Spray can to airbrush?

Halcyon083 · Post by **Halcyon083** » Wed May 22, 2013 4:53 pm

I have a color in a spray can, Tamiya Insignia white, that only comes in a spray can. Is there a way to get the paint out of the can so I can use it in my airbrush?

duck · Post by **duck** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:07 pm

It is called decanting. Spray the paint into a jar, let it degas and you should be good to airbrush!

Halcyon083 · Post by **Halcyon083** » Wed May 22, 2013 8:25 pm

duck wrote:It is called decanting. Spray the paint into a jar, let it degas and you should be good to airbrush!

Cool, do I still need to thin it?

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Thu May 23, 2013 5:59 am

Depends on the paint. See how it flows after it's out.

Pat Amaral · Post by **Pat Amaral** » Thu May 23, 2013 9:52 am

Small warning.

Decanting a "spray bomb" into a jar for airbrushing isn't necessarily a straight
forward process (unless you don't mind making a HUGE mess). The propellant
in the can is dissolved into the paint. This is what allows for the atomization of
the paint when you press the nozzle down. If you're not careful, you will get
paint everywhere except in the jar.

I suggest taking a look at the numerous tutorials out there before attempting
this. Google is your friend. Searching on "decanting paint from a spray can"
turns up a bunch of good info on the subject.

Hope that helps,

Halcyon083 · Post by **Halcyon083** » Thu May 23, 2013 10:08 am

Thanks a lot guys! Pat, I will do just that!

nurturer · Post by **nurturer** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:23 pm

I've done it with Tamiya Semi Gloss Black. Wear rubber gloves and find an open backyard because it can get messy. Aim the nozzle pointing down toward the side of the interior of the jar, not directly at the bottom, so as to avoid the 'Vesuvius Effect'. And go slow. After you have the amount you need, let it set so the fumes discharge.

It's a bit of work, but well worth it. I've done it with Rustoleum's too.

Saturn · Post by **Saturn** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 5:49 pm

Even Tamiya has an article on this.
Decanting Tamiya Sprays

Captain Riker · Post by **Captain Riker** » Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:47 pm

I've read that you can de-gas the propellant first by inverting the can and spraying until it stops. Once the propellant is gone, you can just puncture the can and pour the paint out.

Not sure if it is true though.

Mascaw · Post by **Mascaw** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 10:12 am

http://gamerabaenre.com/?page_id=1347

This is what I followed when I did it.

eeun · Post by **eeun** » Thu Dec 19, 2013 1:01 pm

I've never experienced any of the problems from degassing. Maybe Canada has different regulations on acceptable propellants or some such?

The only noteworthy thing I've experienced is primers tend to settle in the airbrush jar after about 10-15 minutes and need a bit of backflow bubbling to keep the solids mixed.

Works fine with Krylon paints including Fusion (the Fusion I did thin slightly with lacquer thinner), Dupli-color primers and paints, dirt-cheap auto primer, and Testors spray paints.

Of course, follow the health warnings on the can. I decant in a spray booth, and I've got a good vapour mask. Some rattle-can paints are pretty cancer-riffic.

Mark Yungblut · Post by **Mark Yungblut** » Fri Dec 20, 2013 12:26 pm

You could also just buy a jar of Model Masters Insignia white and airbrush that...

mightymax · Post by **mightymax** » Sun Dec 29, 2013 9:20 pm

There are several youtube videos on this very topic.

Cheers
Max Bryant