October 15 , 2024
I had hoped to just use rattle cans to paint the track and ties. Test were made with each color on some small pieces of track.
Krylon and Rust-Oleum have changed their spray nozzles to some skinny blue ones that can’t control short bursts and the paint is VERY heavy.
On my previous layout, I had decanted paint from spray cans by hot gluing a flex straw to the tip. After researching on the internet something else was tried.
A matte knife has stuck in at the very top of the can (make sure it has not been shaken recently!) The propellant began to come out while the knife was still in an 1/4 inch cut. The can was moved to the grass away from anything that I did not want possible spray on. Removing the blade tip allowed all the propellant to exit in less than a minute.
The slit was then made large enough to insert a screwdriver which was used to make a small lip in the can by prying outward. The paint was then poured into jars with the lids loose.
I will wait a couple of days to use the paint in my airbrush to allow all propellant to get out. I will stir it tomorrow to assist the process. In the past, I thinned about 30% with lacquer thinner.
This process took less than 30 minutes to do 4 cans.
