clogged spray cans

     This  may be a dumb question but I seem to have trouble with aerosol cans that have been sitting for a long time not operating any more. Most are WD-40, carb cleaner and penetrating oils. Is there any safe way to get the contents out when they won't spray? I  have taken new nozzles off other cans and still can't get them to spray. Does anyone else have this problem?

Most are not clogged. They have lost propellant. Kroil is bad about this. I even talked to their lab, they have tried to stop it, just nature of the beast. HTH Tracy

I use a rubber tipped blow nozzel and put against the spray nozzle, hold firm and apply air and push nozzle down... when ye feel the can start enlarging, quit.

     Thank you for the info. Don't like the idea of throwing away a can that is still  1/2 - 3/4 full of product.      I have been a little leary of doing much with aerosol cans since one accidently got into the burn pile and exploded. The can landed about 100 ft. away and sounded like a 12 gauge going off and I was pretty close. Glad it didn't aim at me.

ac hunter wrote:      Thank you for the info. Don't like the idea of throwing away a can that is still  1/2 - 3/4 full of product.      I have been a little leary of doing much with aerosol cans since one accidently got into the burn pile and exploded. The can landed about 100 ft. away and sounded like a 12 gauge going off and I was pretty close. Glad it didn't aim at me.

When I was a kid, I used to "accidently" see to it that an aerosol can or two ended up in the burn barrel. Light the garbage on fire, get a safe distance back, and wait for the big bang. Could say I was hard up for entertainment living out in the styx where I did. Didn't have video games to play. LOL! Darrel

You've lost your pressure so put it back in as suggested, BUT BE CAREFUL! I've had more problems with the tips getting clogged because I forgot to clear them. So pull the tip off and with your fingernails pull out the little red orifice and clean. Sometimes the whole tip has to be cleaned, but if you're careful they'll work as good as new.

darrel in ND wrote: When I was a kid, I used to "accidently" see to it that an aerosol can or two ended up in the burn barrel. Light the garbage on fire, get a safe distance back, and wait for the big bang. Could say I was hard up for entertainment living out in the styx where I did. Didn't have video games to play. LOL! Darrel

that reminds me of when I....... er I mean someone told me a story about somebody, one snowy winter, who was knee deep in diapers and no inexpensive way to get rid of them. This "someone" decided to stack about 6 or 7 car tires one on top of the other, and dump a bunch of frozen diapers in the tires. A quart of used oil topped off with just a glunk of gasoline and poured as a mixure over the diapers. Now approaching this stack with lighter in hand, this "person" decided that maybe it would be best to crouch low when lighting. "Flick", there was a low tone but rather powerful thud and flaming diapers shooting 30..... maybe 40 feet into the air. Funny what a splash of gas can do. One big diaper canon. I wonder what the statute of limitations is for something like that?


Edited by Lonn - 06 Jan 2019 at 5:37pm

Reminds me of utube video overseas, these guys were huffing propane under upside down empty 55gal drums with a tube and then sticking a rag torch near the edge. They would launch a 100ft or more in the air with a boom!

the spray cans say to turn up side down spray some to clean out before you put it away.  next time should work better. if there left in the cold there junk;

I use a 3 gallon Plastic bucket that pool chlorine comes in. The lid twists on and it's a couple inches taller than say spray paint cans. There's a hole in the lid that a screwdriver sharpened like an awl fits in. I tape the can I want drained inside the covered bucket then tap the awl with a hammer. Even if the contents is under pressure all stays in the sealed bucket.

LOLOLOLLOLOLOL On the TNT video. I have seen it before. Funniest dangest thing I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!