spray paint even when the can is held upside down. That makes it impossible to clear the nozzle simply by turning the can upside down and spraying. The paint just continues to flow from the can. The Krylon cans I have bought recently don't spray when the can is upside down and can be cleared in that manner. I don't know whose idea it was to invent a spray can that sprays paint no matter how the can is held but it was a very poor idea. 

 

 

I bought that can July 14, 2019.  Seems like only yesterday.

 

Ed

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 8:39 PM

John-NYBW
Designing spray cans to spray at any angle is a dumb idea for obvious reasons and has limited value.

In the industrial world, we went through many cans of Rust-O-Leum's "hardhat" line of spray paints.

These would spray in any orientation. It might be invonvenient to modelers that do not use a whole can at once, but when you are really painting something with spray cans, these cans are wonderful.

-Kevin

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Posted by mvlandsw on Saturday, May 8, 2021 9:35 PM

I drill a tiny hole, #75 or smaller, to drain the gas from clogged cans. Then enlarge the hole and pour the paint into a bottle to use with my airbrush.

If not emptying the can seal the hole with a sheet metal screw and a faucet washer for later use .

The paint will probably need to be thinned for use with the airbrush.

Mark Vinski

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Posted by Mark B on Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:16 PM

On the totally hopeless cans I've found some gratification in using a 9MM high speed "drill".

Mark B.

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Posted by PC101 on Saturday, May 8, 2021 10:58 PM

Mark B

On the totally hopeless cans I've found some gratification in using a 9MM high speed "drill".

Mark B.

 

That makes an awful mess of the surrounding area.

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Posted by Medina1128 on Sunday, May 9, 2021 7:09 AM

I found that I can prolong the usable spray period by removing the nozzle after every use and spray the nozzle, inside and out, with CRC Contact Cleaner. Works like a charm for me. 

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Posted by TheFlyingScotsman on Sunday, May 9, 2021 10:25 AM

AntonioFP45

As paint settles in the can, some of it will clog the tube.  Have you tried the trick of immersing the can in hot water? Reportedly that seems to be helpful in a number of cases.

 

I agree that this is the best way to help the atomization in my experience.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, May 9, 2021 10:31 AM

Mark B
On the totally hopeless cans I've found some gratification in using a 9MM high speed "drill".

PC101
That makes an awful mess of the surrounding area.

I have a friend that owns a ranch outside of Labelle, Florida.

He uses "used" cans of spray paint as targets when he shoots on his ranch. He buys all he can find at yard sales and flea markets. He says they make satisfying targets.

I have never seen him shoot one, but I have seen the surrounding area, and it is quite a mess.

-Kevin

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Posted by John-NYBW on Sunday, May 9, 2021 10:54 AM

7j43k

 

 
John-NYBW

 

Don't know how long ago you used Rustoleum spray cans but in recent years they've come out with spray cans that will spray paint even when the can is held upside down. That makes it impossible to clear the nozzle simply by turning the can upside down and spraying. The paint just continues to flow from the can. The Krylon cans I have bought recently don't spray when the can is upside down and can be cleared in that manner. I don't know whose idea it was to invent a spray can that sprays paint no matter how the can is held but it was a very poor idea. 

 

 

 

 

I bought that can July 14, 2019.  Seems like only yesterday.

 

Ed

 

All I can tell you is that all the Rustoleum (and Valspar) spray cans I have will spray paint no matter how you hold the can. I could empty the entire can spraying it upside down. It won't clear the nozzle until the paint is exhausted. 

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Posted by John-NYBW on Sunday, May 9, 2021 10:57 AM

SeeYou190

 

 
John-NYBW
Designing spray cans to spray at any angle is a dumb idea for obvious reasons and has limited value.

 

In the industrial world, we went through many cans of Rust-O-Leum's "hardhat" line of spray paints.

These would spray in any orientation. It might be invonvenient to modelers that do not use a whole can at once, but when you are really painting something with spray cans, these cans are wonderful.

-Kevin

 

I'll take your word for it that it is advantageous in an industrial setting for paint cans that spray in any orientation but it has limited value for the retail customer and results in clogged cans and wasted paint. Maybe they should use different types of cans for industrial and retail customers.

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