New member Rod B. contacted me with a kind offer to write a how-to article about how he decants spray paint for airbrushing. Take it away, Rod!
How I decant spray paint into a paint mixing jar:
Remove the nozzle from a spay can. Pry the atomizer out of the nozzle. Grip a 3/32” drill bit at a right angle in the jaw of locking pliers. Holding with your other hand, using a twisting motion bore a 1/8” deep hole into the nozzle. Careful that you don’t drill too deep. Cut off one inch of 3/32″ aluminum tube with a sharp knife. Sand square edges of the tube with #400 grit sand paper. Measure & mark off 1/8” from end of tube. Insert tube into drilled hole up to marked line. With a length of flexible tube pushed over one end of the aluminum tube, replace the assembly back on top of the spray paint can. Cover the top of a small jar with cling wrap. Pierce a hole into top of jar. Stick the end of the hose into the jar. You’re ready to start filling the jar. After you’ve transferred the paint, screw on the jar’s cap and turn it back 3/4 of a turn, and let it sit overnight to settle out all of the bubbles.
Thanks again Rod! If any other members have a cool tip they’d like to share, just write it up in an email to me with any images you want to include an I’ll get it up on the website.
-Jeff B