Decanting spray paint for airbrush use

[Zoom Zoom]

Recently someone turned me onto the simplest solution I've heard of yet to decant spray paint. It costs nearly nothing, it does not make a mess, and no tools beyond a pair of scissors or your X Acto knife are needed. No need to go the hardware store or clean up a disaster. Captions below photos.

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Ingredients:
Spray Can
Length of drinking straw
Small piece of Fun Tack (poster tack)
Suitable container

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Make an O-ring from the fun tack and surround the nozzle with it.

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Attach the straw to the fun-tack O-ring, adjust as necessary to make a good seal.

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Simply spray the paint into a container. The paint mostly runs into the container, splashing/mess is almost non-existant. Remove straw & fun tack, wipe nozzle clean, and the spray can is able to be used again. No need to poke holes into a spray can!

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Fun tack removed, nozzle wiped clean w/a paper towel. Fast, clean, easy; spray can is still usable. Decanted paint is ready to run through an airbrush. Let decanted paint sit open before covering the container, unless you immediately spray it through an airbrush. The propellant from the decanted paint is still there, if you cover the container it will pressurize and make a mess when you open it later. I have had zero problems w/immediately spraying the decanted paint through my airbrush, the propellant atomizes completely before hitting the model's surface.

This is one of my all-time favorite KISS methods.

[Zomby Woof]

I like that idea. What I've been doing is messier. I use a cone shaped paper cup (from water coolers). I clip the bottom open to make a cheap (like free) throw away funnel and taped it to my airbrush jar. Then I spray into it which would generate a cloud of paint spray. Of course I do it outside.

[BobC]

I just place the straw over the nozzle and spray away - no problems. The "button" on the Tamiya nozzles are ideal for this - the only thing they're good for! Use a bendable straw so that you can hold the can upright.

I even do this with the ordinary ones. As long as you hold it tight to the nozzle you won't have a problem.

[Zoom Zoom]

My latest batch of straws are smaller in diameter and are a nice tight fit over the Tamiya nozzle w/o any tape or fun tack necessary. Doesn't really matter if the straw is bent or straight, I cut them in half and use each half. The paint dribbles into the container w/little splattering. From what I gather, I'm getting about 4 bodies painted or clearcoated per can now via decanting. Your mileage may vary!

[Zomby Woof]

I used to do it with one of those little straws like you get with brake cleaner. I have one that fits the Testors cans. But the paint had a lot of gas in it, it was like seltzer so I had to let it sit for a while before I could close the bottle. I would gently stir a toothpick and it would foam up like warm soda. At least the way I've been doing it I can spray right away. But with a drinking straw it should get the gas out pretty quick too.

[Zoom Zoom]

I tend to decant small quantities; I decant into the little measuring cups, add a few drops of Tamiya lacquer thinner, and then pour it into the open gravity-feed cup on my airbrush. It does foam up a bit if it hasn't sat a few minutes. It settles down pretty quickly. I haven't had the occasion to cap any of the decanted paint. I've been told it can create a big mess when you open the cap, much like a bottle of soda that's been shaken up.

[Scoob-Dood]

If you correctly gas out the paint after decanting from the spray can, you can safely store it in a jar without it 'fizzing'.

There are 2 tricks which will help it gas out completely, performed together works best. First thing is to stand the paint in the jar/cup in warm water, the warmth helps the paint release the gas, gently stirring the paint while it's standing will accellerate the process. The trick is to be patient, the gassing out process will only take 10 minutes but if you hurry, it will fizz up and you'll end up with a nice mess.

Once gassed out, you can store it just like any other paint.

[DrBob]

Just another example of why Bob isn't driving a Ferrari F430.
Bob: Buy a bunch of straws and packs of Fun Tack. Package a short length of straw, a blob of Fun Tack, and the instructions and sell it as "Mr Aerosol Decanter" for $25.

[Ferrarifreak]

My latest batch of straws are smaller in diameter and are a nice tight fit over the Tamiya nozzle w/o any tape or fun tack necessary. Doesn't really matter if the straw is bent or straight, I cut them in half and use each half. The paint dribbles into the container w/little splattering. From what I gather, I'm getting about 4 bodies painted or clearcoated per can now via decanting. Your mileage may vary!

By the way bob, where did you get the smaller straws, i haven't been able to find any around here?????:confused:

[Zoom Zoom]

By the way bob, where did you get the smaller straws, i haven't been able to find any around here?????:confused:

Found 'em at Kroger. The ones I bought there a couple years ago were replaced by the newer ones just enough smaller in diameter to work perfectly.

[BRE350Z]

It will take a few trips, the Kroger by my house didn't have them.

[Ferrarifreak]

Just a quick thought here guys. I was having breakfast at my local Krystal this morning and was getting my straw for my coke and noticed the coffee stirrers were very close to what I needed. Got home and tried it and was a little bit small. I think if I heat it some and use a punch or ink pen or something like that it will stretch over the Tamiya nozzle and when cools down will snug real nice. Needless to say I got a pocketfull !!!hehehehe Just my 2 cents worth for a try!!

[DrBob]

Just to show I am not the only one: AAA Hobbies now sells a little inflated plastic bag with the label "Mr Japanese Air" for $19.99. Just connect it to the intake of your compressor and paint away.

[envious8420]

i find putting the can in the fridge helps drop the pressure in the can.= less fog/waste

[Tonioseven]

I'm gonna use this technique in about 15 minutes! :)

[Zoom Zoom]

And...and...we're waiting with baited breath here!! :D

[The Prez]

Is he finished yet?

[Tonioseven]

Lol! Sorry fellas; I got the paint decanted but I was interrupted during my attempt to spray the 300ZR. "Honey do" this & "Honey do" that! I wanted to say"Honey shut up!" Lol I'll post progress this week hopefully.

[Firehawk]

Just say, "Honey, clean my airbrush! Iron my shirts! Make me dinner!". See how well that goes over. Hey, at least you'll have a lot more time for building models! lol

[Tonioseven]

I got the first couple of color coats on today; I decanted Tamiya Italian Red and sprayed it over red oxide primer to see how it would look. It's gonna need a few more coats, some clear, and some polishing but I think I can do something with it...
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/1979/z-ar1.jpg
http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/9774/z-ar2.jpg

[Tonioseven]

Has anyone tried this using the "new" Testors Lacquers?

[Eric Cole]

Has anyone tried this using the "new" Testors Lacquers?

The new Lacquer "one coat" paints?

Not yet, but I picked up a few cans of different colors just to see what it's like. The flake/pearl looks rather large based on the can cap. I wonder if it's the same when sprayed?

[Firehawk]

I've seen some paint jobs done using it and they look terrific. I tried a few test sprays on scrap bodies and had a real difficult time. The Citron Yellow for instance was very grainy, thick, and the flakes are large. Did not dry glossy at all, it required a clearcoat. Was difficult to spray due to Testor's nozzles. I suspect this is a paint that would benefit greatly from decanting a la Tamiya TS. The colors of the Testor's paints are beautiful, I'm willing to try them again on an actual kit.

[Tonioseven]

Cool; I'm gonna try the Italian Red as the final coats on the 300ZR; I'll make sure I post the results.

[Eric Cole]

Okay, as most of you know, I'm not usually an airbrush user... but... having bought a paintbooth and owning four airbrushes I decided to give this "decanting/airbrushing" thing a try today.

I'm building the Warstiener Mercedes DTM car and anyone familiar with this car knows there are lots of little nooks and crany's (technical term) in the body kits on these cars.

The body kit along with the fact that I only had a partial can of Tamiya TS-14 Gloss black on hand (and didn't want to run out to the hobby shop) lends itself perfectly to decanting and airbrushing. Decanting makes the paint go further, right? Airbrushing gives you more control to spray into all those little vents, right?

Well, let me tell you..... this SUCKED.. LOL!

First, I got the straw, the blue tack, sprayed the paint into a cup... so far everything is going great. Hooked up my hose to the compressor, turned on the compressor... everything's still working good... COOL.

Hooked up the airbrush, attached the paint cup, grabbed a pipette and started to transfer the paint from the plastic cup to my airbrush cup. I guess the propellent in the paint created pressure so the paint wouldn't stay in the pipette long enough for me to transfer it. It immediately came right back out... all over the place! So, I decided to just poor it from the plastic cup into my airbrush cup, it foamed up... all over the place! and I made up some new curse words!!!

Needless to say I spent most of my time with a can of thinner and a rag cleaning up the black paint..... then I had to wet sand out all the trash that came through my airbrush onto the hood of my model... Airbrushing SUCKS!

On top of this, when I decided to just use the spray can like I always do, I ran out of paint!! (and I made up some more curse words)!!!

[Zoom Zoom]

Ooops!

Well...now that you know exactly what happens, you can be prepared for the next time :D

Sometimes the decanted paint "boils", sometimes it doesn't. The metal cup, if it's cold enough, will make it happen. Only happens for a few minutes at most.

Sometimes pipettes dribble like a...well, they don't all hold their liquid regardless whether there's any propellant in the paint.

Seriously...test this kind of stuff out when you aren't rushed or trying to do something on a "real" project. Once you've accomplished all the flaming hoops to use an airbrush, it gets easier.

Glad I'm not the only one who invents choice new curse words :D

[The Prez]

I look forward to the 24 hour build,then I can learn new words!!!!!LOL

[Zoom Zoom]

I look forward to the 24 hour build,then I can learn new words!!!!!LOL

Words like "hey, it's HeNey-NeyRy!"

Wazzup HeNey-Ney?

:biglaugh:

(facebook humor)

[Eric Cole]

I'll overcome the airbrush issues next time around but it sure was a challenge on my first attempt.

I also learned that Tamiya's TS-14 Gloss Black and Tamiya's TS-29 Semigloss Black with clear over it are not the same shade of black. The gloss black is darker than the semi-gloss black which appears to have a slight gray'ish/brown shade to it but you can really only tell the difference in direct sunlight.

[BobC]

Eric,

I'd love to know how you get such good finishes with those awful (my opinion) Tamiya nozzles.

I ALWAYS decant Tamiya into a 1-2 oz bottle to allow for the inevitable "effervesence". I use Paasche bottles with screw caps. It has taken up to an hour sometimes for the paint to settle down so shaking to remix is sometimes necessary.

Trying to use it in an air brush with all that gas in it is a recipe for disaster.

BTW, the Tamiya "button" nozzles are ideal for decanting with a drinking straw (bendable Kroger brand) without having to seal it. Just hold the straw around the button with one hand and shoot with the straw horizontal and the bent part directed down into your container. I don't seal the standard nozzles either.

[Eric Cole]

Just lucky I guess.... I don't know. I've used spray cans for years and like anything I guess you just get used to it. I've learned to watch the paint on the body of the car and control the spray to get the result I want, which is a nice gloss up to the point just before it starts to run... and stop right there.

Polishing works wonders also and I suppose that's the real secret... That and making sure the body is clean of dust before I spray any paint.