Broken Spray Can Top - Why is it...

[Paladin 56]

...that it's always a new can of spray whatever that gets the top broken off right off the bat. It never happens to an empty can, even when it gets thrown into the metal trash can from 30 feet away.

How do you fix yours?

http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab99/TDBall56/KroilTopSprayBroken.jpg

[RICKLANDES]

I do not know the answer, but rest assured that you are not alone.
I do believe the sprayer breaking is subjected to costs of contents, immediacy/urgency of need and time to replace said can. As all of these increase the chance of breaking also increases...some times at a logrithmic rate.

Special care MUST be taken before all hunting seasons and shooting sessions, as both events also increase the probablity of breakage even more so than "just an ordinary day"

Finally, if the product is used in an area not normall allowed by the wife while she is absent the chances of success are nearly void. Most times the top breaks and the entire contents spew out leaving both a mess to be contented with and a very distinct, generally found to be unpleasant to the female nose, scent.

please do not ask me how I know...

[Cherokee]

Are you sure it just did not pop out of the hole and can simply be pushed back in ? I've never had one break on me.

[Paladin 56]

Oh, it's broken alright. I've never had one just pop out. Mine always break. Take another gander at the photo.

[Wally]

Take a suitibale sized sheet metal screw and carefully screw into the plastic cylinder on the top of the can--don't press down..that should grab it enough for you to extract it--get a nozzle from another aerosol can and you should be in business again.

[Echo]

And you can buy new nozzles @ Ace...

[higgins]

I have a drawer in an organizer on my workbench where I keep an assortment of spray tips from cans of "stuff" that I use frequently (and some not so frequently). If I'm using a couple or three cans of spray paint I'll pull the new clean tip from a new can and use a used tip so that I can keep clean tips on hand to replace the ones that clog. It's messy, but you could depress the broken nozzle in the photo with a punch or something while holding a patch over it to get Kroil on a patch.

[Cactus Farmer]

Take a suitibale sized sheet metal screw and carefully screw into the plastic cylinder on the top of the can--don't press down..that should grab it enough for you to extract it--get a nozzle from another aerosol can and you should be in business again.

I've used a #4 ? machine screw tap. Any way,whatever fits, thread it in 3-4 threads and pluck it out like a plum on your thumb. Didn't know ACE had spares......I just save old ones.
When a can is plugged in the can or had no propellent left, I punch a hole with an ice pick and use the pick as a needle valve to releave the pressure,then pour it into an air brush bottle. It's already thinned and air brush stuff cleans up real easy.
Our local Chineese Tool Store has them on sale often. Too handy for spraying anything you need to spray.

[S.R.Custom]

I have a drawer in an organizer on my workbench where I keep an assortment of spray tips from cans of "stuff" that I use...

Yep, I'm always busting those buggers off too... so I never throw away the old ones. I keep a collection of nozzles floating around in a glass peanut butter jar that's got an inch of gasoline in the bottom. The petrol dissolves any residual stuff cankered in the nozzles.

[Beerd]

Take a suitibale sized sheet metal screw and carefully screw into the plastic cylinder on the top of the can--don't press down..that should grab it enough for you to extract it--get a nozzle from another aerosol can and you should be in business again.

now how come I didn't think of that? :veryconfu
..

[RP]

oh just put everthing you want oiled near the can get back and shoot it LOL

[sagacious]

Or... you can just put the top back on the spraycan. That's why it's there. Prevents a host of problems. :)

[Mk42gunner]

It usually happens to me when I amtwisted like a pretzal trying to get the latest can of wonderjuice to spray onto the correct nut: either that or when standing on a ladder to get within range of the wasp nest. Never when I can easily reach what I need to spray.

Robert

[lwknight]

Stab a small hole in the can and blow off the oil into something that you can put a lid on to keep it. Thats for Aerokriol anyway since its not like bug poison.

[a.squibload]

Thought I was a little compulsive (right word?), never throw away spray can tops and tubes. I keep 'em in a convenient place (all over the garage).
Never had one break like that though.
Been cuttin' open paint cans since I was a kid to get the marbles.
"Good slingshot ammo" sounds better than "they're so purty".

[XWrench3]

I didn't know you could "pluck" the broken part out, i figured it was part of the nozzle. I have always just taken a small brass punch that i have sharpened like a center punch, and tapped a tiny hole into the top of the can to let all the pressure out. Then i enlarge the hole, and drain out the fluid into something sealable that the liquid will not disolve. And i do believe that ricklandes is correct, it only happens on the expensive stuff. If it is cheap, you can drop it off a roof, or run over it with your car, and it will be fine. As soon as the cost is over $10.00 a can, it breaks off when a fly lands on it. "murphy" was a relative of mine! Lol!

[Lloyd Smale]

I like the new top on kroil cans wtih the trigger on it.

[Paladin 56]

Or... you can just put the top back on the spraycan. That's why it's there. Prevents a host of problems.


Well, putting the top back on is a grand idea. Except that in this case I just used the can and set it down and promptly knocked it off the bench.


I like the new top on kroil cans with the trigger on it.

I just got this can directly from Kroil. I guess I didn't notice the newer version.

[sagacious]

Well, putting the top back on is a grand idea. Except that in this case I just used the can and set it down and promptly knocked it off the bench.

I just got this can directly from Kroil. I guess I didn't notice the newer version.
Doh! Well, I hear ya-- stuff happens.

In my previous reply I was going to suggest the pistol-grip spray tops available for spray cans. Very handy for many uses, and it obviates the need to replace the cap before setting the can down.
http://www.toolup.com/krylon/7099.html

Could be worth a go. Many hardware stores carry 'em. Good luck.