"Spray can, no rattle? Stuck agitator?" Topic

First time this ever happened to me in hobbying. Small can of Testors model spray. I shake it and there's no rattle. Ball stuck to the bottom maybe? Is spray paint still usable if I shake the can any way? Any way to get the ball loose?

Not a big deal, easily replaceable $5.00 USD spray can, just an annoyance.

Yeah, probably a stuck agitator ball. But hopefully it is not stuck in the base of the nozzle.

All I can suggest is try it to see how it works.

Jim

The store where you bought it will probably take it back and give you a new one. The manufacturer will want to know about the problem, and they'll find out from the store's return report.

Agreed.

Agitator ball?? What? That thing in the can is a kids tooth. Tooth fairy sells them to paint companies. Then splits money with the kids. This is a business. At least what I tell my kids. No one can just give money away got teeth with out some means to $$ supply.

In seriousness. It is likely stuck to nozzle. You finish spray with an upside down spray. Clears out nozzle. You shake just to make sure ball is in bottle bottom cap. Then to normal temp environment.

Now you could try the drop. Just drop from waist height to see if comes loose.

With expensive tamiya paints I make sure to clearing squirt and shake and cap. Too much invested in these paints

You can try running the can under hot water. Hot, not boiling. Under the tap. Sometime the heat will loosen the paint up.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, much appreciated!

I just pound the can on a hard surface. Bottom and sides. Usually frees up the agitator, whatever it is.

Do not drop! Do not drop!

Nine times in ten, it does no harm. But I dropped a can of Army Painter Red by accident this spring, and wound up replacing a smallish ceramic tile floor.

The can has been sitting for a while. As the can sits, the pigment settles. In time this sediment holds the child's tooth (note: some of the new manufacture use BB's) on the bottom. Hold the can upside down and shake for three to five minutes and it will free up. Try this to save a trip back to town. Or… you could drive back to town while shaking the can. That way if the tooth is missing you can exchange the can and if it frees up while you're in town you might as well hit the FLGS to see what else is new.