Title
How to Empty Paint From Spray/Rattle Cans

Author
BMC Tutor

Published
Saturday, September 7, 2002

Although it is easy enough to use a spray can, it is often preferable to use an airbrush for the same application, this is when it is useful to know how to remove the paint from the spray can itself.



The best way to start it to modify the nozzle of the spray can by drilling it out with a quarter-inch drill, this way you can push a small drinking straw into it. The kind of straw you want it the ones with the bend in the end.





Note how the black 'nozzle' has been removed with the drill



We then place a lid with a hole for the straw and a small vent hole on the bottle. If you don't have a lid available you can simply cover the top of the bottle with masking tape and use an Xacto knife to make the holes required. You want to make sure either the lid or the tape is on securely so it won't come off in the process.



To assist in the spraying process, it's recommended that you stand the can of spray paint in hot water for a few minutes before spraying, this will assist in paint flow. You then spray through the straw, while holding the straw in place, and collect the paint in the bottle.

Since the spray can propellant will cool the paint down, it is recommended to stand the bottle in some hot tap water to warm the paint, this will help the paint to 'gas out' the propellant, it is also recommended to slowly stir the paint to help it 'gas out'. If you stir it too fast it will start to bubble over the top of the bottle. Only once the paint is fully gassed out do you then either put the lid on the bottle or use it in the airbrush. If you don't do this it will allow pressure build up which will cause the paint to spray out when opening the bottle or it may squirt through the airbrush bottle vent hole.

As you can see, I now have a jar of paint ready for use in my airbrush, and a spray can of the same paint.