Bizzare problem with Rustoleum spray cans

[robwill84]

Hi everybody, I have about a dozen Rustoleum brand spray cans with an odd problem. It stems from the fact that they changed the type of valve that had been in use for years. It is now a male type valve with the stem sticking out of the can, and a large white cap that goes on top. Now, the bizzaro problem I have is this- the valve simply stops working. I've double checked and triple checked my actual nozzles and they are NOT clogged. What is happening is the valve itself just stops working. I can actually push down on the valve with the sides of my fingers, no cap attached, and nothing comes out. Now, it gets even weirder, because they randomly fix themselves. So say, after sitting for a few days, one works again perfect. Spray with it for a while, come back an hour later to use it again and nothin. Every can I have has exhibited this to some degree. Iv'e experimented with storing them indoors, outdoors, hot cold, it doesn't matter. It's maddening! I know others on this forum have had this problem with these paints, but has anyone found a fix for it?

[wazzou]

I have had nothing but problems with Rustoleum paint nozzles over the last few years and refuse to get suckered into buying anymore of that crap.

[jimmo]

What kind of models are you painting with Rustoleum?

[wazzou]

What kind of models are you painting with Rustoleum?

Roads, DPM buildings, trees and more of those types of things.

[robwill84]

I've mostly used it for painting vehicles (including many of yours Jimmo). Their gloss colors are by far the best finish I've gotten out of a spray can, when they're working. Excellent coverage and virtually no orange peel. I've also used their camo line of greens browns and tans for buildings.

[Philip H]

Rob,
Those are well done.  You should do an article for NSR.

[MrKLUKE]

.

[DKS]

I've had virtually no problems with any rattle cans after I got into the habit of dropping the nozzle into a container of alcohol immediately after use. I just leave them there until needed again.

[robwill84]

Thanks for the kind words about the cars guys! After much head scratching I think I've finally cracked what is causing this, and just as I suspected its not the caps at all, or at least not clogging. If you've never seen a newer can of Rustoleum paint, they've gone to a design that uses a large white cap, with a wider angle spray pattern. This is a female type cap that fits on to a pin that actually sticks out from the can itself. It's an incredibly poor design, and here's why: after just a little use, what seems to be happening is the valve on the spray can seats itself down a little lower in the can. This wouldn't be a problem on a normal can, just push harder on the cap, and it will trigger the valve right? Well, the wide caps have a bottom ridge that ends up actually hitting the upper edge of the can BEFORE the valve can be pushed down far enough to to release. Then, after time, a day or so seems to be average, pressure from the can is pushing the valve back up into place, and it can be used again, but only a few times before it is again pushed down beyond the reach of the cap.

Tomorrow I will try modifying a known good cap by cutting off the wide base, and leaving only the smaller upper  portion to trigger the valve. Hopefully this will allow enough pressure to be applied to the valve to trigger it!

[mcjaco]

Do you guys ever use the "turn the can upside down and spray" method?  Alot of the solvent based spray paints I used to sell back in my college-working-at-a-paint-store days, that was the method to get them to open up. 

[DKS]

Do you guys ever use the "turn the can upside down and spray" method?

I never do this. It wastes paint and especially propellant. As I noted earlier, I simply remove the spray nozzle and drop it in alcohol. Works like a charm.

[CoalPorter]

Do you guys ever use the "turn the can upside down and spray" method?  Alot of the solvent based spray paints I used to sell back in my college-working-at-a-paint-store days, that was the method to get them to open up.

That is what you do at the end to clear any paint left in the nozzle. But I agree with David K, just pull the spray
tip off and store in thinner.

I too have had a ton of problems with the new style Rustolium spray bombs. I tried to pull out that small tube and
use a normal spray nozzle, but I could not get it out of the top and only damaged it so now the can is  no good at all.

FYIW, I now only buy my local  hardware store's house brand.