"Preventing Dropper Bottle Clogging?" Topic

I understand that a lot of folks here love the dropper bottles used by Vallejo, Army Painter, Reaper, etc.. While they certainly do keep the paint from drying out and gives you better control on how much you use, there is one aspect that keeps driving me crazy: The nozzles keep clogging. While I can usually fix this issue with a bent paper-clip, but I have run into a few times were I thought I had cleaned out a nozzle only to have it burst off the bottle when I squeeze it leaving a damnable mess a ruined shirt. Does anyone have any suggestions to help keep my nozzle clear between paint suggestions?

The only thing I've found to do is pull off the nozzle and clean it out from the inside. I've started doing this once in a while to prevent another problem I can't solve: cracked nozzle tips. I've had a few tips crack from jamming things into them to clear them.

I think it also helps to clean paint off the inside of the cap. A little is okay, but a buildup is bad.

Clogged or damaged nozzles would be easily solved by replacement nozzles, but I haven't been able to find a source for them. I have found whole bottles, but not replacement nozzles. I'd be happy to buy a box of dozens, if I could find them.

- Ix

For nozzles only, check out SKS . sks-bottle.com

Royal Air Force, thanks for the link.

I just keep several long straight pins on my paintbench. If I get a clog, a single pin push down the nozzle seems to work just fine. I've never had to replace a nozzle. I've tried paper clips, but the sharp point of a pin seems to work better, at least for me.

And I think each of us can relate to that time we squeezed the bottle a bit too hard out of frustration!

Get a doll needle, about 5" long and thick enough to handle pushing. I have an Excel burnishing tool with a leather sewing needle in it. The tool has a round Chuck not the normal slot type.

Would it help to store the paint cap down? Saw a hint somewhere about storing house paint upside down: keeps air from getting in the can.

Thank you RAF. Brilliant

Upside down doesn't prevent clogging either.

I dislike dropper bottles with a passion.

To unclog, I got a bunch of cheap dissecting needles, similar to these – link

Being really lazy, I've also used my Army Painter hand drill to unclog paints. You can just peel off the hardened paint from the drill whenever it gets to that point!

paper clips

I suck it out

So that explains the camoflaged teeth!