I usually buy a rattle can of some color I need, use it, blow out the valve and put it on a shelf. Maybe a year later I need the same color and find the valve clogged. I steal a newer valve off another can and sometimes it works. I try soaking the valve in thinner, sometimes that works. Sometimes nothing works and I have a can half full of paint and no way to get it out. Frustrating! :rant: Anybody have the secret to keeping a rattle can good after its used?
I don't date my cans, but I've had cans that were at least 5-6 years old and still sprayed fine. The most important thing to do is to turn the can upside down and spray until clear when done. Then wipe the nozzle tip so that there is no paint on it. I also store my cans on their side to keep the balls from sticking on the bottom of the can. I also move the cans around and shake them every once in awhile. I guess that I'm anal, but it sucks to have to buy an $8 can of paint to spray one small part. Jeff
I have had some luck turning the cans upside down and clearing the tube and nozzle after using them, then removing the nozzle and dropping it in a jar of lacquer thinner and putting a lid on the jar. I leave the nozzles in the thinner jar until I need to use the paint again, fish it out and blow it out with the air hose. It works most of the time. I watch the jar to keep it from going dry and change the thinner when it looks a little dirty. I also sometimes save the nozzle from empty paint cans and drop them in the thinner jar. It's not a perfect solution but better than just hoping they work later.
Its always a pain when your balls stick to the can! Back on topic, I've got cans of model paint that date from the last years of the 20 th century. Clear the nozzle after painting and a spare nozzle works for me. Cold galvanizing paint is the worst I've struck for clogging.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=spray+paint+nozzles&_sacat=0 This may help.
